Freiherr von Polnitz Stiftung

The Freiherr von Pölnitz Foundation — History, Mission, and Vision

Historical Background

Schloss Aschbach was acquired by the von Pölnitz family in 1611 and remained in their care for over three centuries under a legal construct known as a Fideikommiss. This institution, common in European nobility, was designed to secure family estates as inalienable and indivisible property, ensuring their preservation across generations. The holder of a Fideikommiss had the right to use the estate and benefit from its income but did not possess full ownership or the right to sell it.

This structure was abolished by decree under the Nazi regime in 1938, enabling individual family members to claim ownership rights for the first time. The resulting division of the formerly unified estate into two separate parcels marked a historic shift: each part remained viable, but the system’s protective continuity was lost.

During the final years of the Second World War, Schloss Aschbach played a quiet but notable role as a place of refuge and preservation. Due to its remote location and lack of industry, the village and the castle were spared from direct destruction. At that time, Baron Gerhard von Pölnitz provided shelter for museum archives and institutional collections seeking to protect their holdings from the devastation of war.

In the immediate aftermath of the war, Aschbach entered a very different phase. For about five years, roughly three-quarters of the castle were used to house Displaced Persons (DPs) — families and individuals uprooted by the war and seeking shelter in the devastated landscape of postwar Europe. Subsequently, the same parts of the castle were, by mandate of the Bavarian authorities, converted into a nursing home, which remained in operation for twenty-five years. These decades of intensive and utilitarian use left the building heavily worn and structurally compromised.

Were it not for Dr.med. dipl.chem. Wolfgang Freiherr von Pölnitz, the family’s steadfast stewardship of Schloss Aschbach would have ended in 1976, when an auction of the property was imminent. Through significant personal effort and investment, he saved the castle, restored its structure, introduced central heating and modern infrastructure, and revived its baroque façade and with the devoted help of his wife — a gifted interior designer and architect by instinct rather than formal training — the castle gradually came back to life. Her refined sense of proportion, color, and understated elegance now pervades the entire interior and gives Schloss Aschbach its distinctive atmosphere of warmth and grace.

Through their combined dedication, what had been a fading ancestral home was transformed into a harmoniously restored jewel of Franconia, preserving its historical soul while quietly embracing modern comfort.

Creation of the Foundation

Following the death of Wolfgang Freiherr von Pölnitz in 2011, his three sons — Alexander, Michael, and Nikolaus — inherited Schloss Aschbach. In 2015, the brothers jointly decided to transfer their ownership of Schloss Aschbach into a formally recognized non-profit foundation — the Freiherr von Pölnitz Stiftung.

This step went beyond the creation of a private family entity: the explicit goal was to establish a state-recognized, charitable foundation (gemeinnützige Stiftung des privaten Rechts), dedicated to the : the preservation, restoration, and cultural activation of Schloss Aschbach and its historic park. In doing so, the brothers closed a historic circle — from the Fideikommiss of 1611 to a modern, transparent, and socially oriented foundation model ensuring long-term stewardship of the estate.

To define the relationship between the foundation and the continued private habitation of the castle, a separate legal entity — the von Pölnitz GbR (Gesellschaft bürgerlichen Rechts) — was created at the time of founding. The GbR was granted perpetual usage rights (Nießbrauchrechte) to the four principal apartments of Schloss Aschbach. As a juristische Person, the GbR itself cannot die, and thus its rights continue indefinitely, so long as the agreed monthly fee (Entgelt) is paid to the foundation. Should the GbR fail to pay this fee, the corresponding usage rights automatically revert to the foundation, which may then rent or assign the apartment to third parties at its discretion.

All decisions within the GbR must be made unanimously, reflecting the same principle that governs the Stiftung itself, which is likewise led by up to three trustees acting in unanimity.

This principle of unanimity — that no voice can be overruled — ensures that both the Stiftung and the GbR operate on consensus and mutual respect. It is a safeguard of integrity and continuity, guaranteeing that every decision reflects shared responsibility and alignment with the founding mission.

In addition, all operational costs — including heating, electricity, and water — are borne by the GbR as holder of the usage rights, freeing the foundation from major recurring expenses. This legal and financial framework preserves the Stiftung’s independence and fiscal integrity, ensuring that its resources remain fully dedicated to its charitable purpose: the preservation, restoration, and cultural activation of Schloss Aschbach and its historic park.

In contrast to the historical Fideikommiss structure, under which the family could benefit directly from the estate’s income, the Freiherr von Pölnitz Stiftung represents a complete separation between ownership and personal gain. The family, through the GbR, holds only usage rights to the residential apartments; it does not receive any income from the foundation’s assets, including forest operations or cultural events held in the restored south wing’s upper floor. All revenues generated from these and other future activities flow exclusively to the Stiftung and are reinvested in its charitable purpose — the preservation and cultural activation of Schloss Aschbach.

In addition, all operational costs — including heating, electricity, and water — have been transferred to the respective apartment holders, freeing the foundation from major recurring expenses. This structure not only preserves the Stiftung’s financial integrity but also establishes a clear separation between private and institutional obligations, ensuring that every euro of the foundation’s resources remains directed toward its charitable mission: the preservation, restoration, and cultural activation of Schloss Aschbach and its historic park.

Mission and Activities

The foundation’s purpose is to preserve, restore, and activate Schloss Aschbach and its associated cultural landscapes as living heritage — a place of beauty, learning, and historical continuity. Over the past decade, major restoration works have been completed on the south wing’s upper floor, an area untouched for 400 years. These efforts included the meticulous renewal of the original Vogel Stuckdecken, floors, windows, and interior walls. The project received support from the Bavarian Office for the Protection of Monuments (Bayerisches Landesamt für Denkmalpflege, the German Foundation for Monument Protection (Deutsche Stiftung Denkmalschutz), the Upper Franconian Foundation (Oberfrankenstiftung), and local government bodies. The majority of the funding was made possible through private charitable contributions from Alexander and Michael von Pölnitz.

Shortly after the completion of the south wing restoration, the local authorities invited the foundation to participate in the annual Tag des offenen Denkmals (Heritage Open Day) and to host the opening ceremony for the district’s events in the newly restored rooms, officiated by the Landrat. When the doors of Schloss Aschbach opened to the public for the first time in its modern history, more than 500 visitors from near and far attended the four guided tours offered that day. It was a moment of profound resonance: the castle, once secluded and silent, was reintroduced as a shared cultural landmark — a living testament to preservation through private initiative in service of the public good.

Current and Future Projects

In early 2025, a milestone was achieved with the reacquisition of the Schlosspark, the historic parkland originally belonging to Schloss Aschbach but separated from it in the 20th century.

The Schlosspark is registered as a historical monument, and consists of three distinct but interconnected areas:

• the central village pond,

• the formal baroque garden, and

• the promenade park.

The foundation’s next major initiative is the comprehensive restoration of this park, returning it to its former beauty and ecological vitality. The first phase — now underway — involves a detailed topographic and historical survey in collaboration with regional monument authorities and expert institutions. This work will form the basis for the restoration plan and long-term cultural activation of the park as a public and educational landscape.