Knautkleeberg

Did Andreas Seume ever imagine his son, Johann Gottfried Seume, would become a renowned poet? We are in Knautkleeberg, a charming village now part of Leipzig. Knautkleeberg first appeared in historical records as “Cleberg” in 1190. It was among the villages owned by the noble Knaut family in the 11th century. The layout as a Gassendorf, or linear village, along today’s Seumestraße and its German name point to its German origins. Knautkleeberg’s story is interwoven with the Knaut family, the White Elster river, and even a touch of plague. In the 12th century, at the behest of Wiprecht von Groitzsch, the monks of Pegau Monastery constructed the “Mühlgraben,” a mill ditch. This engineering feat shaped the landscape and the lives of the people of Knautkleeberg. Centuries later, in 1497, a manor farm belonging to the Knauthain estate, complete with a mill, is mentioned. By 1551, Knautkleeberg had grown to encompass 32 farms. The Thirty Years’ War brought devastation and a decline in population. This decline was further exacerbated by the plague epidemic of 1642. The situation was so dire that a bypass was established around the village to divert long-distance traffic. From 1696, Knautkleeberg became part of the Lauer estate to the east and was first referred to as “Knaut-Kleebergk.” Johann Gottfried Seume spent his childhood here. His father, Andreas Seume, leased the “Zum Weißen Roß” inn in 1770. Sadly, the inn was demolished in 1980. Young Seume attended school in neighboring Knauthain because Knautkleeberg had neither a church nor a school of its own. Knautkleeberg finally got its own school in 1908, which has celebrated its centennial and continues to serve the community as the 60th elementary school. Knautkleeberg transformed significantly in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Infrastructure improvements included a railway connection in 1873, gas supply in 1899, connection to the Großzschocher/Windorf water supply system in 1908, and full electrification by 1914. These advancements, along with the picturesque landscape, attracted wealthy Leipzig residents who built country houses and villas. This led to the growth of Knautkleeberg and its merger with Knauthain. Even urban-style apartment buildings emerged. The population boomed from 344 in 1871 to 2329 in 1910. Knautkleeberg’s tranquil setting near the river and the later addition of the Fortunabad, a public bath created in 1920 from former clay pits, further enhanced its appeal. Knautkleeberg officially became part of Leipzig on April 1, 1930. From a small village to a thriving suburb, Knautkleeberg has journeyed through time. It stands as a testament to the enduring spirit of its people and the beauty of its natural surroundings.