A gilded mirror reflects the sun. This is the Weiβes Haus. Right here in Markkleeberg just south of Leipzig.
Built between 1896 and 1897 this magnificent building wasn’t always known as the Weiβes Haus. It was once the summer residence of Paul Herfurth a newspaper publisher and Württemberg royal consul. He commissioned the construction. Gustav Hempel the architect designed it. It’s modeled after the Petit Trianon. This is a smaller palace in the gardens of the Palace of Versailles. The Weiβes Haus was a hub of Leipzig’s cultural scene. Imagine the parties.
During World War II the building served as the seat of the local administration. After the war the American and later the Soviet occupying forces took over. The Herfurth family lost their property. The Weiβes Haus became a government building. It was used for the agra agricultural exhibitions from 1952 onwards. Renovations in 1986 and 1987 transformed it into ministerial lodgings for the agricultural exhibition.
After German reunification it briefly became a hotel. Then in 1996 the city of Markkleeberg acquired the property. Today it serves as the city’s registry office. The upper floors housed the Ottmar Gerster Music and Art School from 2005 to 2014. Further renovations in 2015 added an elevator and a ramp for wheelchair users. The interior was updated to improve exhibition and event spaces.
The Weiβes Haus is a free-standing three-story rectangular building. It’s in the Neo-Renaissance style. The white stucco facade features rustication on the ground floor and corners. Notice the three window axes on the narrow sides and five on the longer sides. The central three windows of each side are grouped in a slightly projecting section. The projections display four Corinthian columns on the upper floors. The windows on the first floor have little roofs. A balustrade tops the flat hipped roof. This is above a strong overhanging cornice.
The terrace on the park side is almost as wide as the building. Six steps lead down to a semicircular terrace. Six life-sized statues of Greek muses surround it. They’ve lost some of their attributes over the years. These are copies of Baroque statues. They were originally created by Johann Wolfgang van der Auwera for the Veitshöchheim palace park. Fritz Walter Kunze sculpted these copies around 1890. They were made for another Herfurth estate in Prödel.
Today along with the registry office the office for culture and tourism resides in the building. The first floor houses a foyer a rose room a beech room and a park salon. The building holds art exhibitions several times a year. The park salon is used for lectures on geology earth and cultural history. It also hosts swing jazz and blues concerts. The gilded mirror hall on the ground floor hosts classical music concerts and wedding ceremonies. The adjoining ballroom is available for private functions. The Weiβes Haus continues to be a vital cultural center. It’s a testament to Leipzig’s rich history and enduring charm.