Oelzschau Castle

Oelzschau is first mentioned in 1265 in connection with Albertus de Olschicowe as a manor. Nothing is known about the beginnings of the village. The name suggests a Sorbian origin, while its layout as a street village indicates the influence of German settlers.

As early as the 14th century, the manor was owned by the von Zehmen family and remained so, with brief interruptions, until the 18th century. In the 15th century, Conrad von Zehmen received the electoral fiefs for the Vorwerk, village, and church benefice in Oelzschau and Kemlitz in 1448. During the Thirty Years' War, Oelzschau suffered severe destruction by Swedish troops in 1642. However, Wallenstein is also said to have been in Oelzschau. At that time, Tobias von Zehmen owned the Oelzschau manor. He had been the chief land tax collector of the Leipzig district since 1636 and held the position until old age. After his wife died, he gave the estates to his sons in 1656. These had suffered greatly in the war. He himself had been ambushed at home and led away captive, and also plundered while fleeing. Children had died to him during his flight and in foreign lands. The completely destroyed castle was subsequently completely rebuilt by the von Zehmen family.

Christoph Heinrich Adolph von Zehmen inherited the Oelzschau manor in 1728 as an orphan at birth. He lived partly in Oelzschau, married there, and later became Adjutant General to Charles de Rohan, Prince de Soubise, in French military service, as well as Electoral Chamberlain and Castle Captain in Neustrelitz. He also wrote the progressive book "System der Landwirtschaft" (System of Agriculture), which, among other things, deals with deep plowing. The last Zehmen owner of Oelzschau was Carl Amabilis Desiderius von Zehmen. As he entered Hessian service and participated in the American wars, he sold Oelzschau in 1777 to Friedr. Charl. née Junghans, widowed Hummel in Leipzig, later Mrs. von Boltenstern. After her death in 1837, her son-in-law Heinrich Christian von Rex took over the estate. Thereafter, the owners were Gustav Krötzsch, Brand, and von Posern in 1855. The estate received new farm buildings under von Boltenstern. In 1945, the owners were dispossessed and expelled by the communists.

After numerous additions and alterations by subsequent owners and a lack of maintenance during the GDR era, the building now houses a kindergarten and several apartments.