Knau Manor

The first documented mention of Knau as a monastic farm of the Benedictine Abbey of Saalfeld dates back to 1374. However, archaeological finds of pottery shards from the 12th century near the medieval residential tower of the manor suggest an even earlier settlement. The history of the manor is closely linked to the development of the village, whose owners guided Knau's destiny and exercised jurisdiction for centuries. In 1602, the manor came into the possession of Esaias von Brandenstein, who had the castle and church in Knau rebuilt. A Renaissance castle with a unique ship's keel ceiling was completed in 1608. In the mid-1950s, the magnificent facade of the castle was greatly simplified during renovation work.