Leopold Bernheimer
 (1841-1918)

The Bernheimer´sche Realschule                (Zwiefalter Str. 30)

Lehmann Bernheimer was born in Buttenhausen in 1841. His was one of the successful entrepreneurial families originating from this small village. Lehmann, their most eminent son, established the Bernheimer art and auction house in Munich, which soon became world-renowned. His close relations with the Bavarian royal family gave him an advantage in obtaining the title ”Kommerzienrat” (a title historically conferred on distinguished businessmen). Bernheimer passed away in 1918.
In 1901 he founded a secondary school (Realschule) close to his parents´ home (Zwiefalter Str. 28) for both Jewish and Christian children. The schoolhouse was completed in 1903, according to plans by ”Werkmeister” (a position similar to an engineer) Joseph Reiser, and was inaugurated the following year. The historicizing architecture was, however, also influenced by the client, who shortly beforehand had shown his enthusiasm for design with the Bernheimer Palace on Munich´s Lenbachplatz. The history of the school itself is rather short: As early as 1923 the foundation funds had been exhausted through inflation. Until 1968 the house was used as a kindergarten, which, with the exception of the years 1942-1945, bore the name of its founder. The building later served as the town hall. It was opened to the public in 1992 and has since been classified a national historical monument. Today the exhibition on the history of Jews in Buttenhausen is situated in part of the former teachers residence on the second floor.