A HISTORIC CASTLE ESTATE BY THE SEA
The varied history of the Weissenhaus estate and its owners goes back to the 16th century.
The manor was founded in 1607 by the noble family Pogwisch. It originally belonged to the Farve estate, which was one of the largest estates in Schleswig Holstein at the beginning of the 17th century. Weissenhaus owes its name to the wall colour of the manor house, which at that time was painted rather unusually in white.
By 1735 the estate was already sold to Georg Ludwig Graf von Platen Hallermund, who was able to keep his property for eight generations. Under his ownership, the estate flourished due to frequent restorations and the neatness and cleanliness. He replaced the old baroque garden with a modern English-style park and the Cavalier houses were also used for other purposes than originally intended. Despite the loving care of the landlords, an accident in 1895 could not be prevented.
A major fire destroyed the estate and turned everything into rubble and ashes. Fortunately, the 350-year-old cellar with its impressive vaults remained intact.
On these old vaults a manor was rebuilt, which was furnished in the year 1952 as "Kurzschule Weissenhaus". In three-week long courses, young people from various professions learned until 1975 how to use their strength to help others and for rescue services. This institution existed until 1993, when the castle was designed in such a way that events, concerts and exhibitions could take place there, for which the count's family rented out their property.
In 2005 the family, who had already moved to the neighbouring Friederikenhof, sold the 75 ha estate including the village Weissenhaus to Jan Henric Buettner. From this moment on, he began a fundamental restoration of all buildings, which was completed in 2014. Weissenhaus, as it can be seen today, was opened in July 2014 as the Weissenhaus Grand Village Resort & Spa by the Sea. In 2023 it then became the Weissenhaus Private Nature Luxury Resort through a rebranding.
second half of the 16th century
Foundation
The estate was founded in 1607 by the Aristocratic Pogwisch family. It originally was part of the Farve estate, being one of the largest estates in Schleswig-Holstein at the beginning of the 17th century. Weissenhaus owes its name to the colour of the manor house, which was rather unusually painted white for that time.
ca. 1600
Construction of the first manor house by Henning Pogwisch.
1730
Construction of the northern Kavaliershaus (our current breakfast restaurant) and the Meierei on the dyke as well as the manor house with seven axes.
1735
Landscaping of the baroque garden.
1777
Destruction of the baroque garden by the great storm flood.
1817
New construction of today's Schlosstherme (then the southern Kavaliershaus or coach house) by the new owner, General- Postmaster Georg Wilhelm Graf von Platen Hallermund.
1854
Extension of the manor house by two wings with two axes each.
1872
Construction of the stable buildings behind the northern Kavaliershaus.
1895
The old manor house is the victim of a major fire and is destroyed down to the cellar walls.
1911
Construction of the greenhouse as it is today in the rose and fragrance garden at Peerstall.
1952-1975
Transformation to a boarding school of the "German Society for European Education".
A new manor was built on the old vaults, which was set up as the "Weissenhaus Boarding School" from 1952. During three-week long courses, young people with a wide variety of professional backgrounds learned how to utilize their strength to help others and for rescue services, until 1975. This institution existed until 1993, when the castle's interior was adapted to host events, concerts and exhibitions, for which the comital family rented out their property.
1983
Entry in the register of monuments
The manor house, cavalier houses with lions and the Alte Lindenallee are entered in the register of monuments of the state of Schleswig-Holstein.
2000
The Neue Lindenallee, as we know it today, is replanted and stylishly flanks the path from the village centre to the sea. Creation of the rose garden at the present-day bakehouse and next to the orangery.
2002
Extended entry in the heritage register
The following additional entries were made in the register of monuments in 2002: Manor house with wall-fixed interior, landscape park with pond, Neue Lindenallee, historic groves, funerary monument and bathhouse (Badehäuschen), southern and northern cavalier's house, manor prison, stables (Peerstall), garden wall with gate and greenhouse, reapers' barracks (Backhaus), gardener's house with stable building and Dairy (Meierei).
2005
New Owner
In 2005, the family, which had been living in the neighbouring Friederikenhof, sold the 75-hectare estate, including the village of Weissenhaus, to Jan Henric Buettner. From then on, he began a fundamental restoration of all the buildings, which was completed in 2014.
Jan Henric Buettner is developing Weissenhaus into a Grand Village Resort & SPA by the sea. This project is co-financed by the European Commission (European Regional Development Fund).
2014
Opening
Weissenhaus was opened in July 2014 as the Weissenhaus Grand Village Resort & Spa by the sea.
2018
Relais & Châteaux family
Since summer 2018, Weissenhaus has been officially part of the legendary Relais & Châteaux family, joining the world's leading collection of the very best and most exclusive luxury resorts, hotels and restaurants.
2023
Resposition
Weissenhaus has been repositioned and now focuses on sustainability and nature as the Weissenhaus Private Nature Luxury Resort.
