Schloss Einstein is a long-running German television series which is designed as a teenage soap opera. It portrays the lives of teenagers in Schloss Einstein (Castle Einstein), a fictional boarding school. The intended audience is 10- to 14-year-olds.
The series combines the genres of comedy, action, drama (e.g., first love, problems with parents and schoolmates), and natural science. Scripts for the series are written by prominent television script writers.
Current airtimes New episodes of Schloss Einstein are currently shown on Mondays at 8:10 p.m. on channel KiKA. Older episodes are shown regularly from Monday to Friday at 2:10 p.m. on KiKA.
History Schloss Einstein was developed and produced by by order of the ARD under the auspices of the MDR and WDR.
Starting in September 2007, took over production of the series.
Because the show has its own genre as a Kinder-Weekly (children's weekly), the producers had had no experience with this kind of series. Originally, only 76 episodes were planned. ARD went to yearly sequels after they knew it was a success. Since then, each season of production has consisted of 52 episodes, which are shot in 13 blocks of four episodes each.
The first episode was aired September 4, 1998, on channel KiKA. Prior to the show's eleventh season (which began in January 2008), a total of 480 episodes had been produced. Episode 480 was the last episode that was set in the fictional village of Seelitz.
As of spring 2025, a total of 1,104 episodes in 28 seasons have aired. This is a running milestone in German television programming. Worldwide, Schloss Einstein is the longest-running fictional children's television series (among those that employ child actors).askania-media.de: Presseinformation – Schloss Einstein feiert einen runden Geburtstag: Am 20. Mai 2006 geht die 400. Folge im KI.KA über den Bildschirm!
Concept Schloss Einstein is a television show intended for an audience of children. The show guides its viewers through the entire school year and offers characters with whom children can identify. Because the actors are the same age as their viewers, their actions look authentic.
In its representation of classroom lessons, real knowledge is taught. Thus the show provides both entertainment and instruction. It provides education in a relaxed way. Because it has implemented this concept, Schloss Einstein is unique worldwide and has been made the object of several scientific studies.
Storyline Dr. Stollberg realizes a dream. He establishes a private school in an old castle and names his school "the Albert-Einstein-Gymnasium, Internat Schloss Seelitz". The school bears the name of the founder of the theory of relativity because it teaches natural science. Its students shorten the long name, and it is thereafter known as "Schloss Einstein".
Dr. Stollberg wants to provide an education for his students by using his best strength — personal tutoring. Violence is forbidden in the school. Problems that arise must be solved peacefully and, if possible, by the children themselves. Newcomers are given an older student who acts as a "godparent". Of course, this does not always go smoothly, but the teachers and students must master their everyday life under a common roof.
At the center of the show are the personal responsibilities of teenagers from class 6 to class 8. Because there are no parents present, the children must make decisions for themselves and be prepared for the consequences. A few adults appear as advisers or counselors.
The students experience problems such as grades, cliques, envy, friendships, puberty, first love, career hopes, alcoholism, and the divorce or unemployment of their parents.
In many episodes, the students have adventures and learn how to manage conflicts. They also have fun with all kinds of jokes and pranks. There is tension between the Schloss Einstein students and the students who attend public schools. They do not like each other but have to get along. Compromise and tolerance are important in these relationships.
In the later episodes, which are set in the city of Erfurt, no public school students are present. However, students who attend other private schools are present from time to time.
Setting and cast
The first ten seasons were set in the fictional village of Seelitz, near Berlin. With the advent of the eleventh season on January 5, 2008, (episode 481) the setting was transferred to the real city of Erfurt.
In Seelitz Schloss Einstein was shot from 1998 to 2007 (episodes 1–480) on the grounds of the Babelsberg Studios in Potsdam. The Jagdschloss Grunewald in Berlin served as backdrop. Outdoor filming was done in the Klein Glienicke quarter of Potsdam and in surrounding villages.
Main cast Students Actor Role Tenure Anina Abt-Stein Louisa Ellwang 2000–2002 Patrick Baehr Anton Mahnke 2006–2007 Philip Baumgarten Tom Kühne 1998–1999 Michael Behm Pascal Merten 1999 Paula Birnbaum Iris Kleintann 1998–2000 Sarah Blaßkiewitz Josephine Langmann 2000–2002 Katrin Blume Alexandra Wilde 1998–2001 Geertje Boeden Antje van Rheeden 1998–2000 Kristin Bohm Sylvia Ziethen 2001–2004 Natascha Born Anne-Claire "A.C." Clemens 2001–2005 Antoine Brison René Dupont 2006–2007 Juliane Brummund Nadine Steiner, adopted, née Langhammer 1998–2001 Dorian Brunz Eugen Weise 2006–2007 Raphael D'Souza Dennis Nakeba 2003–2006 Marcus Diller Jan Winter 2004–2006 Joanna Eichhorn Biliana "Billi" Reiche 2005–2007 Garry Fischmann Ben Kubanka 2007 Christoph Förster Philip Schwehrs 2000–2002 Max Fritzsching Joshua "Josh" Friedlein 2002–2004 Kumaran Ganeshan Budhi Dondra 1998–2001 Franziska Gembalowski Margareta "Maggi" Artig 2005–2006 Philipp Gerstner Sven Koslowski 2003–2007 Zeno Gries Armin von der Heyde 2005–2006 Katja Großkinsky Verena Krug 2005–2007 Dennis Habedank Benjamin Lewin 2001–2005 Max von Hören Jonas von Lettow 2005–2006 Christian Karn Hendrik Wernicke 2001–2004 Jerusha Kloke Paula Krüger 2001–2004 Kevin Köppe Alexander "Alex" Kirchner 2006–2007 Christoph Kozik Franz Bartel 1999–2002 Martin Krahn Max Richter 2000–2003 Marie-Luisa Kunst Elisabeth von Hohenfels 2000–2002 Laura Laß Katharina Börner 1998–1999 Adrien Löffler Romeo Gürtler 2001–2003 Zoe Luck Lilly Liebermann 2006–2007 Mandy-Marie Mahrenholz Laura Marwege 1999–2005 Anna Majtkowski Tinka Teubner 2004–2006 Georg Malcovati Marc Börner 1998–2000 Cynthia Micas Joana Hofmeister 2004–2006 Jana Müller Ira Müller 1998–2000 Antonia Münchow Marleen Schulte 2006–2007 Emely Neubert Manuela "Manu" Vogt 2002–2005 Josepha Niebelschütz Saira Sieger 2006–2007 Paul Niemann Lukas Düber 2005–2007 Maximilian Oelze Johannes Bodenstein 2000–2004 Julia Popke Kim Riemann 1999–2003 Sofie Popke Charlotte "Charlie" Hauke 2003–2006 Josefine Preuß Anna Reichenbach 2000–2004 Ronja Prinz Tessa Rindfleisch 2002–2006 Vivienne Puttins Vanessa Turner 2006–2007 Felix Rehn Kai Steffens 2004–2007 Shalin-Tanita Rogall Annika Schubert 2003–2007 Friederike Anna Schäfer Emma Schumacher 2003–2006 Philipp Scheffler Tobias Klinger 2002–2005 Florens Schmidt Oliver Schuster 1998–2001 Jojo Schöning Chu-Yong "Chui" Wang 2005–2007 Paula Schramm Emely Busch 2001–2006 Lisa Schumme Thekla Singer 2001–2004 Lucas Scupin Felix Kindermann 2003–2006 Anja Stadlober Vera Seiffert 1998–2001 Laura Stahnke Konstanze "Konny" Winkler 2004–2007 Anne-Sophie Strauss Franziska "Franzi" Bauer 2002–2006 Franziska Stürmer Monika Freising 1998–2002 Daniel Wachowiak Leonard "Leon" Diefenbach 2002–2006 Romina Weber Dorothee "Doro" Schatz 2000–2004 Tobias Weihe Moritz Stein 2005–2007 Marcus Wengler Sebastian Goder 2000–2003 Katharina Wien Susann "Sue" Birnbaum 2003–2007 Lieven Wölk Valentin Schlösser 2003–2006 Sandrina Zander Marie-Sophie Müller-Kellinghaus 2004–2007
Teachers and Staff Actor Role Tenure Karsten Blumenthal Hannes Fabian 1999–2006 Jessica Boehrs Nina Waldgruber 2006–2007 Dominique Chiout Sabine Pätzold 1998–2000 Daniel Enzweiler Gregor Haller 2001–2007 Rebekka Fleming († 04/2014) Marianne Gallwitz 1998–2007 Simone Frost († 14/10/2009) Sibylle Seiffert 1999–2007 Christiane Hagemann Sascha Hansen 2001–2003 Jan Hartmann Mark Lachmann 2006–2009 Ludwig Hollburg Dr. Lutz Wolfert 1998–2007 Judith Klein Nadja Kunze 2000–2006 Wilfried Loll Dr. Emanuel Stollberg 1998–2007 Gert Schaefer († 20/08/2014) Heinz Pasulke 1998–2014 Robert Schupp Dr. Michael Berger 2006– Shirin Soraya Kleopatra Klawitter 2005–2007 Grit Stephan Sandra Weintraub 2006–2007 Maren Thurm Barbara Bodenstein 2001–2005 Svea Timander Ragna Delling 2000–2001 Jörg Zufall Sven Weber 1998–2000
Village Youth Actor Role Tenure Janine Appel Tine Bergmann 1998–2001 Gregor Czempiel Wolf Wagner 1998–2002 Mara-Louisa Dittmann Sara Simons 2003–2006 Maurice Engst Janosch Arnold 2007 Jonathan Feurich David Hoppel 2002–2006 Simon Hahn Ronny 2006–2007 Julian Hanschke Ingo Brussow 1998–2001 Bojan Heyn Marcel Müller 2006 Eva Kaibel Caro Seller 2006 Julian Vinzenz Krüger Rolf Roland "Rollo" Reisig 2006–2007 Fee Luck Nele Arnold 2007 Benjamin Neumann Otto Hempel 2001–2006 Samantha Preilowski Antonia Fabri 2003–2005 Benjamin Seidel Paul Ragowski 2005–2007 Kristin Tetz Krissi Renner 2005–2006 Tino Wagner Kevin Bodenstein 2000–2002 Adrian Wahlen Manuel Rudolph 2006–2007 Raimund Widra Atze Feilke 1998–2001
In Erfurt Since September 2007, Schloss Einstein is produced by Saxonia Media Filmproduktion and filmed at the Kindermedienzentrum Erfur.
The school has two different buildings: the school building and the dormitory building. The Kindermedienzentrum Erfurt contains all the sets for the school.
The set for the school building has classrooms, a cafeteria, hallways, stairs, and a gymnasium. It also contains all the sets used for the dormitory building. Outside filming is done in the , in other places in Erfurt, and in Schlosspark Arnstadt.
Main cast Students