Hofkammer des Hauses Württemberg

The Hofkammer des Hauses Württemberg is the private-law economic enterprise and asset-management body of the House of Württemberg, the former royal family of the German state of Württemberg. Headquartered at Schloss Friedrichshafen in Friedrichshafen on Lake Constance in Baden-Württemberg, it is owned by the House of Württemberg, with Wilhelm Herzog von Württemberg named as the legal owner. The Hofkammer describes itself as the wealth-management arm of the House of Württemberg, with an actively managed family fortune diversified across several investment and asset classes. It states that traditional values such as credibility, goal orientation, prudence and commitment guide its actions in every business area. The enterprise is organized into several operating divisions. Its forestry operation, Forstbetrieb Herzog von Württemberg, manages roughly 5,000 hectares of forest, predominantly softwood, with its head office in Altshausen; it celebrated its 200th anniversary in 2021. The Gutsbetrieb Herzog von Württemberg (estate farm) cultivates about 1,100 hectares of agricultural land across two locations. The Weingut Herzog von Württemberg (wine estate) holds some of the best vineyard sites in Württemberg and produces fine wines. A real-estate division focuses on project development, existing properties and heritable building rights (Erbbaurechte). Hofkammer.Golf operates four golf courses on land owned by the House of Württemberg in the greater Stuttgart area. In total the Hofkammer administers around 5,500 hectares of forest, 2,000 hectares of meadows and fields, 50 hectares of vineyards, roughly 700 properties in Germany and abroad, forests in Canada, Austria and Spain, and corporate shareholdings. It also maintains some 70 cultural monuments of the House of Württemberg, including Schloss Friedrichshafen, Schloss Monrepos and Schloss Altshausen. The company has about 100 employees. Since the death of Carl Herzog von Württemberg in June 2022, it has been led by a directorate comprising Michael Herzog von Württemberg and Hofkammer president Henrik M. Lingenhölin; Carl had already withdrawn from day-to-day business in 2020. The Hofkammer's roots reach back to the 17th century, when the ducal house separated its private wealth from state property and placed it under a dedicated authority. Renamed "Hofkammer" in 1910, it remained with the royal family after the abdication of King Wilhelm II and passed to Albrecht Herzog von Württemberg in 1921. Today it is a diversified private holding that combines centuries-old forestry and winegrowing traditions with modern real-estate development and leisure businesses.

The Hofkammer des Hauses Württemberg traces its origins to the Hofdomänenkammer established in 1649/1677, which held an important position in the Württemberg state structure and in the organization of the court. In 1649 the dukes of Württemberg separated their private wealth from state property and placed it under a dedicated authority; Duke Eberhard III established the Kammerschreiberei that year, a predecessor of today's Hofkammer. A dedicated cellar for the vineyards of the Kammerschreiberei was set up in 1677. In 1910 the Hofdomänenkammer was renamed "Hofkammer". After King Wilhelm II's renunciation of the throne, the Hofkammer remained with the royal family, and in 1921, following the death of the last King of Württemberg, it passed to Albrecht Herzog von Württemberg, the eldest male member of the Catholic line of the House of Württemberg. From 1919 to 1933 it was named "Rentkammer des Hauses Württemberg". Until 1928 it was presided over by Alfred Schenk Graf von Stauffenberg, father of the 20 July 1944 Hitler assassin. Philipp Albrecht Herzog von Württemberg took over the enterprise — by then again called Hofkammer — in 1939 and led it until his death in 1975. After the business building on Jägerstraße in Stuttgart was destroyed in a bombing raid in 1944, the Hofkammer was relocated to Altshausen, where it remained for two decades. In 1965 it moved into the rebuilt Schloss Friedrichshafen, which had also been destroyed by bombing during the Second World War; the company seat has been there since. In 1967 construction began on the Schlosshotel Monrepos near the Seeschloss Monrepos at Ludwigsburg, and the hotel was expanded in 1975. Since 1993 a nine-hole golf course has been operated on part of the Schlossdomäne, and the two associated grain warehouses were converted into office buildings. In 1992 the Hofkammer Projektentwicklung GmbH (HKPE) was founded to plan and execute construction projects for the company and for third parties. In the winegrowing division, viticulture in the House of Württemberg can be documented as early as 1289. Over the centuries extensive vineyard purchases were made in the Stuttgart region. From 1807 to 1810 the cellar was moved from Untertürkheim to the Altes Schloss in Stuttgart. In the early 1980s the wine estate was relocated to a newly built facility on the Monrepos domain near Ludwigsburg. In 2003 the estate, formerly the Hofkammerkellerei, was renamed Weingut Herzog von Württemberg. In forestry, King Wilhelm I of Württemberg ordered the creation of a dedicated administration for the royal family's forest holdings in 1821, making clear that forest administration need not be a state monopoly; the forestry operation celebrated its 200th anniversary in 2021. Carl Herzog von Württemberg withdrew from day-to-day business in 2020, and after his death in June 2022 the company has been led by a directorate comprising Michael Herzog von Württemberg and Hofkammer president Henrik M. Lingenhölin. The enterprise today has about 100 employees and manages a broad portfolio of forests, farmland, vineyards, properties and corporate holdings in Germany and abroad.

• 2022

  After the death of Carl Herzog von Württemberg in June, the company is led by a directorate including Michael Herzog von Württemberg and Henrik M. Lingenhölin.

• 2021

  The forestry operation celebrates its 200th anniversary.

• 2020

  Carl Herzog von Württemberg withdraws from day-to-day business.

• 2003

  The Hofkammerkellerei is renamed Weingut Herzog von Württemberg.

• 1993

  A nine-hole golf course begins operating on part of the Schlossdomäne.

• 1992

  Hofkammer Projektentwicklung GmbH (HKPE) is founded for project development.

• 1975

  The Schlosshotel Monrepos is expanded.

• 1967

  Construction begins on the Schlosshotel Monrepos near Ludwigsburg.

• 1965

  The Hofkammer moves into the rebuilt Schloss Friedrichshafen, its seat since then.

• 1944

  The business building on Jägerstraße in Stuttgart is destroyed in a bombing raid; the Hofkammer is relocated to Altshausen.

• 1939

  Philipp Albrecht Herzog von Württemberg takes over the enterprise and leads it until his death in 1975.

• 1921

  After the death of the last King of Württemberg, the Hofkammer passes to Albrecht Herzog von Württemberg.

• 1919

  The Hofkammer is named "Rentkammer des Hauses Württemberg" (until 1933).

• 1910

  The Hofdomänenkammer is renamed "Hofkammer".

• 1821

  King Wilhelm I of Württemberg orders the creation of a dedicated administration for the royal family's forest holdings.

• 1677

  A dedicated cellar is established for the vineyards of the Kammerschreiberei.

• 1649

  Duke Eberhard III establishes the Kammerschreiberei, a predecessor of the Hofkammer, separating the ducal house's private wealth from state property.

A private, tradition-conscious family asset manager and diversified operating enterprise of the House of Württemberg, combining centuries-old forestry, agriculture and winegrowing with modern real-estate development and leisure businesses.

• Weingut Herzog von Württemberg wines

  White wine, red wine, Sekt, Secco and brandies from 40.5 hectares of vineyards; member of the VDP.

• Forestry timber

  Around 50,000 solid cubic metres of annual timber harvest, mainly softwood sold to sawmills in Upper Swabia and the Allgäu, with hardwood (oak) sold to France.

• Agricultural produce

  From about 1,100 hectares of farmland across two locations.

• Real-estate development

  Project development, existing properties and heritable building rights (Erbbaurechte), including residential, industrial and commercial construction.

• Golf courses

  Four golf facilities on House of Württemberg land in the greater Stuttgart area.

• Hunting

  Venison and wild boar offered for sale by the forestry administration.

1. 1Hofkammer des Hauses Württemberg – official websitehofkammer.de
2. 2Hofkammer des Hauses Württemberg – Wikipedia (German)de.wikipedia.org
3. 3Hofkammer des Hauses Württemberg – Wikidatawikidata.org