Whispers of change now rustle through the grounds of Herrenhaus Oberhof Deutsch Ossig. This manor stands as a silent witness to centuries of shifting fortunes. Once part of a larger, unified estate, the land was first noted in 1305 with Heinrich von Salza.
In 1410, Jakob Schleiffe took ownership. He bequeathed the property to his eldest son. By 1416, Albrecht von Tschirnhaus owned Gut Deutsch-Ossig. Six years later, he passed it to the Canitz family. The Frenzel family acquired the estate in 1499. In 1526, they sold it within the family to Peter Thile. He was the Mayor of Görlitz. Peter Thile died in 1535.
After twelve years of inheritance disputes, King Ferdinand I of Bohemia divided the estate. Paul Schritter and Caspar Sibeth, sons-in-law of Thile, received the Upper Estate. David Tyle obtained the Lower Estate. Peter and Elias Tyle took over the Middle Estate of Deutsch-Ossig. The Dominium Mittel-Deutsch-Ossig II was formed from parts of the Lower and Middle Estates.
Fast forward to 1988. The unsettling process of displacement began here. Between 1990 and 1992, vast areas of Deutsch-Ossig fell victim to brown coal mining. The Nieder-Deutsch-Ossig manor and the Dominium Mittel-Deutsch-Ossig were completely lost.
Today, Herrenhaus Oberhof Deutsch Ossig stands empty. It decays slowly. The farmsteads exist in close proximity to each other. Yet, there’s a glimmer of hope amidst the decay.
In recent times, efforts have begun to secure the Herrenhaus Oberhof. The Löbauer Tischler-Brüder Graf initiated this. Prior to the restoration, the owners offered the old wood for free. People could collect it for firewood in exchange for donations. The donations went to the Görlitz children’s hospice service.
Bernhard Trott and Dietmar Stope own the Oberhof. They submitted a building application to the city two years ago. An agreement with the monument authorities was reached before Christmas 2023. The compromise allows for dormers but prohibits raising the roof. A larger addition with a glass front can be built on the lake side.
Trott and Stope have been working on the development of the Oberhof for over 20 years. Their focus is on expanding the estate. It is located on the Berzdorfer See. Despite setbacks, their vision persists.
The city of Görlitz was first mentioned in 1071 as Villa Gorelic. It has always drawn people from afar. The owners share information about the Oberhof on their portal www.gorelic.de. They also report on the Freundeskreis Oberhof. The Berzdorfer See has clear water and invites swimming, surfing, and boating. The infrastructure around the lake flourishes. Deutsch-Ossig lags behind.
In conclusion, the Herrenhaus Oberhof Deutsch Ossig embodies resilience. It represents a blend of historical echoes and future aspirations. Its story is one of division, neglect, and now, a determined restoration.