VISITING
AUTHOR/EDITOR ARTICLE
APRIL
2009
GERMAN
VILLAGE FOR SALE
ON
EBAY
-entire
German village – complete with duck pond, a playground and two road signs –
is
being auctioned off on EBay for just over 300,000 euros.
And
the interest for the property is growing fast, according to its seller Alexandra
Schmidt.
Liebon, in the eastern state of Saxony, is described by wags as "a one
horse town where the horse has died". The village, which dates to the 14th
century, is situated near the Czech and Polish borders and at 15,000sq ft, it is
one of the smallest in Germany.
Its
current owners say the price includes a large farm dating to the 18th century, a
residential house, a playground, a village pond, a small shop and two road
signs. Currently, Liebon boasts a population of eight people, and the nearest
neighbors live a mile away.
However,
high-speed internet access means residents do not feel too isolated.
Karsten
Schmidt, 45, who put the offer on the internet, lives in Liebon with his wife
Alexandra and two children. Schmidt's parents also live in the village, as does
his brother, who shares a home with his girlfriend.
Foto:
Aerial view of Liebon
However, despite the idyllic setting, Schmidt says that he is ready to start
packing if the family gets a decent offer.
"My two daughters are so far away from everything," he said. "My
parents don't have driving licences, and you really depend on a car here."
A small newspaper article on the ad sparked a large media frenzy during the past
week, and Schmidt was overwhelmed with inquiries of interest.
The
31-year-old told reporters said she was “extremely surprised” at the scale
of the reaction. Offers have already been made, though no bidders have yet come
to view the village.
The
Schmidt's haven't found a new home just yet. They are looking for a place near
Cottbus. The major reason for the move is Schmidt's 11-year old daughter who
suffers from mucoviscidose, a hereditary disease involving defects of various
tissues, including the sweat glands.
The
little girl has to attend a special school for disabled children, Alexandra
said. "She regularly has to visit a clinic in Dresden, and the distances
are just too great," she said.
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