Deep in Kirchheim’s embrace sits a hidden gem. It is not a castle nor a grand church but the serene Pleikartsf\u00f6rster Hof. This unassuming hamlet whispers tales of medieval origins and centuries of rural life.
Pleikartsf\u00f6rster Hof lies southwest of Heidelberg’s center. It sits almost equidistant between Kirchheim and Pfaffengrund. This location is steeped in history.
Imagine stepping back in time to the early 12th century. The first mentions of this place appear between 1140 and 1152. Back then, it was known as Bliggersforst. This name suggests a high medieval expansion site. It bordered the long-gone Hegenichwaldes forest.
The Landschad von Steinach family likely founded Pleikartsf\u00f6rster Hof. The name Bligger was common in their lineage. They also had close ties to the noble families of Kirchheim. These families held lower jurisdiction until around 1200.
The Kloster Sch\u00f6nau took over the land. This happened after 1152. They acquired the property by paying an annual fee. This fee was paid to the monasteries of St Martin and Neuhausen.
Initially monks managed the estate. But by the 15th century, it was leased to farmers. Records from 1559 mention two tenant families. The Pflege Sch\u00f6nau owned the land. They succeeded the monastery after its dissolution in 1558.
In 1652, a member of the Quadt noble family acquired the farm. However, disaster struck in January 1689. The Palatinate War of Succession brought complete destruction.
Reconstruction followed. Mostly four families called Pleikartsf\u00f6rster Hof home as tenants. From the 1850s, these families rapidly acquired the farms as their own property.
The Treiber family once lived here. Their descendants founded and ran the Feldschl\u00f6sschen Brewery in Oggersheim.
Around 1850, Johann Christian Metzger a pomologist from Heidelberg ran a tree nursery in Pleikartsforst.
Pleikartsf\u00f6rster Hof never had its own district. It belonged to Kirchheim. Schools and churches were also in Kirchheim. From early times, it was part of the Kirchheim Zent. This lasted until its dissolution in 1803. Therefore it belonged to the Electoral Palatinate.
Today Pleikartsf\u00f6rster Hof maintains its charm. The historic core is a largely enclosed complex. Several independent farms cluster around a central square. A fountain graces this space. The main buildings date from the late 18th to mid-19th centuries. A few newer houses stand along Oftersheimer Weg.
The Oftersheimer Weg skirts the hamlet’s north side providing the only access. Nearby to the north lies the former US airfield. It is now the Heidelberg Army Heliport.
As you leave Pleikartsf\u00f6rster Hof remember its long history. From its medieval roots to its present-day tranquility, it embodies the enduring spirit of the Heidelberg area. A testament to the ebb and flow of time.