Key facts
- An entire mini-village in Kamsdorf, Thuringia, Germany, is for sale for €390,000.
- The property comprises 15 single-storey buildings, each approximately 100 square metres, plus a central main building with a dining hall.
- The site spans around 24,000 square metres and is situated near the Hohenwarte reservoir.
- The complex was originally a GDR-era holiday and recreation centre, later used for residential purposes.
- The current owner faces planning law challenges, as the land is classified as 'Außenbereich' (outside built-up area) and its original status may have expired.
- The owner proposes a vision for a health and regeneration village and is seeking investment.
An entire mini-village in Kamsdorf, Thuringia, Germany, is being offered for sale at €390,000, a price comparable to a small city flat. The property includes 15 buildings, each approximately 100 square metres, a central main building with a dining hall exceeding 300 square metres, and covers a total site area of around 24,000 square metres. Nestled near the Hohenwarte reservoir, the complex was originally established in the GDR era, serving as an apprentice dormitory and later a holiday centre.
After lying empty for a decade post-reunification, some houses were used for residential purposes from 2000 onwards. The current owner, Franz Eberitsch, purchased the site in 2014 with the aim of creating a community living close to nature. However, the property's location in the 'Außenbereich' (outside the built-up area), despite being only 200 metres from the village edge, presents a significant planning law hurdle. Authorities consider its original 'grandfathered' status to have lapsed due to a period of non-use between 1990 and 2000, viewing permanent residential use critically as it could form a 'scattered settlement'.
Eberitsch envisions transforming the site into a holistic health and regeneration village, incorporating facilities for various therapies and community activities. He highlights the bureaucratic challenges of German building and planning law, advocating for easier reuse of existing structures. Lacking the capital to realise his vision himself, Eberitsch has publicly appealed for seed funding, even suggesting tech billionaire Elon Musk as a potential investor, offering him a retreat on his nearby alpaca farm.
The Thuringian village sale follows a trend of unusual property listings across Europe, often featuring low prices, remote locations, unclear usage rights, or extensive refurbishment needs, with their true value lying in potential rather than current state.