Siegfried von Vegesack's Dichterturm (Eating House) in Regen (Bavarian Forest) is considered one of the most unusual retreats of a writer of the 20th century. The tower, a residential tower made of quarry stone from the Weissenstein castle ruins, was used as a personal living and working space by the well-known writer and poet Siegfried von Vegesack. Sigfried von Vegesack lived there from 1918 to 1968 and created, among other things, his most famous work "Der Zaubererjackl".

Siegfried von Vegesack was a German writer and translator of Baltic origin.

Here are the most important facts about him:

After the death of Siegfried von Vegesack in 1974, the "Fressendes Haus" (the former castle box) initially stood empty.
In the 1970s, the building was even threatened with demolition.
The city of Regen finally acquired the box in 1978 in order to renovate it together with the "Förderkreis Weißensteiner Burgkasten, Rettet das Fressende Haus" and convert it into a museum.
In 1983, the castle box was opened as the "Museum The Eating House". Since then, it has been a museum with exhibitions (including on Siegfried von Vegesack's poet's room and folklore)

Weißenstein Castle – History on the quartz rock of the Bavarian Forest

High above the town of Regen towers Weißenstein Castle, one of the most striking complexes in the Bavarian Forest. Its origins date back to the 12th century, when the Counts of Bogen had a fortress built on the narrow, white quartz rock – the so-called "pile". After the Bogen died out, the castle fell to the Wittelsbach dukes, who lent it to the Degenberg dynasty at the beginning of the 14th century.

Due to its location halfway between the Danube and Bohemia, Weißenstein was a strategically important point for centuries. Old trade routes passed here, and the castle controlled one of the most important mule tracks through the forest.

The complex was destroyed and rebuilt several times. In 1468 it fell victim to a noble uprising, and in the Thirty Years' War Swedish troops damaged the walls again. In the 18th century, collapses and the attacks of the Pandurs under Franz von der Trenck led to final devastation. With the decline of the nobility, the castle lost its importance and began to decay.

It was not until the 19th century that at least the outer bailey experienced a new use: the so-called box – a large warehouse building – served as a farm building. The actual main building remained in ruins. Between 1991 and 1995, the complex was extensively renovated and subsequently became the property of the city of Regen. Today, visitors can visit the remains of the ring walls, the striking residential tower and parts of the outer bailey and look far over the forests of the Bavarian Forest.

The "Pfahl", a natural quartz ridge, is not only a geological highlight, but also the namesake and characteristic feature of the castle landscape. Together with the wooded surroundings, it makes Weißenstein one of the most photogenic historical places in the region.

Like many old castles, Weißenstein also holds a dark legend. A knight is said to have left his wife behind during a military campaign with seven sons born during his absence. In desperation, the woman tried to drown the children - but the knight returned in time and prevented the deed. Years later, when the sons were grown, he introduced them to their mother. Because she did not recognize her and was horrified, the knight is said to have had her walled up alive as punishment. Since then, it is said, her figure as the "White Woman" has been roaming through the ruins.


ADVERTISING
Natural products and dietary supplements from Graf von Kronenberg
Transparency and quality - Those with the coat of arms, they do it....
"Health should be affordable"

castle complex was given special importance in the 20th century by the Baltic-German writer Siegfried von Vegesack. Born in 1888, he bought the box of the outer bailey in 1918 and made it his home. The preservation and conversion of this building devoured so many resources that he called it "The Eating House" with a wink – a name that has remained to this day.

Vegesack lived and worked in Weißenstein for more than half a century. His works – novels, essays and stories – often revolve around themes such as loss of homeland, cultural decay, experiences of exile and the memory of the Baltic States. The combination of literary sensibility and the rough Bavarian nature shaped his style and his life in equal measure.

After his death in 1974, the building initially stood empty until the city of Regen and local initiatives used it as a museum. Since 1984, the "Fressendes Haus" has been the official museum of Weißenstein Castle. In addition to finds from the castle's history, there are now reconstructed living quarters, everyday objects and an extensive exhibition about the life and work of Siegfried von Vegesack.

A modern presentation on the upper floor sheds light on his biography, his literary focus and the Baltic-German culture with which he was inextricably linked. To this day, associations and literature lovers publish texts, letters and memories in the "Weißensteiner Miniatures" and keep Vegesack's legacy alive.

The combination of medieval history, dramatic landscape and lively literature makes Weißenstein an extraordinary place. Visitors experience not only the remains of a fortified castle complex, but also the life's work of an author who shaped the Bavarian Forest as his adopted home.

The castle invites you to discover, pause and reflect on the many layers of history that have become visible here. The "Eating House", on the other hand, shows how a single person can give a historical place new cultural weight. Together, they form an impressive ensemble of the past, nature and a living culture of remembrance.




ADVERTISING
Natural products and dietary supplements from Graf von Kronenberg
Transparency and quality - Those with the coat of arms, they do it....
"Health should be affordable"

Author: Johannes Weyermann / MFRedaktion
QuellenlisteGeschichte der Burg Weißensteinhttps://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruine_Wei ß enstein_(Niederbayern)