“Was this once a humble fish pond?” The Aufseßhöflein stands before you a testament to centuries of change. Originally a simple “Seehhöflein” a small house on a lake it served those who tended the fish ponds. These ponds were vital for the monasteries during Lent. Fish were a much-needed source of protein. The investment required was considerable. It needed staff: the “Seegräber” who dug the ponds the fishermen and the “Seemeister” who oversaw the operation. They needed a home near the water. Thus arose the predecessor of the Aufseßhöflein first mentioned in 1455. It sat on an island in a square pond.
Later people realized this spot was pleasant too not just for fish but also for humans especially during the summer. In 1602 Georg von Künsberg acquired the “Sehehof”. He built a manor house on the island. Three additional ponds vineyards and woods completed the estate. Unfortunately the Thirty Years’ War devastated the “Künsberg Seehhöflein”. Georg von Künsberg’s sons sold it to the Prince-Bishop of Bamberg. He used it as a hunting lodge.
Carl Sigmund Freiherr von Aufseß bought the property in 1698. He paid 800 florins for the “Seehhöflein” its courtyard seven small ponds and six acres of meadows. He established a family foundation with a fortune of 60000 guilders. His nephew Philipp Friedrich inherited it in 1717 becoming one of Franconia’s wealthiest landowners. Philipp Friedrich loved luxury. He began construction of the Aufseßhöflein in 1723 as a pleasure palace. He likely employed Johann Dientzenhofer the Prince-Bishop’s architect considered the best in the region. The lavish Rococo interior created financial difficulties. By 1760 a slow decline began.
The Aufseßhöflein was leased to former servants. The Napoleonic Wars caused significant damage. In 1839 a gardener Johann Leumer bought it turning it into a farm. The pond was drained. The grand staircase was demolished. The hall became a hayloft and chicken coop. Railway lines were built nearby. A planned demolition around 1941 for a railway curve sparked public protests. The Aufseßhöflein was listed as a monument in 1953. It was deemed beyond saving without considerable expense.
After several failed rescue attempts Stefan and Andrea Fiedler purchased it. They had already renovated eight old houses. They painstakingly restored it from 2011 to 2015. They received financial support from various sources. Their work earned them a special award from Bavarian Minister-President Horst Seehofer in 2015. Today the Aufseßhöflein is a beautiful example of Baroque architecture. It hosts cultural events and weddings. It’s a remarkable story of preservation. A story etched not only in stone but also in the memories of those who saved this unique Bamberg treasure the Aufseßhöflein.