Didn’t it require courage to demolish a building with a drawbridge and a tower in 1729? Now, before us stands the Altes Portal zum Holzhausenschlösschen. It is the gateway to a place steeped in history.
The Holzhausenschlösschen wasn’t always here. Before this gate, a different structure stood within what is now Holzhausenpark. The Holzhausenschlösschen, surrounded by a small pond, is a baroque water palace in Frankfurt’s Nordend. The gate leads to a place that has witnessed centuries of change.
Back in the Renaissance, this area was a hub for art and culture. A group of humanists gathered around Justinian von Holzhausen from 1502 to 1583. They met within the walls of a fortified estate. It stood on the edge of town.
Between 1727 and 1729, the building was rebuilt in a rural French baroque style. Louis Rémy de la Fosse, a French architect, designed the Wasserschlösschen. The Holzhausen family had owned the land since the Middle Ages. It was once called “Holzhausen Oed.” This described a heath outside the city.
Georg Freiherr von Holzhausen, the last owner, died unmarried and childless in 1908. In 1924, Adolph Freiherr von Holzhausen gifted the palace and park to Frankfurt. The city initially housed the Reichsarchiv there. After the building was damaged in World War II, the Museum für Vor- und Frühgeschichte moved in 1953.
In 1989, citizens and institutions had an idea. They wanted to create a non-profit foundation to research Frankfurt’s history. Frankfurt supported this. The city offered the Holzhausenschlösschen as the Frankfurt Citizens Foundation’s headquarters.
Since its founding, the foundation continues a tradition of civic engagement. It has become a vital cultural foundation. Its motto is “Anpacken, was machbar ist und hilft!” This means tackling what is feasible and helpful. With over 300 events annually, it significantly contributes to the city’s cultural life.
The Frankfurter Bürgerstiftung is dedicated to researching urban history and its figures. They also work in social services, education, and conservation. They are active in refugee aid.
In 2012, the Frankfurter Bürgerstiftung decided to modernize the Holzhausenschlösschen again. After two years of renovation, it reopened in 2014. Today, the Holzhausenschlösschen and its park offer a place of peace for locals and tourists.
The Altes Portal zum Holzhausenschlösschen, renewed in its original form from the late 18th century, now stands before you. The gate is a neoclassical structure and grants access to the Holzhausen-Schlösschen park. It aligns perfectly with the Kastanienallee.
As you pass through this gate, remember the layers of history. Think of the humanists, the architects, and the families who shaped this place. Consider the foundation. It keeps the spirit of culture and community alive within the Holzhausenschlösschen.