Ottenhain Castle

The place was first mentioned in writing in 1317. In a document dated December 3rd, Margrave Woldemar of Brandenburg assigned eight villages of the Görlitz region, including "Ottenhayn", to the jurisdiction of the city of Löbau. In the 16th century, Ottenhain belonged to the Gersdorf family, and was sold at the end of the century to Heinrich von Miltitz. In 1610, Christoph von Gersdorff bought Ottenhain for 7400 thalers. In the 17th century, the place, divided into Ober- and Niederottenhain, changed owners several times. In 1809, Johann Gottlieb Erdmann von Nostitz bought the Niederottenhain estate for 42,000 thalers. In 1914, the estate came into the possession of the Mitteldeutsche Gesellschaft für Weidewirtschaft und Viehzucht (Central German Society for Pasture Management and Livestock Breeding). In 1925, Alfred Schmiedgen acquired it. The last owner, Hedwig Hetzer, was dispossessed in 1945. The manor house is now used as a daycare center and as a municipal office.