Bärenklause Manor

The origins of the settlement of Kolchowe, on whose grounds the manor house stands, date back to 1288. After a period of desolation in the late Middle Ages, the place was resettled after 1445 under the name Goltzscha. In 1554, Hans Christof von Bernstein, lord of Kleinborthen, established an outwork and expanded his property, whereupon the estate hamlet was named Bernklause and elevated to a knight's estate in 1606. During the Thirty Years' War, in 1636, the village was largely destroyed by Swedish mercenaries. After the war, Hans Bernhard acquired the lands and resettled farmers. The Bärenklause estate enjoyed special rights due to its status as a 'schriftsässiges Rittergut', including jurisdiction over surrounding areas.