Perhaps you’ve heard tales of a hidden gem. It’s a place where history whispers from every corner. Today, we are standing before Haus Riensberg. It is a testament to Bremen’s rich past. This historic estate, once a waterburg, now stands as a proud part of the Focke Museum.
Haus Riensberg’s story began in the 12th century. Archbishop Friedrich oversaw the settlement. It was a Geerengut, a farm at the edge of Schwachhausen. Some say the name comes from a hill. It marked the edge of a field. Others believe “Rien” refers to the Gete River. It flowed by the property.
Originally, Haus Riensberg was surrounded by a moat. This gave it the appearance of a waterburg. In 1213, the Stedinger destroyed a castle at Riensberg. This event marked the first recorded mention of Riensberg.
The estate changed hands many times. Initially, it was home to Landmannen. They served Count Gerhard I of Holstein. Around 1270, a knight named Brüning was lord. In 1270, Holstein gave the estate to the Bremen Church. This was at Archbishop Hildebold’s request. By the 14th century, the Wolde family owned it. They later took the name van Riensberg. Gerd Rinesberch, the chronicler, came from this family.
In 1360, Mayor Johann Brand acquired Herzogenkamp. It bordered the estate. By 1379, he owned a portion of the manor itself. From 1430 to 1599, the Brand family continuously held Riensberg.
The Schöne family, very wealthy, acquired the property in 1599. In 1768, a classical-style residential wing was added. Judge Otto Christian Schöne passed it to his daughter in 1792. Her husband, Heinrich Gerhard Post, was the city archivist. The estate became known as “Postenhof”.
Around 1810, Isaak Altmann expanded the English landscape garden. It had existed since 1797. The ring-shaped moat was partially preserved. A marble Terra statue, dating back to 1766, remains from the older garden. Isaak von Post was the last lord. He farmed the extensive lands. Between 1873 and 1875, the Riensberg Cemetery was established on the estate’s land.
In 1913, Margarethe von Post bequeathed the estate to Bremen. It was to be a home for poor women. However, the foundation lost its capital. This was due to the global economic crisis. The home was never built. The house was rented out. From 1936, it served as the headquarters for the SS District XIV.
In 1953, Haus Riensberg became the Focke Museum. This replaced the building destroyed in World War II. It became the center for later expansions. Today, it houses exhibitions. You can explore Bremen’s domestic culture. See the room of a young woman designed by Heinrich Vogeler. Admire European glass art. Visit the children’s museum with its toy collection.
In the park, you can see the bronze sculpture Großer Hephaistos II. Waldemar Otto created it in 1991. The Bremen city utilities donated the sculpture.
The Haus Riensberg consists of two parts. They connect in a T-shape. The northern section is older. It is based on a single-story Lower Saxony house. It still features the Grote Dör, a large door. It served as a stable and hayloft. In 1768, Otto Christian Schöne added a residential building. It faces the park. The builder is unknown. The house has limited ornamentation.
The Franzosentor is a wrought-iron work. It features delicate tendrils and flowers. Heinrich Rabba created it around 1760. Johann Abraham Retberg originally commissioned it. It was for his Wolfskuhle estate. The gate’s name comes from the French soldiers. They left behind gun barrels in Bremen during the Seven Years’ War. These were used for the gate’s grating. In 1914, the gate was placed in the Historical Museum’s garden. It was damaged during a 1944 air raid. In 1983, it was restored. It was then placed at Gut Riensberg. In 2011, its original bright blue color was restored.
So, as we stand here, let’s appreciate Haus Riensberg. It stands as a symbol of Bremen’s layered history. From waterburg to museum. It connects us to centuries past.