Orangerie Gut Gaschwitz

Did the scent of citrus blossoms ever waft through 18th-century Gaschwitz? It certainly did at the Orangerie Gut Gaschwitz. This elegant structure, meticulously restored between 2010 and 2012, whispers tales of a bygone era. The Orangerie Gut Gaschwitz stands as a testament to the grandeur of the Gaschwitz estate. It was once part of a sprawling complex that included a manor house, various outbuildings, and even a network of six ponds. Today, the Orangerie and the south gatehouse serve as a vibrant hub for the community. They host gatherings and events for the residents of Gaschwitz and Großstädteln, breathing life back into the historic grounds. The original manor house at Orangerie Gut Gaschwitz, a five-sided, half-timbered baroque structure complete with anerker and mansard roof, dates back to around 1700. The von Zehmen family commissioned this charming building. Shortly after, in 1702, they sold the estate to Friedrich von Hopffgarten, commander of Leipzig’s Pleißenburg. Hopffgarten added his own touch in 1705. He constructed a new manor house, initially a simple Fachwerkhaus without the tower we see today. The estate changed hands again in 1716, passing to Benjamin Magen, a Leipzig jurist. Magen’s family added another manor house to the complex and cultivated a beautiful park, further enhancing Orangerie Gut Gaschwitz. The older manor house underwent renovations in 1759. Rahel von Bose, the owner at the time, added a picturesque, slate-covered clock tower atop the mansard roof, complete with a weathervane. Orangerie Gut Gaschwitz witnessed a period of transformation around 1876. Three of the six ponds that graced the estate were filled in during a Pleiße River regulation project, forever altering the landscape. Fast forward to 1905, the Plantier family, then owners of Orangerie Gut Gaschwitz, commissioned architect Peter Dybwad to completely rebuild the newer manor house. In 1925, they sold the entire estate to AG Sächsische Werke (ASW), a company acquiring land in preparation for brown coal mining. Although the estate was leased to a Mr. Schreiber, mining operations eventually transformed the area surrounding Gaschwitz. After World War II, Orangerie Gut Gaschwitz was nationalized and transformed into a Volkseigenes Gut (VEG), a state-owned farm. The manor houses were separated from the farm. The newer house became a school in 1947. Unfortunately, the farm buildings fell into disrepair. Yet, the story of the Orangerie Gut Gaschwitz doesn’t end there. In the year 2000, a new chapter began when the city of Markkleeberg acquired the entire estate. The meticulous restoration of the Orangerie and the south gatehouse has returned a piece of history to the community.