Didn’t Leipzig celebrate its 1,000th anniversary recently? Well, among the many historical treasures here is Schloss Schönefeld. Today, we are standing before Schloss Schönefeld. This is not just a building, it is a landmark with stories etched into its very stones.
Schloss Schönefeld is located on the western edge of Schönefeld. It sits slightly elevated near the Parthe River. Zeumerstraße separates it from the Gedächtniskirche Schönefeld.
The history of Schloss Schönefeld is quite interesting. The name Schönefeld came from the Grafen von Schönefeld family. Their family history dates back to at least the 13th century. By the second half of the 16th century, the area became known as Schönefeld.
In 1404, Georg Thümmel, a councilor from Leipzig, was granted the Schönefeld estate. The Thümmel family, later known as von Thümmel, owned it for 350 years. During the Austrian War of Succession, Prussian troops caused significant damage. In 1754, Carl Heinrich von Thümmel had to sell the estate to Johann Friedrich Zeumer. Zeumer began extensive construction and renovation work.
After Zeumer died childless in 1774, the estate passed to Johann Christoph Schmidt. Schmidt’s relatives were compensated. In 1794, Johann Ullrich Schneider acquired the estate. Due to his Protestant faith, his brother Ludwig Schneider had to formally purchase it.
During the Battle of the Nations in 1813, Marshal Michel Ney ordered the estate to be burned. This was during a time when the French position against the Russians was becoming dire.
After Schneider’s death in 1815, his daughter Marianne Wilhelmine Rosine Elisabeth inherited the property. She married Freiherr Franz Botho von Eberstein. Their daughter, Hedwig von Eberstein, eventually became the owner.
Hedwig von Eberstein had a new manor house built between 1871 and 1876. This replaced the one destroyed in 1813. The architect was Bruno Leopold Grimm from Leipzig. As Leipzig expanded, Hedwig sold large parts of the Schönefeld fields for development. These areas became the Neustadt and Neuschönefeld communities. Hedwig stipulated that the area south of the castle should remain undeveloped. This area became the Mariannenpark in 1913.
Hedwig von Eberstein established the Mariannenstiftung in 1881. This foundation provided housing for daughters of civil servants and military officers. The beneficiaries had to meet certain criteria. They had to be over 30, unmarried, healthy, and of good character. They also had to have limited personal wealth. They received free accommodation, full board, and an annual allowance.
From 1945 to 1948, a Soviet district command occupied the Schloss Schönefeld. In 1946, land belonging to the foundation was expropriated. It was then distributed to new farmers and the city of Leipzig. In 1949, the city used the buildings to establish a nursing home. During the DDR era, Schloss Schönefeld was poorly maintained.
In 1990, three non-profit organizations founded the Förderverein Schloss Schönefeld. In 1991, the city approved the association’s request to manage Schloss Schönefeld. The goal was to enable self-determined living for people with disabilities.
With funding from various sources, the castle was renovated. In 1994, the school for children with disabilities was opened. The association also manages residential facilities for adults with disabilities.
Today, Schloss Schönefeld serves as a cultural and community center. The Chursächsische Capelle Leipzig holds Schönefeld Palace Concerts here. These concerts feature mostly Baroque music. The open building complex includes the manor house. There is also a small palace park with a pond. The former orangery and coach house are nearby.
Schloss Schönefeld stands as a testament to Leipzig’s long and varied history. It is a place of community, culture, and care.