The Family and Prestin Today
The history of what is today the village of Prestin has been cast by the v. Pressentin famliy over the last 900 years. The family constructed the first church and in 1270 Petrus v. Pressentin built the church which stands today. Here in its crypt the family found their last resting place and after 1808 in the crypt of their own private family chapel next to the church.
The Historic Building Ensemble in Prestin
The original gothic architecture on the west side of the church was lost in 1703 when in a ferocious storm it and the then adjoining bell tower collapsed. It was rebuilt in a half-timber style and with a new doorway it became the main entrance. The three bells which the family had donated survived and were hung in a new belfry. The largest bell dated 1478 has survived. The font donated in 1551 by Dinnies v. Pressentin was replaced in 1856 by Adolf v.Pressentin and the original taken to the state museum. In 1692 Bernd v. Pressentin donated a new altar in which the figures from the original medaeval altar were put into niches around the new central feature - the portrayal of the Easter story of Jesus on the road to Emmaus.
The Family Chapel
The family is not only one of the oldest in Germany but also counts among the pioneer families in America. In the 20th century emigration to South Africa and Brazil followed. The Family Association founded in 1885 has played a vital role in keeping the family together and its family tree, dating from 1270, up to date. The family has it heart in Prestin in the form of its private chapel.
