The Test spring school 2018 will take place at Etelsen castle which is surrounded by a large park area with hiking trails totaling 4 km. The park invites you to relax in a beautiful ambience. The park is accessible to everyone and offers good opportunities for rest. There are constantly exhibitions and cultural events in the historical rooms.

Built in 1886-1888 by the Hanoverian architect Hans Hanmann on behalf of the Lieutenant-Colonel and wing advisor of the King of Hanover, Carl Johann Christian von Heimbruch, as well as his brother Ernst August von Heimbruch. From 1959 to the early sixties, an animal park was located in the park, which belongs to the castle. In 1970, the regency of Verden bought the castle. At this time, the castle building and the park were already in a very neglected state. In 1978, the castle was declared as a Historic Monument. In 1979, the Etelsen castle and castle park was established as a private initiative, with the aim of countering a sale and possibly demolition of the building. The property should be conserved and used for cost. Appropriate concepts have been developed. In 1980, the decision was taken to undertake renovation work in the regency of Verden. The work was completed in 1983 and the castle was handed over to the public.

Historically, the Etelsen castle is one of the last castle buildings ever. It falls into the period of the founding years and thus into the phase of historicism. The castle is designed as a red stone building with a facade arrangement in sandstone. The interior is dominated by parquet floors, wooden wall cladding, as well as rich stucco ceilings, which give the festival hall its special ambience.

Etelsen Castle Hotel

Bremer Str. 2, 27299 Langwedel, Germany;
Website : Schloss Etelsen

The TSS registration fee includes accomodation, at this hotel. You do not need to make a reservation with the hotel.

Package Early Registration (before April 10th) Late Registration (after April 10th)
Students* 420 € 470 €
Industry Professional 600 € 670 €

* University membership required

The package of TSS 2018 includes:

  • 3 nights in shared double room (twin beds);
  • Meals: 3 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 3 dinners (one with welcome reception) and coffee breaks;
  • 2 social events including transport;
  • Transport to ETS venue on 28 May 2018;
  • Access to Test Spring School material & WiFi access.

Viking's chess (Kubb) and other medieval amusement at Etelsen castle park:

Saturday 26 May 2018, 18:15 - 22:30

Barbecue on the castle's terrace:

Sunday 27 May 2018, 17:00 - 22:30

By train:

Bremen has very good connections to the international railway networks. There is an easy page for looking up your connections . You can put "Etelsen" as destination there and also buy your ticket with Etelsen as destination. Alternatively, put "Bremen" as destination, and make a separate search for the local train from Bremen to Etelsen (trains leave every half an hour and take 20 minutes, the last train leaves around midnight). One can buy tickets from the vending machines at the main station (also with English language support).

By plane:

Bremen has a good connection to many international airports, either directly or e.g. via Frankfurt. Once arrived at Bremen airport, there is an excellent tram connection to Bremen main station (tram number 6, leaving directly in front of the arrival terminal, duration: about 15 minutes) and Etelsen can be reached from Bremen main station by regional trains in about 20 minutes. Trains in direction Etelsen leave every 30 minutes and one can buy tickets from the vending machines (also with English language support). Altogether, tram and train will take about 45 minutes. You can look up your connection with tram and train by putting "Flughafen, Bremen" as start and "Etelsen" as destination. Alternatively, you can get a taxi directly from the airport; the cost of a taxi trip to Etelsen is about 53 EUR.

By car:

Enter "Bremer Strasse 2, 27299 Langwedel, Germany" as destination into a route planner. Free parking is available.

Getting from Etelsen train station to Etelsen castle:

The castle is about 850 meters away from Etelsen train station (10 minutes by foot), see the location on the Google Maps below. There is no taxi rank at Etelsen train station. If you need a taxi, you can order it via the reception of Schloss Etelsen +49-(0)4235-9300-0 or directly via the taxi company Jaegeler +49-(0)4235-512.