Woltow Manor

The manor house stands on an old castle complex. The moat and rampart are still clearly visible. The fief of Woltow often changed owners. Thus, Hennecke Buk from Lübeck is recorded as the feudal lord in 1389, von Moltke in 1398 (also in 1417), von Bützow in 1533, again von Moltkes zu Woltow in 1595, Balthasar Gebhard von Halberstadt in 1692, and finally the von Oertzen family from 1792. The conversion and expansion, begun by District Administrator von Oertzen from 1792, transformed the manor house into a three-winged castle by 1852. The main building was provided with a distinctive central risalit, which fulfilled the complex's claim to be a representative rural castle (as seen in the picture). As late as 1932, there was also a central risalit on the park side, which characterized the building.

The manor house probably burned down in the winter of 1939/40. As a result, there are no longer any stucco decorations or other valuable building elements inside. The manor house was extended by one window axis, the northern outbuilding was demolished, and the facade was simply provided with a smooth plaster without elaborate articulation. In 1945, the owners were forcibly dispossessed and expelled by the communists.

In the 1960s, the manor house was converted into a dormitory for single people. A kindergarten was also installed. The agricultural production cooperative installed two staircases, partially converted and extended the roof structure, which led to further massive changes to the building.

The manor house has been vacant since 1991. The last residents protected themselves against penetrating rainwater - due to the massive roof damage - by covering the top floor with tarpaulins. Moisture penetrated, which led, among other things, to the partial destruction of the existing structure. The owner began securing work in 1999, which was interrupted by an ordered construction stop.

The building application submitted by the owner of the complex in March 2000 was rejected by the then District Administrator of the Bad Doberan district due to alleged monument protection reasons. The owner's lawsuit against this before the Schwerin administrative court was successful. However, the District Administrator of the district again rejected the project, citing alleged monument protection, water protection, and nature conservation concerns. The owner was again able to refute these three arguments before the administrative court. For a very significant lateral and rear extension of the manor house, there is even a positive statement from the State Office for Monument Preservation. However, the District Administrator now argues that the property does not fit into the surrounding development, the former estate workers' houses, the gardener's house, the former forge, and a land reform house. Therefore, he rejects the project, which would serve to preserve the parkland. It must be borne in mind that the village of Woltow developed from the manor house with its farm buildings and farm workers' houses. The owner is now having the question of whether a solitary building characterizing a manor village, a manor house that never blends in but rather defines its surroundings, must fit into the surrounding development clarified before the Higher Administrative Court. Unfortunately, it is not foreseeable when the obstructionist tactics to revive this historic place will end. Unfortunately, the mayor of the small town of Tessin (CDU), which administers the municipality, also spoke out against the proposed use and thus against the possible development in Woltow.