Evenburg
Encyclopedia
The Evenburg is a water castle
in the village of Loga in north Germany, not far from the River Leda. It was built by Colonel Erhard Reichsfreiherr von Ehrentreuter of Hofrieth (1596-1664), commander of the Dutch
garrison
in Emden
, between the years 1642 and 1650. He named the castle after his wife Eva, Baroness Ungnad, of Bohemia
, whom he had married in 1631. Colonel von Ehrentreuter had been enfeoffed with Loga and the neighbouring village of Logabirum
by Count Ulrich II of East Frisia
to pay off his considerable gambling debts.
Marie von Ehrentreuter (1633-1702), the youngest daughter of the colonel, married Gustav Wilhelm Freiherr von Wedel (1641-1717) who came from Konigsberg. The later field marshal of the Danish King Christian became the new lord of Evenburg and also the Governor of Oldenburg Land
. In 1684, having amassed a considerable fortune, he bought the Jarlsberg near Oslo
in Norway
as well. From that time onwards, the von Wedels were given the title of Count.
Descendants of the von Wedel family, whose main residence today is Gödens Castle in the parish of Sande, occupied the Evenburg for centuries. In 1861/62, the building, which was one of the earliest examples of classical
architecture in the Dutch style, was badly in need of repair and was largely demolished. Only the foundation walls and the vault of the old transept in the centre were incorporated into the new residence, which was otherwise executed in the pseudo-Gothic style; its architect being Richard Stueve from Hanover
. During the Second World War (1939-1945) the castle was badly damaged and abandoned for a long time thereafter.
After extensive renovation work the Evenburg is now home to various institutions including the Education Academy of East Frisia and a college for grammar school teachers. Until a few years ago it also housed the district media centre for Leer district, who had acquired the Evenburg in June 1975 along with its estates for about seven million deutschmarks
from the von Wedels. Its attractions include the long double avenue
, which leads from the town of Leer to the castle, the baroque bastion (Vorburg) of 1703 (home to the district music school), the hallway, the remains of the old stables and the extensive landscaped park in the style of an English garden
with paths to the Ledadeich (dyke).
By 2006 the Evenburg had been returned to its appearance in the mid-19th century. The neo-Gothic roof and many interior details were restored. It was opened in January 2007. The castle may be visited as part of a guided tours. The hall (Saal) and the bastion host concerts and other events.
Water castle
A water castle is a castle or stately home whose site is entirely surrounded by moats or natural waterbodies. Topographically water castles are a type of lowland castle.There is a further distinction between:...
in the village of Loga in north Germany, not far from the River Leda. It was built by Colonel Erhard Reichsfreiherr von Ehrentreuter of Hofrieth (1596-1664), commander of the Dutch
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
garrison
Garrison
Garrison is the collective term for a body of troops stationed in a particular location, originally to guard it, but now often simply using it as a home base....
in Emden
Emden
Emden is a city and seaport in the northwest of Germany, on the river Ems. It is the main city of the region of East Frisia; in 2006, the city had a total population of 51,692.-History:...
, between the years 1642 and 1650. He named the castle after his wife Eva, Baroness Ungnad, of Bohemia
Bohemia
Bohemia is a historical region in central Europe, occupying the western two-thirds of the traditional Czech Lands. It is located in the contemporary Czech Republic with its capital in Prague...
, whom he had married in 1631. Colonel von Ehrentreuter had been enfeoffed with Loga and the neighbouring village of Logabirum
Logabirum
Logabirum is a quarter in the city of Leer in East Frisia, Lower Saxony, Germany.-The name:Logabirum was documented for the first time in 1439 as Loghebeerne. Before the spelling of Logabirum was fixed, it had a number of different variations...
by Count Ulrich II of East Frisia
East Frisia
East Frisia or Eastern Friesland is a coastal region in the northwest of the German federal state of Lower Saxony....
to pay off his considerable gambling debts.
Marie von Ehrentreuter (1633-1702), the youngest daughter of the colonel, married Gustav Wilhelm Freiherr von Wedel (1641-1717) who came from Konigsberg. The later field marshal of the Danish King Christian became the new lord of Evenburg and also the Governor of Oldenburg Land
Oldenburg Land
The Oldenburg Land is a region and regional association in the German state of Lower Saxony in the area of the former Grand Duchy of Oldenburg , the later Free State of Oldenburg and administrative district of Oldenburg without its exclaves, along the rivers Hunte and Hase...
. In 1684, having amassed a considerable fortune, he bought the Jarlsberg near Oslo
Oslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
in Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
as well. From that time onwards, the von Wedels were given the title of Count.
Descendants of the von Wedel family, whose main residence today is Gödens Castle in the parish of Sande, occupied the Evenburg for centuries. In 1861/62, the building, which was one of the earliest examples of classical
Classicism
Classicism, in the arts, refers generally to a high regard for classical antiquity, as setting standards for taste which the classicists seek to emulate. The art of classicism typically seeks to be formal and restrained: of the Discobolus Sir Kenneth Clark observed, "if we object to his restraint...
architecture in the Dutch style, was badly in need of repair and was largely demolished. Only the foundation walls and the vault of the old transept in the centre were incorporated into the new residence, which was otherwise executed in the pseudo-Gothic style; its architect being Richard Stueve from Hanover
Hanover
Hanover or Hannover, on the river Leine, is the capital of the federal state of Lower Saxony , Germany and was once by personal union the family seat of the Hanoverian Kings of Great Britain, under their title as the dukes of Brunswick-Lüneburg...
. During the Second World War (1939-1945) the castle was badly damaged and abandoned for a long time thereafter.
After extensive renovation work the Evenburg is now home to various institutions including the Education Academy of East Frisia and a college for grammar school teachers. Until a few years ago it also housed the district media centre for Leer district, who had acquired the Evenburg in June 1975 along with its estates for about seven million deutschmarks
German mark
The Deutsche Mark |mark]], abbreviated "DM") was the official currency of West Germany and Germany until the adoption of the euro in 2002. It is commonly called the "Deutschmark" in English but not in German. Germans often say "Mark" or "D-Mark"...
from the von Wedels. Its attractions include the long double avenue
Avenue
Avenue may refer to:* Avenue , a specialist term in archaeology referring to lines of stones* Avenue , X-Factor UK contestants* Avenue , a straight route with a line of trees or large shrubs running along each side...
, which leads from the town of Leer to the castle, the baroque bastion (Vorburg) of 1703 (home to the district music school), the hallway, the remains of the old stables and the extensive landscaped park in the style of an English garden
English garden
The English garden, also called English landscape park , is a style of Landscape garden which emerged in England in the early 18th century, and spread across Europe, replacing the more formal, symmetrical Garden à la française of the 17th century as the principal gardening style of Europe. The...
with paths to the Ledadeich (dyke).
By 2006 the Evenburg had been returned to its appearance in the mid-19th century. The neo-Gothic roof and many interior details were restored. It was opened in January 2007. The castle may be visited as part of a guided tours. The hall (Saal) and the bastion host concerts and other events.
Sources
- Bärenfänger, Rolf (1996). Archäologie im Park des Schlosses Evenburg in Loga. Wegweiser zur Vor- und Frühgeschichte Niedersachsens 26. Oldenburg:Isensee Verlag, ISBN 3-89995-319-3.
- Braukmüller, Heide and Neumann, Detlev (1996). Zur Geschichte der Evenburg. Leer:Reinhard, ISBN 3-927139-24-6.
- Gerdes, Klaus (2008). Naturkundlicher Führer durch den Evenburgpark in Loga, Leer:Landkreis Leer, ISBN 978-3-00-025859-6.