Our Vision for the Future
We are delighted to present you this wonderfully versatile place in Deutschweisskirch / Viscri. This house is the estate of our Markel family since 1841 and has been a place for people to connect to each other by living and listening to each other, learning and being influenced by each other. This used to be our family related community spirit of the past. Now we want to widen this community spirit using our estate as a platform not just for the current family members but also for our friends and new guests who would like to participate in our journey in exchanging their ideas and thoughts at various events we are going to offer.
We want to call our community spirit Colligere because it stands for connecting, centre oneself and resting.
Both Colligere and 1841 designed together will result in Colligere1841 and will be our brand that offers you a generous and restful venue to connect people around the world for various occasions and for this we believe our estate provides many ways to achieve this brilliantly.
Please, enjoy the virtual visit of colligere1841 and of course you are welcome to pay us a visit to our estate.
Our Story
Connection is our way of living on this estate. This has been our Markel family’s spirit since 1841. Participate in our journey through the exchange of ideas and thoughts at various events we offer.
Past & Present
Past
On this page we can only show you a brief overview about the past 70 years of our house. We do not have much photographs with family members being at our estate. This is a selection of what we think are the most important photographs.
Sara Markel (geb. Dootz) and Michael Markel
The house was inhabited permanently until 1991 by Sara Markel and her husband Michael Markel. They married 1932 in Deutschweisskirch and lived in this house ever since. Their children are: Adele, Rosi, Katharina, Erika and the youngest, a son, Eduard.
The Family
In our recent family history there were two weddings that took place at our house. Both weddings were in November 1954 with one week apart. As the tradition goes in those days the parents organise the wedding. First wedding was with Adele Markel, married to Hans Gross.
On the photograph are (left to right): The boy, Eduard Markel (1951-2019), Michael Markel (1906-1995), Adi Gross (born 1932), Johann (alias Hans) Gross (1927 – 1994), Rosi Markel (born 1933) – Hans Markel (1927 – 2022) and Sara Markel (1906-2001), wife of Michael Markel.
1989
Being together the last time with members of the family in the courtyard in Deutschweisskirch/Viscri, august 1989, before the emigration to Germany.
from left to right : Sara Markel (1906-2001; mit Kopftuch von Hinten), Adele Fernolend (geb. 1970), Johann Gross (1927-1994), Hartmunt Seibet (geb.1960), Katharina Untch (geb. 1935), Adolf Untch (1934-2021), Adele Gross (geb. 1932), Erika Fernolend (geb. 1941)
2020-2026
The renovation of the barn started in 2020 and went on until 2026. This was and is a major project. Renovation and improvements of that building were done step by step. Firstly, we saved the structure of the barn, stabilised the building, restored the ceiling and made it waterproof. In 2021 the 4×6 m Terrace was build. A few years later, in 2024 the barn got a brick floor which makes it much more comfortable to walk around. The latest project was finished in 2026 when the very old concrete was replaced with a new stone foot path towards the barn.