Pansevitz Castle (Ruin)

The castle ruin Pansevitz in Pansevitz near Gingst in the municipality of Kluis is a dilapidated manor house, completed in 1597. After World War II, in which it suffered almost no damage, it was largely used by the local population as a source of building materials.

Surrounding the castle grounds is the more than 12-hectare castle park, today Pansevitz Landscape Park, which has also been used as a forest cemetery since 2006.

The area around the present ruin was first mentioned in documents in 1314. It was owned by the von Krassow family, which included Carl Reinhold von Krassow, among others. In the 16th century, construction work on the manor house began, which was completed in 1597. In the 18th century, a cavalier house was built behind the main building. In addition, reconstruction work took place on the main building. Parts of the northern and eastern facades were removed.

The family zu Innhausen und Knyphausen took over the estate through marriage in the 19th century and lived there until the Soviet occupation forces expropriated them in 1945. For the time being, the houses were then inhabited by Soviet army officers. After that, several families lived in the manor house until 1963. Then, especially the manor house, fell into disrepair very quickly and the rubble was used as building material.

Only in 1999 did the restoration of the park begin, which is now almost completely designed, also made possible by financial support from the expropriated Count Knyphausen family. In 2006, the park was finally also used as a forest cemetery. In 2007, the Pansevitz Castle Park Foundation was established, which takes care of the further design and new plantings, as well as the maintenance and care of the park, and to which the castle park belongs today. In June 2009, a steel spiral staircase was installed in one of the two tower ruins. It leads to a height of 17 meters and cost more than 100,000 €.