A grand estate stands before you. This is the Dannreuther’scher Herrensitz. It’s a magnificent example of Baroque architecture in Nuremberg.
Built in 1732 by Christoph Wilhelm Dannreuther this manor house holds a rich history. Dannreuther a Nuremberg Mint official purchased the “Brettergarten” a garden between Schniegling and Wetzendorf in 1731. He found only a small one-story wooden summer house. His plans for a much larger building were approved. However he had to agree to build it solidly to save wood. Dannreuther could only use the house personally renting it out was forbidden. He also couldn’t use wood from the forest nearby. He had to buy his construction and firewood elsewhere.
The newly built Dannreuther’scher Herrensitz boasted elaborate features. These included stucco ceilings in the Regence style. Even more impressive were the now-destroyed linen wall coverings. They depicted elegant garden scenes. These were in the style of Watteau and featured almost life-sized figures. They extended from the floor to the ceiling’s voutes. Until 1945 other rooms featured blue and silver Chinoiserie wallpapers. A coat of arms cartouche with Christoph Wilhelm Dannreuther’s coat of arms above the entrance to the main hall was also lost after 1945.
Around 1750 Friedrich Wilhelm Dannreuther inherited the estate. In 1753 he remodeled the outbuildings and built a winter stable. In 1770 the Dannreuther’scher Herrensitz passed to Johann Wolfgang von Wahler through marriage to Maria Magdalena Dannreuther. His family held it until 1877. After several ownership changes Nuremberg acquired the estate in 1913.
Dr Friedrich August Nagel a Nuremberg house photographer made a shocking discovery. After World War II he found ruined rolls of Baroque textile wallpaper. He recognized it as the original wall covering of the Brettergarten palace. Upon closer inspection he discovered that the city administration had senselessly destroyed the interior. They had converted the rooms into offices for the Department of Agriculture. Perhaps the wallpapers had been salvaged but were discarded during the postwar chaos. The Dannreuther’scher Herrensitz was known for its exquisite Baroque interior design. Nagel noted its original furnishings had remained intact before this destruction.
The Dannreuther’scher Herrensitz stands as a testament to its unique past. It is a reminder of the craftsmanship and artistry of its era. The story of this manor house reflects the city of Nuremberg’s own rich history. Today it still stands altered yet bearing witness to centuries of events. A remarkable piece of Nuremberg’s heritage the Dannreuther’scher Herrensitz continues to captivate and inspire.