Did you know that the Wei\u00dfhaus in Cologne is more than just a pretty building? It is a medieval moated castle with a fascinating past. The Wei\u00dfhaus sits in the S\u00fclz district on Luxemburger Stra\u00dfe. It stands as a testament to Cologne’s rich history.
In medieval times, the Wei\u00dfhaus was the first fortified house outside Cologne’s walls. It stood on the road to Trier. Being outside the city, it was often in danger of destruction.
The Abbots of Saint Pantaleon Abbey owned the Wei\u00dfhaus. The abbey was founded in 957. The Abbots used the Wei\u00dfhaus as a summer residence. The name “Wei\u00dfhaus” first appeared in a document from 1378. Godschalk and Johanna Volver leased land from Saint Pantaleon Abbey. A country house called “Zu dem Wyssenhuys” was mentioned in 1468.
In 1474, during the Neuss War, the city of Cologne destroyed it. This was for safety reasons as Charles the Bold’s army approached. Saint Pantaleon Abbey demanded compensation. The city council rejected this demand. The Wei\u00dfhaus was rebuilt. However, it burned down in 1584.
Abt Henricus Spichernagel rebuilt it in 1613. He was the abbot from 1606 to 1641. The tower still stands from this reconstruction. From its first mention until secularization, the Wei\u00dfhaus belonged to the parish of Kriel. In 1658, the Duffesbach flood destroyed it. It was then rebuilt as a moated castle. Abt Aegidius Romanus expanded it into a summer residence in 1669.
After the Napoleonic Wars, the state took ownership of the monasteries’ properties. At that time, the Wei\u00dfhaus estate included 300 acres of land. The Duffesbach no longer feeds the moat. This happened when the Luxemburger Stra\u00dfe was built between 1824 and 1846. The stream now flows under the road through pipes. In 1843, the manor house was remodeled in a classicist style.
In 1849, Johann Adam Jansen bought the Wei\u00dfhaus. He was a Cologne merchant. He hired Vincenz Statz to design a chapel. The Wei\u00dfhauskapelle is a neo-Gothic chapel next to the tower. Johann Anton Ramboux designed the interior with tempera paintings. Cardinal Archbishop Johannes von Geissel consecrated the chapel on November 10, 1857. Important religious and secular guests attended.
The paintings depict scenes. These include the Annunciation, Visitation, and Nativity. They also show the presentation of Jesus in the Temple. The Death, Assumption, and Coronation of Mary are in the ship of the chapel. Male and female family patron saints are in the choir. Johann Anton Ramboux also designed the stained glass windows. They depict the Magnificat of Mary. Johann Anton Friedrich Baudri’s workshop in Cologne created them.
Today, the Wei\u00dfhaus is a two-story manor house. It has a mansard roof. An octagonal staircase tower with a Baroque dome stands on one side. This tower dates back to 1619. The chapel is from the 19th century. After war damage, the Wei\u00dfhaus was rebuilt several times until 1953. Two arched bridges cross the moat. The northeastern bridge has an iron gate from around 1669. It features rich ornamentation.
The grounds cover about 20,800 square meters. A 2.20-meter-high wall surrounds a park-like garden. The public cannot access it. A modern flat-roofed building with a swimming pool and sports rooms is on the property. The iron gate on Luxemburger Stra\u00dfe offers a view of the front parts of the grounds.
Until May 2019, the estate was privately owned by the heirs of Heinrich Wolf. He passed away in 2010. In 2015, the heirs looked for a buyer. Local politicians wanted the city of Cologne to purchase the Wei\u00dfhaus and park. They suggested using it for Cologne University facilities and opening it to the public. In September 2015, the Cologne city council decided against taking on any obligations for the property’s maintenance. They also considered the asking price too high. In May 2019, Adam Szpyt bought the Wei\u00dfhaus for around six million euros.
So, as you stand before the Wei\u00dfhaus, remember its long history. It has been a summer residence, a fortified house, and a private estate. It remains a beautiful and important part of Cologne’s heritage, a silent witness to centuries of change.