Duwisib Castle
| Duwisib Castle | ||
|---|---|---|
 Distant view of the castle |
||
| Alternative name (s): | Duwisib | |
| Creation time : | 1908 | |
| Conservation status: | Well | |
| Geographical location | 25 ° 15 '25.9 " S , 16 ° 32' 28.8" O | |
|
||
The Duwisib Castle ( English Duwisib Castle ) is located about 72 km southwest of Maltahöhe in Namibia . It is one of the most bizarre imperial German colonial buildings in the country - due to its appearance, location and history . The manor house was built in 1908 in the style of historicism . With its red walls, defense towers and battlements, it is reminiscent of a medieval fortress.
history
Owes its origin to the building of the Saxon Artillery - Officer Hans Heinrich von Wolf . During the Herero War as a Schutztruppe officer, he came to South West Africa with the intention of settling permanently in what was then German South West Africa in order to found a horse stud after he had married a wealthy American woman during a home leave in 1907. He acquired the Duwisib farm and had the castle built on it in 1908 based on the historical model by the castle architect Wilhelm Sander (who built the Schwerins , Heinitz and Sanderburgs in Windhoek ), who was respected in the colony . In the following years, von Wolf ran a very successful breeding program with thoroughbred horses.
During a voyage to Europe in 1914, von Wolf received the news of the outbreak of the First World War . During his internment in South America, he managed to escape to Germany. Here he reported for military service; he fell in France in 1916. His wife never returned to South West Africa. She moved to Switzerland and after the war sold the castle to a Swedish family. Castle and horse breeding fell into disrepair (the latter may have played a crucial role in the history of desert horses ).
Younger story
In the 1970s the castle became state property. In 1991 it was completely and true to style renovated and is now a museum and accommodation of Namibia Wildlife Resorts with five rooms open to the general public . It was last renovated in 2014.
Literature and music
- Harald Nestroy: Duwisib, the German knight's castle in Namibia, and its lord, Hansheinrich von Wolf . Windhoek 2002. ISBN 99916-40-28-2 .
- Duwisib Castle by Saltatio Mortis
Web links
- Castle website
- Website to accommodation in the castle (English)
- Amelie Meier: A story of luxury and love . Allgemeine Zeitung of August 8, 2014. Last accessed May 28, 2018.
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b c Duwisib Guest Farm: Castle History . Last accessed May 28, 2018.
- ↑ Duwisib Castle. Namibia Wildlife Resorts. Retrieved May 29, 2018.