Paretz Foundation
200 years ago Paretz was the summer residence of Queen Luise and Friedrich Wilhelm III of Prussia. The architect David Gilly, who taught Karl Friedrich Schinkel, had transformed their notion of a peaceful, simple rural life into this unique ensemble comprising the castle and the neighbouring village, today under a preservation order. The task of maintaining the distinctive village layout and putting it to a new use is, at a time when public funds are scarce, only possible through combined private and public efforts.
The Breuninger Foundation wishes to demonstrate through the example of Paretz what can be achieved by professional cooperation between foundations and the public authorities with the participation of the civil society.
In May 2009 the Paretz Foundation was established as a trust of the Breuninger Foundation. In the meantime two buildings have been purchased, restored in accordance with the preservation order and made available for social and cultural activities: the village barn (Paretzer Scheune) with café and fireplace lounge, and a small farmstead in the Werdendammstrasse to house the Foundation.
The Paretz Foundation is conceived as a platform for the civil society with the aim of helping charitable institutions and enterprises as well as political and administrative organizations to develop and realize innovative projects and programmes.
contact: Helga Breuninger