Who could have imagined a beer garden transforming into a castle? Here at Schwerinsburg, that unlikely tale unfolded. Schwerinsburg stands as a testament to Windhoek’s layered history. The story begins in 1890, not with grand designs of a castle, but with the construction of Alte Feste. At the same time, Curt von François, commissioner of German South-West Africa, built Schwerinsburg’s initial tower. Years later, in 1904, the Schutztruppe sold the tower to architect Wilhelm Sander. Sander, with a touch of whimsy, converted the tower into a beer garden he christened Sperlingslust, meaning “Sparrows’ delight”. Fast forward to 1913, and enter Hans Bogislav Graf von Schwerin, governor of the Gobabis District. He purchased Sperlingslust from Sander and, with Sander’s architectural expertise, transformed the former beer garden into the magnificent castle we see today. Named Schwerinsburg after its new owner, this grand structure now serves as the private residence of the Italian ambassador to Namibia. It stands as a unique blend of military origins, leisurely past, and stately present, a silent witness to Windhoek’s ever-evolving story. Schwerinsburg whispers a tale of transformation, a reminder that even in the heart of a bustling city, a touch of whimsy and a dash of ambition can reshape the landscape, one stone at a time.
Центральный дом работников искусств
Step through the grand wooden doors of the Central House of the Workers of Art, and you’ll be transported to