Did you ever hear of a church that housed a musical treasure, only to let it slip away? Right here, before the Evangelische Kirchgemeinde Hilbersdorf, such a tale unfolds. The Evangelische Kirchgemeinde Hilbersdorf has seen centuries come and go. First mentioned in 1432, it served as a filial church to Conradsdorf until 1895. The original church structure met a tragic end, destroyed by Swedish soldiers in 1639. Rebuilt in 1642, the Evangelische Kirchgemeinde Hilbersdorf gained a new life. A remarkable event occurred in 1723. The renowned organ builder Gottfried Silbermann crafted a magnificent five-register positiv organ for the church. Imagine the beautiful sounds that must have filled this space. This organ became a cherished possession of the Evangelische Kirchgemeinde Hilbersdorf. However, the story takes an unexpected turn. In 1906, the church decided to sell Silbermann’s masterpiece. They desired a grander instrument. The organ, a treasure of musical history, found its way to the Heyersche Collection in Cologne. Later, it moved to the Musikinstrumentenmuseum of Leipzig University, where it remains today. While the original Silbermann organ is gone, the Evangelische Kirchgemeinde Hilbersdorf continues to serve its community. Over 300 members gather here for services and events. Though the echoes of Silbermann’s organ are no longer heard within these walls, the spirit of music and faith lives on. The story of the lost organ serves as a reminder of the changing tides of time and the choices that shape our heritage.
Wiesenschacht
Deep beneath the bustling streets of Freiberg, hidden from the modern world, lies the Wiesenschacht. It’s also known as the