Brick Making in the Altmark – Crafting a Region

Brick making began in Mesopotamia, firing clay into permanence, but in Germany’s Altmark region, it forged a distinct identity. Recent discoveries reveal that Rittergut Schönberg, home to The ARCH, churned out up to 600,000 bricks annually in 1898—enough to construct entire villages. Nearby, a clay pit, once exploited for its abundant supply, has transformed into a thriving nature reserve, showing how craft and landscape intertwine over time. From Mesopotamia’s ancient kilns, this brick-making legacy shaped Altmark’s iconic red-brick barns and churches.

The archives still show a brick master and a brickmaker working on the estate in 1925. Today, bricks are still featured in the impressive barn buildings of the estate and are regularly unearthed when gardening. The ARCH is piecing together this local piece of history.

The more we uncover about the crafts that once thrived at this ancient knights’ estate, first noted in 1378, the more we’ll reveal, as they vividly illustrate the deep connection between craftsmanship and regional culture.

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