Rittergut Kürbitz
Encyclopedia
The Feudal Estate of Kürbitz, in Vogtland
, was a manor of the family of Feilitzsch, from which today only a part of the mansion is extant.
, an fortified house
, at a crossing of the river Weiße Elster
(white magpie) becomes later the mansion of the feudal estate. About 700 years, till 1945, the feudal estate is in possession of the noble family. A prominent personality in the history of the property was Urban Caspar Baron of Feilitzsch, Margravial Brandenburgian Privy Council, chancellor
and fief judge. In the 17th century he let by the building alteration to a residential castle establish the building form, which is recognisable till this day. The original medieval residential tower bears a overhanging half-timbered
superstruction with a precipitous saddle roof. At the beginning of the 19th century the building was enlarged at north and eastern side by extensions with hipped roofs. The baroque
room arrangement inside of the house was preserved in essentials. During the years from 1936 to 1938 the building was renovated. After the end of the World War II the mansion was an accommodation for expellees
. Empty economic buildings on the area of the feudal estate went to ruin and were torn off, finally. Still till 1987 the upper part of the mansion was used as habitation. The rooms in the ground floor were used as school kitchen and also the local library was accommodated here.
1987, in morning of November 11, it came to a devastating fire. Upper floor and roof were victim of the flames and the mansion could be preserved only with immense efforts from complete destruction. Only short time later installed committed inhabitants of Kürbitz a temporary protecting roof and protected so the building from influences of weather. For a duration of nearly 20 years this action preserves the building from further decay.
After the reunion of Germany
Mr. Joachim Baron von Feilitzsch attended to the residence of his forefathers and since 2005 a booster club
, the "Förderverein Rittergut Kürbitz", is active for rescue, preservation and future use of the mansion. Many-sided activities allowed the approval of financial grants and thus a comprehensive emergency protection of the building could be carried out in 2007. The masonry was stabilised, the framework was partially renovated and also the completely destroyed roof was restored, accurate corresponding to the historical example.
Vogtland
The term Vogtland refers to a region reaching across the German free states of Bavaria, Saxony and Thuringia and into the Czech Republic . The name of the region contains a reference to the former leadership by the Vögte of Weida, Gera and Plauen, which translates approximately to advocates or lord...
, was a manor of the family of Feilitzsch, from which today only a part of the mansion is extant.
History
The family, named after her ancestral seat Feilitzsch near town Hof, was at about 1300 one of the big landowners in Kürbitz. Jobst of Feilitzsch acquired in the late 15th century locally existing estates and founded thus the feudal estate Kürbitz. A former water castleMoat
A moat is a deep, broad ditch, either dry or filled with water, that surrounds a castle, other building or town, historically to provide it with a preliminary line of defence. In some places moats evolved into more extensive water defences, including natural or artificial lakes, dams and sluices...
, an fortified house
Fortified house
A fortified house is a type of building which developed in Europe during the Middle Ages.Generally beginning as a traditional manor house or noble residence it would later be later fortified to a more military styling with the addition of gate houses, stone walls, towers or other such features to...
, at a crossing of the river Weiße Elster
Weiße Elster
The White Elster or Weisse Elster is a long river in central Europe, right tributary of the Saale. Its source is in the westernmost part of the Czech Republic, near Aš. After a few kilometres, it flows into eastern Germany...
(white magpie) becomes later the mansion of the feudal estate. About 700 years, till 1945, the feudal estate is in possession of the noble family. A prominent personality in the history of the property was Urban Caspar Baron of Feilitzsch, Margravial Brandenburgian Privy Council, chancellor
Chancellor
Chancellor is the title of various official positions in the governments of many nations. The original chancellors were the Cancellarii of Roman courts of justice—ushers who sat at the cancelli or lattice work screens of a basilica or law court, which separated the judge and counsel from the...
and fief judge. In the 17th century he let by the building alteration to a residential castle establish the building form, which is recognisable till this day. The original medieval residential tower bears a overhanging half-timbered
Timber framing
Timber framing , or half-timbering, also called in North America "post-and-beam" construction, is the method of creating structures using heavy squared off and carefully fitted and joined timbers with joints secured by large wooden pegs . It is commonplace in large barns...
superstruction with a precipitous saddle roof. At the beginning of the 19th century the building was enlarged at north and eastern side by extensions with hipped roofs. The baroque
Baroque
The Baroque is a period and the style that used exaggerated motion and clear, easily interpreted detail to produce drama, tension, exuberance, and grandeur in sculpture, painting, literature, dance, and music...
room arrangement inside of the house was preserved in essentials. During the years from 1936 to 1938 the building was renovated. After the end of the World War II the mansion was an accommodation for expellees
Heimatvertriebene
Heimatvertriebene are those around 12 million ethnic Germans who fled or were expelled after World War II from parts of Germany annexed by Poland and Russia, and from other countries, who found refuge in both West and East Germany, and Austria...
. Empty economic buildings on the area of the feudal estate went to ruin and were torn off, finally. Still till 1987 the upper part of the mansion was used as habitation. The rooms in the ground floor were used as school kitchen and also the local library was accommodated here.
1987, in morning of November 11, it came to a devastating fire. Upper floor and roof were victim of the flames and the mansion could be preserved only with immense efforts from complete destruction. Only short time later installed committed inhabitants of Kürbitz a temporary protecting roof and protected so the building from influences of weather. For a duration of nearly 20 years this action preserves the building from further decay.
After the reunion of Germany
German reunification
German reunification was the process in 1990 in which the German Democratic Republic joined the Federal Republic of Germany , and when Berlin reunited into a single city, as provided by its then Grundgesetz constitution Article 23. The start of this process is commonly referred by Germans as die...
Mr. Joachim Baron von Feilitzsch attended to the residence of his forefathers and since 2005 a booster club
Booster club
A booster club is an organization that is formed to support an associated club, sports team, or organization. Booster clubs are popular in American schools at the high school and university level...
, the "Förderverein Rittergut Kürbitz", is active for rescue, preservation and future use of the mansion. Many-sided activities allowed the approval of financial grants and thus a comprehensive emergency protection of the building could be carried out in 2007. The masonry was stabilised, the framework was partially renovated and also the completely destroyed roof was restored, accurate corresponding to the historical example.