“A whisper from the past still clings to these stones” is a fitting introduction to Hofgut. Hofgut, also known as Kirschgartshausen, is more than just a collection of buildings. It is a place steeped in centuries of history.
Let’s step back in time to 1272. Imagine a landscape where Eberhard von Ehrenberg gifted his pastures to Schönaus Abbey. This is the first time “Husen”, as Kirschgartshausen was then known, appeared in records. The Wittelsbach Palatinate had a farm here. The Bishopric of Worms also owned land, managed as part of the County of Worms.
In 1274, the Ehrenberg family passed their fiefdom in “Husen” to the Cistercian nuns of Kirschgarten Abbey. A year later, they also transferred the patronage with court and all accessories. By 1277, the Chapel of St. Gangolf was mentioned. It was subordinate to the Cyriakus Monastery in Worms-Neuhausen. Today, no traces of it remain.
By 1422, the nearly extinct Kirschgarten Abbey sold its Kirschgartshausen holdings to Elector Ludwig III of the Palatinate. He incorporated it into his estate. He fortified the location and surrounded it with moats. The Electoral Palatinate became the sole owner by 1508 through purchases. They maintained the chapel and pastoral care.
Kirschgartshausen became Electoral Palatinate table property. In 1684, Elector Karl II gave it to his master of the horse and Governor of Frankenthal, Count Karl Ludwig of Sayn-Wittgenstein. He then called himself “Lord of Kirschgartshausen”. The area returned to the Electoral Palatinate in 1768. The Sayn-Wittgenstein family had primarily settled Mennonites there. Ulrich Möllinger was a temporary leaseholder. He was the grandfather of agrarian reformer David Möllinger.
In 1803, Kirschgartshausen went from the Electoral Palatinate to the Electorate of Baden. Elector Karl Friedrich of Baden gave the estate to his sons, the Counts of Hochberg, in 1804. They were recognized as hereditary princes of the House of Baden in 1818. The State Domain of Kirschgartshausen went to the Republic of Baden in 1919. It eventually became part of the state of Baden-Württemberg.
Administratively, the village belonged to the Heidelberg Upper Bailiwick. During Baden’s time, it was part of the Ladenburg district. From 1864, it belonged to the Mannheim district. Kirschgartshausen was incorporated into the city of Mannheim in October 1930. At that time, the population consisted of nine resident families and about 100 seasonal agricultural workers. About one-third of the fields were planted with potatoes and sugar beets. The rest was planted with rye, wheat, barley, and oats.
The village road runs from south to north, parallel to the B 44. It leads directly to the centrally located manor house. This is the most important property. Most recently it served as a restaurant. Today, it is uninhabited and dilapidated. It is a palace-like, two-story building from the 18th century. Its core is probably still medieval. It extends in an east-west direction. It has a hipped roof with a rooftop turret, eight window axes, and a lower extension on each side. There is a two-sided outdoor staircase in front of the facade.
West of the manor house is a passageway. Medieval masonry is still visible. The door lintel in the left extension is inscribed: 19 · MAXIMILIAN PRINZ U. MARKGRAF ZU BADEN · 11.
Today, Hofgut is home to three main users. The sugar producer Südzucker has operated a research institute. The focus is on alternative crop protection, biodiversity, and digitalization of agriculture. The state of Baden-Württemberg uses some of the barns as storage. Sandstone components of historical buildings, such as Heidelberg Castle, are stored there. In May 2021, the Dietrich Bonhoeffer Association for Christian Education Mannheim took over the site. They plan to create an innovative educational campus.
As you stand here, consider the layers of time beneath your feet. Kirschgartshausen stands as a testament to resilience and transformation. It is a place where the past informs the present and shapes the future.