Ever wonder what secrets a landscape park holds? Schlosspark Lerbach is such a place. It is a spacious park with a rich history. Let’s step back in time and uncover the story of this remarkable place.
Once upon a time, a moated castle stood here near the Lerbach stream. The word “Ler” likely comes from Middle High German. It meant “rock” or “slate.” So, Lerbach means “rocky stream.” In 1384, the castle was first mentioned as a knight’s estate. Johann von Hoenen took ownership.
Over the centuries, Schlosspark Lerbach changed hands several times. The von Forstbach family owned it in the 15th and early 16th centuries. Gottfried von Steinen, a privy counselor, became the owner. The Steinen family provided officials for various Bergisch districts. In 1644, Gottfried von Steinen IV built a manor house. It was surrounded by water. In 1657, he sold it to Michael von Leers, an official in Porz. Later, Maria Merheims acquired the estate in 1752. Johann Adam Joseph von Herresdorf was known as the owner in 1775.
The estate included Oberlerbach, Unterlerbach, and Schmalzgrube farms. The Lerbach Mill, built in 1806, was also part of it. By 1815, the knight’s estate was no longer listed. Eduard Knobel remodeled the castle in the 1830s in a classicist style. He bought the entire estate in 1834. In 1850, Leopold Otto von Niesewandt took over. He sold it to Count Levin von Wolff-Metternich in 1865.
In 1893, Richard Zanders, a paper manufacturer, and his wife Anna Zanders bought Schlosspark Lerbach. Anna was the daughter of Werner von Siemens. The Zanders couple had a new manor house built in the English country house style. Ludwig Bopp designed it. Gabriel von Seidl made the plans. The house was completed in 1898. The Unterlerbach farm was moved to the Gronauer Waldsiedlung.
In 1900, the dilapidated moated castle was torn down. The moats became a pond. A large landscape park was created. It covered 26 hectares and merged into the forest. The Zanders family lived here. After Anna Zanders died in 1939, her nephew Hermann von Siemens inherited it. The von Siemens family owned the estate afterward.
Until 1918, the estate was wrongly called Leerbach. The name was corrected to Haus Lerbach. From 1961 to 1987, it was the European Academy Lerbach. It housed the Gustav-Stresemann-Institut. In 1988, it served as a backdrop for the TV series “Forstinspektor Buchholz.”
From 1992 to 2015, Althoff Hotels leased the building. They operated it as Schloss Lerbach. The gourmet restaurant Dieter Müller was there until 2008. In early 2023, Schloss Lerbach GmbH & Co. KG bought the property. The Reiẞdorf family from Cologne owns it. The park and buildings will be renovated and reopened in 2026. Dorint will manage the hotel.
The Haus Lerbach includes the manor house and park. All outbuildings are included. These are gatehouses, porter’s houses, and a riding hall. It is listed as a historic monument.
Albert Brodersen, a Berlin garden director, designed the landscape park. It is nestled in the Lerbach valley. The park’s construction took several years. Existing parts of the old park were used. New plantings and earthworks reshaped the landscape. Oskar Lindemann was likely the construction manager.
Curving paths wind through Schlosspark Lerbach. They showcase the landscape with its small structures. Special plants and vistas enhance the experience. A pond sits at the lowest point. It came from the moat of the old moated castle. The view from the south across the pond is iconic. A straight path leads from the southern park entrance to the manor house. The main entrance is in the east. It leads to the main portal and the farmyard.
The new Haus Lerbach was built around 1900. Terraces with formal gardens surround it. Fountains and ornamental beds decorate the south and west sides. A strictly designed courtyard is also present. These elements connect the house and nature. The farmyard with a riding stable is north of the manor house. It is a functional part of the estate.
Over time, Schlosspark Lerbach has changed. The geometric kitchen garden is gone. Parts of the terraces and the courtyard have been redesigned. Most of the sculptures are no longer there. Recently, the Lerbach stream was rerouted. The planted alder trees affect the view of the manor house.
Today, the park is being revitalized. The goal is to restore its original character. Architectural errors from the recent past will be removed. The sensitive handling of historical buildings is a priority. The English landscape garden is also protected. Schlosspark Lerbach is a testament to history. It shows how landscape design evolves over centuries. Take a moment to appreciate the beauty and history around you.