Here stands the Dransdorfer Burg. It is more than just a building. It is a testament to centuries of history in Bonn.
The Dransdorfer Burg we see today is not the first. In fact, it’s the third structure to occupy this very spot. The initial construction dates back to around 1139. A nobleman named Cuno von Travinstorp was documented here.
Let’s take a journey back in time. Imagine the year is 1224. A knight named Lambertus de Draynstorp resides here. For centuries the Burg Dransdorf changed hands. In 1482, it belonged to Albrecht von Zweiffel. He was a judge from Bonn. By 1664, the Cologne family of Lyskirchen owned it.
Now look towards the small chapel. That is the Antoniuskapelle. It is just 30 square meters. It was first mentioned in 1575. In the late 17th century, the Junkersdorf family took ownership of the Burg Dransdorf.
Disaster struck in 1695 during the Palatinate War. French forces burned the Dransdorfer Burg to the ground. It must have been devastating for the residents of Dransdorf.
In 1716, Agatha von Junkersdorf married Franz von Groote. Through this marriage, the Burg Dransdorf came into the possession of the von Groote family. But fate wasn’t kind. The Burg Dransdorf burned down again, likely due to lightning.
Franz von Groote rebuilt the Burg Dransdorf in 1742. He used brick and gave it a hipped roof. The Burg Dransdorf remained with the von Groote family until 1860. Heinrich Josef von Groote who was once the Mayor of Cologne came from this family.
Carl von Groote passed away without an heir in 1860. For the first time, the Burg Dransdorf left private hands. It went to the Cologne Gymnasium and Foundation Fund. They leased the property.
In 1954, the city of Bonn purchased the Burg Dransdorf. The purchase included 400 acres of land. After renovations, the municipal music school opened a branch here on September 27, 1973. It serves as a place of learning and creativity.
Today, the Dransdorfer Burg stands as a protected monument. It is a reminder of the past. The Burg Dransdorf also enriches the present as a music school. It connects the history of Dransdorf with its future.