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Media Markt founder Walter Gunz (right) has promised Jürgen Kölbl his support. © private
The town of Nittenau is using questionable methods to take action against the founder of the Schlosswald natural cemetery. He is now receiving well-known support.
Nittenau/Regensburg – For almost four years, Jürgen Kölbl from Regensburg has been fighting for his economic existence, but above all for his life’s work: the Schlosswald natural cemetery near Nittenau. For years he has been waiting for a public trial before the Regensburg Administrative Court to get his rights. Now Kölbl is receiving support from an experienced and well-known entrepreneur.
Media Markt founder Walter Gunz visited Kölbl in the Schlosswald and assured him of his support in the fight with the town of Nittenau. “Law must remain law, there can be no compromises with injustice,” said Gunz.
Schlosswald Natural Cemetery: A founder with passion and idealism
We first reported in March about Jürgen Kölbl, the castle forest and the questionable actions of the city of Nittenau (Schwandorf district) against the founder of the natural cemetery.
In 2011, after the death of his father, who wanted to be buried under a tree, the now 62-year-old began to look into the subject of natural cemeteries. “That ultimately led me to this piece of forest,” he says. Kölbl agreed with Count von Drechsel to lease his forest for 30 years, with an option to extend.
He concluded a service contract with the town of Nittenau to operate the cemetery. He invested around 500,000 euros – financed through loans – in reports, development plan procedures and the resulting requirements.
Kölbl built wooden pavilions for the funeral ceremony, a tiny house as a reception area, found a carpenter in Regenstauf who makes wooden urns for the castle forest, and a glass artist in Pirkensee who designs individual panels for rocks and trees.
Schlosswald Natural Cemetery: Model project with exemplary character
Since its opening in 2015, the natural cemetery has been running to the satisfaction of everyone involved – especially the town of Nittenau. It made headlines, generated demand and caused a sensation. Two natural cemeteries of the Bavarian State Forests in Mittenwald (opened in 2021) and Königsholz (opened in 2023) are based almost entirely on the Schlosswald concept when it comes to setting fees, allocating graves and the cemetery statutes.
More than 500 people have now found their final resting place in the 22-hectare forest area, and there are more than 1,000 reservations. But since 2021, Kölbl has been at loggerheads with the city of Nittenau – a complete surprise to him. The approach seems like a concerted effort to wear down the entrepreneur.
Unpaid fees and a lawyer’s fax: questionable actions by the city of Nittenau
First, the city did not pay the agreed fees for months, putting Kölbl off with excuses and claims that bordered on lies. Finally, the city took the position that the contract it had signed with him to operate the cemetery was invalid – with questionable justification. Kölbl was informed of this by a lawyer’s fax and a statement was sent to the media at the same time.
A trial before the administrative court, in which Kölbl’s lessor Graf von Drechsel is now also involved as a co-respondent, has been pending for over three years. The 62-year-old has been waiting even longer for the disputed outstanding debts from the city of Nittenau – over 100,000 euros.
Natural cemetery founder: “They want me to give up.”
“They want me to give up,” says Kölbl, who is clearly upset that not only his economic existence but also his life’s work is at stake. But he keeps getting encouragement – phone calls and letters of encouragement. “That makes me feel better. It touches me when people think of me and support me.”
Kölbl has now gained Walter Gunz as a well-known supporter. Gunz, who founded the electronics wholesaler Media Markt with two colleagues in 1979 and is considered the creator of the slogan “I’m not stupid,” was alerted to our article on Kölbl’s situation by a friend.
Action by the city of Nittenau: Media Markt founder speaks of “injustice and arbitrariness”
“A case of injustice and arbitrariness was described here, and I wanted to get a personal impression of it,” said Gunz in an interview with our editorial team. He met with Kölbl at the cemetery and heard his story. He spoke of a “future project” that Kölbl implemented here with love and passion. “Mr. Kölbl is, you can see and feel that, a true idealist.”
But idealists sometimes have a hard time in everyday life, says Gunz, against the background of his experiences in another company before his career as an entrepreneur. “I have become very familiar with bureaucracy, a lack of insight, a lack of empathy and responsibility. The grey men who Michael Ende in his novel Momo, there were already those days.” Kölbl’s story reminded him of his earlier times, said Gunz. Such grey men are also on the move here.
Appeal for a fair agreement
“I am a person of understanding, so I am careful not to threaten, that only leads to war. But law must remain law, and there must be no compromise with injustice.” He therefore appeals to the parties in this dispute to find a good, fair and responsible agreement. “Not one that is delayed for a long time, but here, now and today.”
Although he has no personal, material interest in the case, he would like to “get involved and support Mr. Kölbl so that he gets what he is entitled to – spiritually and materially.”
Although no date has yet been set for a public hearing, the Regensburg Administrative Court has indicated two points in its first letters: it is unlikely that the entire contract is invalid. And: even if that were the case, Kölbl or his Schlosswald GmbH would be entitled to appropriate compensation for the most recent burials.
