In 1840, August Gustav von Hesse received a royal decree granting him the right to add a title to his name, allowing him to rename his manor in Hessenburg. The current manor house was built during this period on the foundations of a previous structure, as was the 4.5-hectare estate park. At approximately 250 years old, the farm smithy is the oldest building. The venerable estate complex welcomes visitors with a comprehensive artistic concept: guests of the Kranich Hotel stay in the Kranich Museum. Artists in Residence—selected by an external curatorial board—integrate their work into the three floors of the manor house. Equally inspiring are the rooms of the Kranich Café in the old smithy. The 4.5-hectare estate park invites you to stroll through the tree-lined avenues and linger on benches along the most beautiful sightlines. The “I’m Becoming a Crane” play and nature trail for children winds through the estate park. Its design and plantings were conceived by landscape architect Ludivine Gracy, and the giant crane egg was created by Barth-based wood sculptor Tobias Bork.