Gutshaus Hodenberg

Hidden within Bremen-Oberneuland, Gutshaus Hodenberg whispers tales of centuries past. This isn’t just an estate; it’s a time capsule. Gutshaus Hodenberg first appeared in records around 1149. The von Hodenberg family, possibly ousted from their castle near Hoya, served the Archbishop and likely became the first owners. Though the Hodenberg name surfaces in documents only in 1421. By then, the noble von der Hellen family resided there until 1608. Life revolved around Gutshaus Hodenberg for about 20 farming families, who paid dues to their lord. Bremen’s mayor, Diedrich Hoyer the Younger, acquired the estate in 1609 and built a new manor house. A succession of pastors, lawyers, and merchants owned the property until Hermann Heymann, a merchant and consul for Great Britain, built the core of the current Gutshaus Hodenberg in 1787. Around this time, the Marwede estate branched off from Hodenberg. In 1810, Friedrich Engelken established a psychiatric clinic within Gutshaus Hodenberg, which operated until 1863. Robert Rickmers, a shipbuilder, shipowner, and rice merchant, then took ownership until 1948. He adorned the house with the colors of Helgoland – green, white, and red – a nod to his upbringing. His wife created an open-air theater, and Gutshaus Hodenberg became a hub for artists and merchants, renowned for its wine cellar. Figures like Ernst Müller-Scheeßel, Th. Hermann, Albert Ritterhoff, and Heinrich Vogeler graced its halls. In 1936, Rickmers converted the estate into the “Der Hodenberg” foundation, later dedicated to fostering regional pride. Today, the 7-hectare park, redesigned in 1906 by Christian Roselius, surrounds the manor house. Inside, 150 square meters of reception rooms showcase Rickmers’ collections. Siamese Buddha statues, antique German pewter, Burmese temple figures, Delft tiles, Chinese vases, French furniture, paintings by Worpswede artists, and Chinese silk paintings are just a glimpse of the treasures within Gutshaus Hodenberg. Outside, a landscape garden with a romantic open-air theater, a baroque tuffstone grotto from 1787 also designed by Roselius, a pavilion from around 1906, and 18th and 19th-century garden sculptures adorn the grounds. The Reitverein Hubertus stables add another layer to this rich tapestry.