Heinersgrün Castle

Heinersgrün was in earlier times an old possession of the Upper Franconian and Vogtland noble family von Feilitzsch. The Heinersgrün line sold the manor to the von Pöllnitz family. Another branch of the family bought it back in 1785. The St. Clara Chapel in Heinersgrün, still called Santa Clara Chapel today, served as the family's burial place. In 1920, the neighboring stable caught fire and spread to the castle. The noble residence burned down to its foundations. In 1921, the castle was rebuilt in a slightly altered form by Philipp Freiherr von Feilitzsch. In 1936, the Heinersgrün manor, including the Markusgrün outwork, was sold to the farmer Achaz von Zehmen. He sold the castle and the Heinersgrün manor in 1942 to Emil Kleine-Brockhoff. He kept the Markusgrün forest estate. In 1945, the owners were dispossessed and expelled by the communists. From 1950, the castle housed a command of the GDR border troops. In 1972, the municipality of Heinersgrün took over and used it as a municipal office, post office, sales outlet, library, restaurant, and residential building. In 1995, the stately building was sold to Joachim Gräf, who carried out extensive renovations. Several apartments are located in the building.