Upcoming auction of Siemens' €27.5 million villa set for this Thursday
In an exciting turn of events, the historic villa known as "Château Pompöös" is set to be auctioned off on Thursday. This grand estate, which overlooks Potsdam's Lehnitzsee, was originally built for an heir to a vast fortune – Carl Friedrich von Siemens, the youngest son of inventor and entrepreneur Werner von Siemens.
The villa, commissioned as a residence in the style of an English country house, was designed by architect Otto March in 1910. The H-shaped main building boasted modern facilities unusual for the time, including a central vacuum system, its own power station, a telephone line, and a passenger lift. The estate also featured a boathouse and tennis courts.
Despite its grandeur, the villa has not been in continuous use by the von Siemens heirs. After the Second World War, the villa's ownership passed out of family hands. The Red Army confiscated the villa and converted it into a pulmonary sanatorium. Following German reunification, the villa was formally returned to the von Siemens heirs, but they never made use of it.
The current owner of the villa is Harald Glööckler, who has been trying to sell it since 2023 but has not found a buyer yet. The complex, valued at around €27.5 million, will be offered to the highest bidder. The proceedings of the auction will be held behind closed doors.
Interestingly, no significant renovation has been carried out on the villa since it was last changed hands in 2020. The condition of the villa prior to the auction is known to be as it was left after that change of ownership. The current ownership and purchase price of the villa in 2020 are unclear.
The villa, with its rich history and unique features, is undoubtedly a significant piece of architecture. Whether it will find a new owner remains to be seen when the auction takes place on Thursday.
