Ebersbach Castle

A few kilometers northwest of Görlitz, in the Schöpstal valley, lies the village of Ebersbach. Probably founded around 1200, its moated castle is one of the oldest noble residences in eastern Upper Lusatia. The White Schöps river fed the moat, which is still visible at the castle today.

Originally, the moated castle was a self-contained complex on an oval floor plan. A drawbridge formed the only access to the island. However, this enclosed complex could not be preserved to the present day. In 1845, the west wing with the gatehouse was demolished and the western moat was filled in. Since then, the elevated castle courtyard has only been enclosed on three sides.

Ebersbach was the noble seat of a noble family of the same name from the 13th century. Towards the end of the 14th century, Ebersbach belonged to the short-lived Duchy of Görlitz, which King Charles IV had established for his son. When Duke Johann of Görlitz had to flee his residence in 1392, he settled in Ebersbach. He also had the simple castle further fortified. Johann died in 1396 at the age of twenty-six. With his death, the Duchy of Görlitz also ceased to exist.

Under the noble family von Bischofswerda, the castle, which burned down in 1560, was rebuilt in Renaissance style. A round tower with a curved dome was added to the corner of the south wing. At the same time, the castle received a decorative facade design, executed in sgraffito technique. It is to be assumed that Italian mural artists were involved here. Today, a section of this formerly black-and-white sgraffito facade design from the 16th century can be found on the tower. An illusionistic diamond rustication is topped by an ornamental frieze.

The following years were marked by frequent changes of ownership. Through alterations in the 18th century, Anna Martha Keßler von Sprengseyssen, who inherited Ebersbach in 1719, and Carl Victor August von Broizem, who came into possession of the manor in 1754, among others, left their mark. Presumably under the rule of Carl von Broizem, the mansard roofs were created, which give the moated castle its baroque appearance. The complex was strongly influenced from 1798 to 1799 by the demolition of the drawbridge in the west and interior alterations, in which the rooms received different uses. The old hunting scenes on the walls were painted over and new windows were installed.

The castle received its present form from Gustav Adolph Freiherr von Steinäcker, who resided at Ebersbach from 1843 to 1851. He had the west wing demolished and the castle opened towards the manor. An access road connected the front castle garden with the filled-in castle courtyard. In the east wing, the main entrance was emphasized with a sandstone portal. In conjunction with the filled-in western castle moat, a horseshoe-shaped complex is presented today, which has been extensively renovated in recent years. Many nobles have seen Ebersbach Castle come and go. As the last estate owner, Kurt Brühl was forcibly expropriated and expelled by the communists in 1945.

Today, Ebersbach Castle is, among other things, the seat of the municipality of Schöpstal. In addition to the municipal administration, there are also apartments and a doctor's office in the castle. The large hall on the upper floor of the south wing is used for events.