Schlosshotel Lerbach - Historic Facts
Schlosshotel Lerbach takes its name from the Lerbach, a narrow creek which still runs through the parc. The very first historically documented mentioning, is dated 13th Mai 1384. It was on that day, that the couple von Desbrugge gave the house Lerbach to the knight Johann von Hoenen. Another reference is then found during the 15th century, when the family von Steinen converted the house into a rennaissance castle. Due to financial difficulties, the family was forced to sell the property 1657, four generations later, to the Geheimrat Michael von Leers.
1661, Geheimrat Michael von Leers was given the title of Baron Leers zu Leerbach. Then, another three generations later, Michael Joseph von Leers, had to sell the estate in order to avoid bancruptcy. Eventually, Edward Knobel secured the property in 1836 and renovated it 1840 to resemble an English Country House. Further owners were Leopold von Niesewand and Levin Wolff Earl of Metternich.
Richard Zanders, a local industrialist, purchased the castle in 1893, tore it down a couple of years later due to dampness, and rebuild the house completely. His wife Anna, a daughter of famous Werner von Siemens, won the well known architect Professor Gabriel von Seidl to oversee the construction that followed. Many original features were used again from the old house and the new castle was finally completed 1900.
During 1906, Richard Zanders suffered fatal injuries while hunting. Left alone and without children, Anna Zanders continued to live in the house. When she died here in 1939, her nephew Dr. Hermann von Siemens became heir to the estate. The house was then used as an old people’s home and a nursery before becoming a sanatorium for Belgian officers during the second world war.
Today, the house is owned by Dr. Wendelin and his brother Dr. Ruprecht von Siemens. A television production company used it during 1989 as set for an evening series.
During the late eighties, hotelier Thomas H. Althoff and his wife Elke Diefenbach-Althoff, found the promising estate while strolling the countryside. It took seventeen months to reach an agreement, and eventually a contract was signed - a new chapter began!
