Mannus Riedesel
June 6, 1662-November 4, 1726
The most important master builder in Wittgenstein.

He was known for the artistic decorations of his half-timbered (Fachwerk) structures. Mannus Riedesel lived in the Melbach (now a part of the village of Balde associated with the town of Erndtebrück, and was buried on November 5, 1726 in the Raumland churchyard.

Typical are his representations of wine vines and unidentifiable fantasy fruits. They make his structures easily identifiable and serve as landmarks of the region.

A few important structures:
The school-chapel in Sassenhausen
Stoltz’sches house in Bad Laasphe
Ludwigsburg in Bad Berleburg
Hof Dambach near Girkhausen
Fuchs’sches house in Wunderthausen