Tannenfeld Castle stands on a wooded hill an hour south of Leipzig. The dignified Baroque manor house was built at the turn of the 19th century for Duchess Anna Dorothea of Courland, who was from an area of modern-day Latvia.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Anna Dorothea was an influential woman of her time, a well-known diplomat and socialite. She hosted festivals, theatre performances, concerts and political gatherings at Tannenfeld, attracting high-profile artists, scientists and politicians.
Anna Dorothea reportedly moved in the same circles as Napoleon and Prussian King Frederick William III. She even hosted the likes of Tsar Alexander I of Russia and Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, one of Germany’s most influential writers and thinkers, at Tannenfeld.
German writer Jean Paul reportedly wrote about Tannenfeld, describing it as a “friendly, Italian-style summer palace” located in front of a “wide bowling green, around which the simple park with its tree-lined walks stretches”.
After Anna Dorothea’s death, the manor house became a private sanitorium for people with mental health problems where German writer Hans Fallada was treated. It continued as a hospital into the 1990s until it was turned into a care home for the elderly.
Tannenfeld was eventually abandoned and has fallen slowly into disrepair. However, as we can see from this image taken in 2015, all is far from lost – the parquet floors, chandelier and wall and ceiling mouldings in this reception room are all still in salvageable condition.
This somewhat austere room is a krankenbett or ‘sick room’, which dates back to the mansion’s time as a hospital.
In 2017, Tannenfeld was sold to a group of private investors who promised to pour around €10 million (£8.5m/$10.8m) into renovating the historic building. In line with the estate’s history, the property will be transformed into a care facility for people suffering from dementia and mental illnesses. The castle will also house a café and events centre.
However, according to Google Maps photos from May 2024, there doesn’t seem to have been much work undertaken on the mansion yet.
Back in the 19th century, Anna Dorothea transformed the grounds around the palace into a landscaped park, made fashionable by the English aristocracy of the time. Today, the gardens still attract visitors who can enjoy carpets of daffodils and towering rhododendrons.
The grounds are also home to a number of outbuildings in various states of disrepair – including the beautiful water tower and villa. Pictured here, this 1920s ‘sunbathing hall’ is one of the more derelict structures on the acreage, but we can imagine it would make a perfect summer house from which to enjoy the beautiful parkland.
Here’s hoping this incredible estate will be brought back to life for future generations to enjoy.