Sternenfelser Court
In its long history of 400 years, the Sternenfelser Court can look back on a who’s who of the long-established nobility.
The courtyard once belonged to the church. Then it came into possession of the noble family “Schütz von Holzhausen”, then the families of von Schönborn, von Bubenheim and von Harstall. In 1750 it was finally taken over by the Lords of Sternenfels. The court still bear their name today – even if it is now home to the renowned Kopp winery.
The fact that so many nobel families wanted to own courts and properties in Nierstein is due to a special status that the “Civitas”, the city of Nierstein, has had since the 13th century.
“Many of them […] sought for possession in Nierstein because Nierstein was a free imperial village and belonged to the imperial knighthood. And you could only become a member in the different sections of the Imperial Knighthood if you owned property in these places … “
… says Dr. Susanne Bräckelmann from Nierstein’s History Association.
“This organization was then responsible, for example, for collecting taxes, deciding on legal issues, […] and on the other hand you were of course also a political factor.”
Right! Because imperial knights who owned property in Nierstein were directly subordinate to the emperor – actually a privilege of the higher nobility and aristocracy. The proximity to the imperial throne promised influence and power. For this reason, the noble families who were already here paid close attention to who wanted to become a new neighbor!
By the way, the latest majesty of the Sternenfelser court was in fact elected very democratically: Rheinhessen’s Wine Queen in 2017/2018, called Lea Kopp!
The map at the end of this website shows you how to get to our next stop.
Route to the next station:
Geismarer Court
Arrived?
Sternenfelser Court
In its long history of 400 years, the Sternenfelser Court can look back on a who’s who of the long-established nobility.
The courtyard once belonged to the church. Then it came into possession of the noble family “Schütz von Holzhausen”, then the families of von Schönborn, von Bubenheim and von Harstall. In 1750 it was finally taken over by the Lords of Sternenfels. The court still bear their name today – even if it is now home to the renowned Kopp winery.
The fact that so many nobel families wanted to own courts and properties in Nierstein is due to a special status that the “Civitas”, the city of Nierstein, has had since the 13th century.
“Many of them […] sought for possession in Nierstein because Nierstein was a free imperial village and belonged to the imperial knighthood. And you could only become a member in the different sections of the Imperial Knighthood if you owned property in these places … “
… says Dr. Susanne Bräckelmann from Nierstein’s History Association.
“This organization was then responsible, for example, for collecting taxes, deciding on legal issues, […] and on the other hand you were of course also a political factor.”
Right! Because imperial knights who owned property in Nierstein were directly subordinate to the emperor – actually a privilege of the higher nobility and aristocracy. The proximity to the imperial throne promised influence and power. For this reason, the noble families who were already here paid close attention to who wanted to become a new neighbor!
By the way, the latest majesty of the Sternenfelser court was in fact elected very democratically: Rheinhessen’s Wine Queen in 2017/2018, called Lea Kopp!
The map at the end of this website shows you how to get to our next stop.
Route to the next station:
Geismarer Court
Arrived?