This 14 bedroom manor house offers a unique opportunity to own a piece of Germany's history. Its location in Schirgiswalde, Saxony, offers stunning views over the countryside and access to a wide range of amenities. The property first dates back to 1376 when it was part of a royal estate under the jurisdiction of the Kingdom of Bohemia.
Fast forward to 1635 when the settlement was officially recognised as a town and territorially transferred to the Electorate of Saxony, as a result of the Peace of Prague which ended Saxony's involvement in the Thirty Years War. In 1681 Anton Florian purchased the town and castle from the estate of Franz Eusebius von Pötting. And in 1703 he sold the estate and lands to the Catholic Church when he departed for Spain to serve Archduke Karl who became Emperor Charles VI upon the death of his brother in 1711.
Charles VI created the new principality of Lichtenstein, specifically for the purpose of allowing Anton Florian admittance to the Reichstag - making him the first Prince of Lichtenstein and reigning until his death in 1721. Schirgiswalde remained a functioning estate by the Catholic Church for many decades, during which time the area remained in geographic controversy. Eventually, in 1813 with the end of the French presence, the region was claimed by Saxony and militarily occupied until formal border agreements were established in 1845.
The estate saw its greatest changes at this time when Bishop Ignaz Bernhard Mauermann (1786-1841) converted it into the Bishop of Bautzens' official summer residence. After this, the Countess von Thun-Hohenstein of Teschen and her family spent one year in exile here in 1848. The mansion was used uninterrupted by the serving Bishop of Bautzen as a summer residence up until the close of the Second World War.
Bishop Petrus Legge was exiled to the estate during the latter years of the war due to his years of outspoken defiance of the Nazi regime. In the post-war period, the estate found a variety of uses - most importantly as a school for music, a shelter for women and children, and a kindergarten until 2006.
The classical period structure that emerged during the conversion features four floors of built-out living space, with 675 m² of useable space. The main floor stands on the original foundations, with 90cm thick walls, and features a formal garden, painted wallpaper in some of the rooms, and a kitchen. On the first floor there are four rooms and a large bathroom, and on the 2nd floor there are five large rooms and bath facilities. The mansard level includes a large open room with six further rooms available. The loft space is unused but could be converted with planning permission, while the cellar is partially complete.
The roof and heating system were renewed in the mid-1990s, internet is available with DSL or Fibre connection. Overall, this listed mansion offers approximately 675 m² of interior space over four floors and is situated on a 2.5-acre plot. Make this centuries-old estate your home and be part of its rich history!