Once a fine example of a Renaissance manor in Upper Lusatia, Schloss Hennersdorf (Polish: Pałacu w Jędrzychowicach) has shared the turbulent fate of many estates along the Neisse River. Built in 1611 by Heinrich Ritter von Hennersdorf, remodeled in the 19th century, and inhabited until the mid-20th, the building now stands as a ruin—one of the last witnesses to the long history of Hennersdorf and its centuries-old ties to Görlitz.
A short history of Hennersdorf
The village of Hennersdorf was first mentioned in 1305 as Hinrichsdorph in the city books of Görlitz. Over the following centuries, the spelling changed several times – Heinrichsdorff in 1346, Henrichsdorff in 1385, and Hennersdorf by 1483. The name most likely derives from its founder, a settler named Heinrich, and the settlement probably originated between 1190 and 1230.
In 1874, the Amtsbezirk Hennersdorf (administrative district) was established. It initially included the rural communities of Hennersdorf, Leopoldshain (today Łagów), Lissa, and Sercha, along with their respective estate districts. Lissa and Sercha were later reassigned to the Amtsbezirk Lissa. Inr 1928, the remaining estate districts were dissolved and incorporated partly into the city of Görlitz and partly into the surrounding rural communities. The Amtsbezirk Hennersdorf itself was dissolved on 1 July 1935, after which each of the two remaining communities became its own administrative district.
Early Ownership and the first Hennersdorf Manor (1533 – 1608)
In the late Middle Ages, the Hennersdorf estate passed through a series of wealthy Görlitz merchant families. In 1486, the mayor of Görlitz, Georg Emmerich, acquired the property. His daughter Katharina inherited it in 1507, and through marriage, it passed to her husband Sebastian Schütz in 1533.
Schütz, a merchant born in Nuremberg in 1485, sold the estate to his sons-in-law Joachim Schmied and Hans von Hoffmann in 1553. The presence of a manor house at that time is likely but not fully documented. By the early 17th century, the property was firmly established as a noble seat.
The Ritter Family and the Rebuilding of 1611
In 1608, Anna von Hoffmann inherited the estate and brought it into her marriage with Heinrich Ritter, a merchant from Görlitz. Ritter was later ennobled in 1616 with the title “von Hennersdorf.”
In 1611, Heinrich Ritter von Hennersdorf replaced the older building with a new residence. A Latin inscription once mounted on the building attested to this event:
“HANC EXEDRAM AEDIFICIO HVIC EXSTRUCTO RECENS ADSTRUXIT HENR. A RITTER DE C, IN HENNERS(DORF) ANO CHR. MDCXI” – roughly translated: “This hall was newly added by Heinrich von Ritter of Hennersdorf in the year of our Lord 1611.”
The manor was richly decorated in the early Baroque style and featured a sgraffito façade with black-and-white diamond patterns, a fashionable motif in the early 17th century. Similar designs can still be seen at Schloss Ober-Neundorf near Görlitz, which was built around the same period.
Schloss Hennersdorf Video
As you can see from the photos, theres not much left of the castle itself. We still did a little walkthrough of whats left, and the open air “interior” is quite pretty.
Later Owners and the 18th Century
The Ritter family eventually sold the property, and in 1723, the city of Görlitz exercised its right of first purchase, bringing the estate under municipal ownership. Schloss Hennersdorf would remain in the city’s possession until 1945.
Over the centuries, Schloss Hennersdorf hosted a number of distinguished visitors. In 1706, during the Great Northern War, the exiled Polish King Stanislaus Leszczyński stayed at the manor. In 1813, Grand Duke Konstantin of Russia, brother of Tsar Alexander I, is also recorded to have lodged there during the Napoleonic campaigns.
19th Century Alterations
During the 19th century, the manor underwent a major remodeling to suit contemporary tastes. The structure retained its Renaissance core but gained stylistic updates that reflected 19th-century architecture.
At this time, parts of the building were repurposed for commercial and recreational uses. A tavern and cheese dairy operated within the former manor, and the grand hall – known as the Rittersaal – served as a popular venue for local gatherings and social clubs. The castle and its park were a favored destination for residents of Görlitz seeking leisure outings along the Neisse River.
The 20th Century – Decline and Ruin
After 1945, when the region was incorporated into Poland and the german population expelled, the manor continued to be inhabited for a short period of time. The village was renamed from Hennersdorf to Jędrzychowice – hence the castle ruin is now known as Pałacu w Jędrzychowicach. Records indicate that the building was still in residential use until 1958.
However, without maintenance or restoration, the structure rapidly deteriorated. Roofs collapsed, interior floors gave way, and the decorative gables crumbled. By the late 1990s, only fragments of the original building survived. Nearly all outbuildings and ancillary structures disappeared, and the surrounding park became overgrown.
In the early 2000s, the ruin was privately owned. Local reports from 2011 noted that the owner lacked the funds for structural stabilisation. In 2020, the site was listed for sale for approximately 125,000 złoty (around €28,000), though its unclear if the building actually sold or not.
Schloss Hennersdorf Today (2025)
As of 2025. not much has changed. Schloss Hennersdorf remains a hollowed out tooth, overgrown with weeds and plants. The large staircase leading up the tower has crumbled – but its probably been like that for the past 30 or so years. Traces of blue paint still frame of the windows, and a barley ledgible plaque hangs above the rear entrance door – quite possibly the only details left of its former grandeur. Sadly, like many of these ruins in Poland, this one was turned into a legal garbage dump at some point.
While what can now be described as an interior courtyard does give an impressive view of the interior walls, its a sad reminder considering that this impressive building survived the war and post war period fully intact. Its doubtful anything meaningful will happen to with the ruins of Schloss Hennersdorf, – which means that it will probably continue standing as it is until it fully crumbles.
Schloss Hennersdorf (Zamek w Jędrzychowicach) Address
Jędrzychowice 54, 59-900 Jędrzychowice, Poland
Geo Coordinates: 51.18413457635162, 15.017954278425568
