An Entire Former Village in Thuringia Is Up for Sale
A piece of German real estate with an unusual past has just landed on the market: the former village in Thuringia, covering 24,000 square meters and featuring 15 one-story structures plus a central dining hall, is listed at €390,000. From 1954 to 1990, the site was used first as housing for apprentices of a metallurgy plant and later as a holiday retreat. It sat empty from 1990 until 2000, after which it was brought back into service as a residential complex. The listing is published on the German platform Kleinanzeigen.
The property comprises 15 single-story buildings, each about 100 square meters, along with a former canteen building of 300 square meters. Electricity and water connections are already in place. But owner Franz Eberich highlights an important catch: the land falls under the Außenbereich (outlying area) category, meaning residential use would require a new building permit or another form of land-use approval. The usual protection for pre-existing uses no longer applies to this site.
What the Buyer Could Do With It
The sellers say the compound has strong development potential and suggest turning it into a health-focused destination. Possible uses include a wellness-therapy village, a yoga and mindfulness center, a sauna, a spa complex, and guest houses. The ad adds: “Several buildings could also be used as guest houses and overnight accommodations, making it possible to organize multi-day programs, wellness courses, or seminars.”
This rare listing is not the only unusual property currently for sale in Europe. Ireland recently saw the private village of Lyons in County Kildare offered for €20 million, with 47 bedrooms and a gated entrance. On Lake Como, apartments in Villa La Gaeta, renovated in 2023, have been listed at €1.2–€1.4 million.
The Thuringia property offers a distinctive chance for buyers looking for real estate with expansion potential. “Even now, the complex creates the atmosphere of a small village. That’s what makes it so special,” the ad says. The sellers stress that such offers are extremely rare on the market, which could appeal to investors and entrepreneurs seeking to turn unconventional ideas into reality.
The listing also points to growing interest in alternative residential and commercial property formats in Germany. If the site becomes a wellness center, it could help bring tourism and investment to the region. At the same time, deals like the Irish village and the Lake Como apartments show a broader global search for unique real-estate locations. For many buyers, these properties offer a blank canvas for unusual hospitality or wellness projects. Whole-village listings like this are uncommon, which makes the Thuringia offer stand out for anyone seeking one-of-a-kind investment opportunities.