Château de Hermsdorf

Hermsdorf was first mentioned in 1326 and belonged to the von Kremzow family who built a defensive castle on a peninsula in Lake Osiek. In 1333 the site was seized by Betekin von der Osten. By 1337 parts of the village were still held by Henning and Ludekin von Kremzow, but after their deaths in 1350 Betekin von der Osten received Hermsdorf from Ludwig the Roman of Brandenburg as a reward for his services. During the late fourteenth century the village and castle changed owners, passing through the von Brederlow, von Papstein, and von Zadow families. In the early fifteenth century both came under the control of the Teutonic Order, which rebuilt the fortress on earlier foundations. Hermsdorf suffered damage during Polish-Lithuanian raids and the Hussite invasion of 1433. In 1454 the estate returned to the von Papstein family. In 1465 it became the residence of Elisabeth of Hohenzollern, who lived there until her death in 1467. From 1470 onward Hermsdorf belonged to the von Brandt family