Schloesserland Sachsen - Old splendor in new glory by Schloesserland Sachsen

S C H L O E S S E R L A N D S AC H S E N . O L D S P L E N D O R I N N E W G L O R Y.

Fascination Semperoper C HRI ST I AN T HI E L E MAN N P R I N C I PAL C O N DU CTO R O F STAAT S KAPE LLE DRESDEN

Information and tickets T +49 351 49 11 705 bestellung@semperoper.de semperoper.de

Old splendor in new glory Augustus the Strong grants an audience _____________

New thinking - new forms 3

Elector Augustus presents ________________________

Augustusburg Castle / Klaffenbach Castle _____________ 26 / 27

Solid walls and sturdy towers

Dresden Residential Castle ________________________ 28 / 29

Margrave Otto the Rich recounts __________________

Altzella Monastery Park / Mildenstein Castle __________

8/9

Stolpen Castle _________________________________ 10 / 11 Gnandstein Castle / Scharfenstein Castle _____________ 12 / 13

Castles become palaces

Freudenstein Castle / Hartenfels Castle ______________ 30 / 31 Wildenfels Castle / Hinterglauchau Castle ____________ 32 / 33 Wildeck Castle / Dresden Fortress __________________ 34 / 35

Between Romanticism and industrialization Prince Hermann Pueckler-Muskau remembers ________

Prince Pueckler Park Bad Muskau / Frohburg Castle_____ 64 / 65 Voigtsberg Castle / Royal Grounds Bad Elster __________ 66 / 67

Lodge royally

Colditz Castle _________________________________ 36 / 37

Katharina Luther, née von Bora, invites _____________

Lauenstein Castle / Klippenstein Castle ______________ 38 / 39

Nimbschen Monastery / Hohnstein Castle ____________ 70 / 71

Koenigstein Fortress / Nossen Castle_________________ 42 / 43

Boarding House »Zur Königlichen Ausspanne« / Dresden-Pillnitz Castle Hotel ______________________ 72 / 73

Duchess Elisabeth von Rochlitz remembers __________

The splendor of Baroque and Rococo

Hotel Gaussig House / Purschenstein Castle Hotel _____ 76 / 77

Rochlitz Castle / Kriebstein Castle __________________ 16 / 17 Weesenstein Castle ______________________________ 18 / 19 Meissen Albrechtsburg Castle / Schlettau Castle ________ 20 / 21 Schoenfels Castle _______________________________

Museum

AudioGuide

Matthaeus Daniel Poeppelmann presents ____________

Pillnitz Castle and Park / Wackerbarth Castle __________ 48 / 49 The Grand Garden of Dresden / The Dresden Zwinger __ 50 / 51 Rammenau Baroque Castle / Zabeltitz Baroque Garden __ 54 / 55

schloesserlandPASS _____________________________

Grosssedlitz Baroque Garden / Wolkenburg Castle ______ 56 / 57

How to get to Saxony ____________________________

Moritzburg Castle / Moritzburg Little Pheasant Castle ___ 58 / 59

Editorial details ________________________________

Delitzsch Baroque Castle / Lichtenwalde Castle and Park __ 60 / 61

Map of Saxony _________________________________

App with AudioGuide

Accomodation

schloesserlandPASS discounts www.schloesserland-sachsen.de

»Get your

d Schloesserlan App today!«

Embark on a discovery tour of the gardens of kings! Download App

Master gardeners, trick fountain artists and kings report in an entertaining way of the creation of their gardens, accompanied by 13-year-old blogger Emma. Follow them through the eras of landscaping history.

Grosssedlitz Baroque Garden

The Schloesserland App for iOS and Android includes self-guided audio tours, site maps and much more information on: ÝÛ Altzella Monastery Park ÝÛ Royal Grounds Bad Elster ÝÛ Grosssedlitz Baroque Garden ÝÛ Lichtenwalde Castle and Park ÝÛ Pillnitz Castle and Park For further information go to www.schloesserland-sachsen.de /schloesserland.sachsen

Old splendor in new glory »Be warmly welcomed to Schloesserland Sachsen! For more than eight hundred years, the land which once had emerged from the March of Meissen was ruled by members of my dynasty. They left magnificent buildings everywhere – evidence of their power and wealth, but also testimony to joie de vivre and love of the arts. As margraves, dukes, electors and kings of the House of Wettin they once contributed to what Saxony represents today: the most popular destination in Germany for culture-loving tourists. Of course, it was not just them – everywhere in the country, Saxon nobles strived to emulate their idol, thus generating a density of gorgeous estates that is unique in the world. Many of them were designed by the best architects of their time. Master builders, such as Arnold von Westfalen, Matthaeus Daniel Poeppelmann and Johann Christoph Knoeffel, created buildings which met the highest standards of the time and which today continue to attract as much admiration as ever. They have been carefully restored and are now open to visitors from near and far as museums, cultural sites or hotels. With every step you take you will encounter outstanding testimonies to Saxon creativity: medieval castles and monasteries, proud Renaissance palaces, pompous Baroque residences, extensive gardens and parks and fantastic neo-style buildings of the 19th century. Indulge in the way of life of

RT I K S E »TH R« E S A H C

the nobles of bygone times and allow yourself to be enchanted by an atmosphere of exclusivity. Listen to a wealth of anecdotes about our rich history, which are due in no small part to me.«

Elector Frederick Augustus I of Saxony, King Augustus II of Poland, also known as »Augustus the Strong« (1670 – 1733) Movie »THE

KI RT CHASER«

www.schloesserland-sachsen.de

Moritzburg Castle

Altzella Monastery Park

Solid

walls and sturdy towers

»In my time, the March of Meissen started to blossom. I had forests chopped down, land turned into arable fields and counties founded. Towns, such as Leipzig and Freiberg, emerged. Proud, fortified castles secured the new settlements and trading routes. Some of them have been preserved so very well that still today one might expect the castle gates to open and the lord of the castle and his companions on their stallions to sweep over the drawbridge. Bowers and donjons, knights’ halls, castle chapels and gloomy dungeons invite you to embark on a fascinating trip into medieval times. The special atmosphere of those times continues to greet visitors to the castles of Mildenstein, Gnandstein and Scharfenstein even today. Apart from the castles, monasteries were set up as centers of spiritual life. They steadily developed into centers of culture and education, as for example, the Cistercian abbeys of Buch and Altzella. The latter did not only become famous as the burial site of Meissen margraves, but also for its extensive library which ranked among the most important ones in the Empire. However, the reason why the sobriquet »the Rich« was added to my name after my death has less to

»THE Y MONE « RAKER

do with gaining knowledge than with acquiring a hoard of silver treasures. Rich finds of this noble metal were first discovered in the densely wooded mountains nearby the monastery in 1168. It precipitated a »Berggeschrey« (mining frenzy), attracting scores of pitmen and miners, charcoal burners and traders to Saxony. I gave every man who was up to it the rights to mine in the »Ore Mountains«. Ambitions were spurred – and the »Bergzehnte« or mining duty that was owed to me filled my treasury thoroughly …« Movie »THE

Margrave Otto the Rich (1125 – 1190)

ON EY-RAKER«

www.schloesserland-sachsen.de

ALTZELLA MONASTERY PARK

The heritage of

the Cistercians

hen the waves of Reformation swept over

the echo of the monks and their activities. Such was

the bricks of the monastery were removed to be used

Saxony the German princes who had converted

also the case in Altzella, after the Saxon sovereign, Prince

elsewhere, while valuable books from the library, numbe-

to the Lutheran faith drove the monks out of their

Henry the Pious, had ordered the secularization of the

ring well over a thousand, were passed on to the Uni-

monasteries. There remained ruined monastery grounds,

Cistercian monastery there. The grounds where the

versity of Leipzig. However, since Altzella was the

in which only those interested in history could perceive

monks had lived and worked since 1175 fell into ruin,

cemetery of the noble Wettin family, the royal court in Dresden never ceased to be interested in the site. Here, in 1787, Elector August III erected a mausoleum in early neoclassicistic style, while his garden architect Johann Friedrich Huebler surrounded the white burial place with a landscape park in the style of the Romantic period. The manmade landscape, so natural in its appearance, with its old pointed arches, seemingly fixed gables and broken pillars quickly attracted famous names of the German art world of the time,

Romanesque Refectorium

including Caspar David Friedrich and Ludwig Richter, who found inspiration galore in Altzella. Anybody attracted to the soft splendor of the old monastery grounds is certain to find the same fascination that drew those Romantics before them.

The stepped Romanesque portal to the monastery

www.schloesserland-sachsen.de

»Al t

te r

Vi d

ar k«

Mausoleum

z e lla M

s ona

MILDENSTEIN CASTLE

symbol of power carved in stone The castle complex towering high above the Freiberger Mulde River

Attic of the outer bailey, 14th century

he mighty castle of Mildenstein is one of the

granary, the keep and the Romanesque castle chapel

for one day. The exhibition provides sometimes drastic

oldest in Saxony; its name first appeared in a

with its three-winged altar are outstanding, as are the

insights into medieval judiciary and regulation.

document in 1046. The Salier kings held court here,

medieval knights’ halls. The sheer size of the castle

»Frieder Berg«, an unusual witness, has been revived

followed by the Staufer kings under Emperor Barbarossa

complex allows it to be used in many ways: exhibitions

especially for children: the keep, the longest serving

who undertook a large-scale extension, and later the

and concerts are held throughout the year. Delicacies

building of the castle, chats about the events it wit-

Wettin margraves under whom Mildenstein became a

that were then served to the elector in festively lit halls

nessed during almost 1,000 years of history.

court of law and a notorious prison. The instruments of

are still served by stewards and pages on St Martin’s

torture and the many bolted and barred doors behind the

Day. The rustic knights’ halls can also be used for pri-

meter-thick walls still send a shiver down the visitors’

vate festivities. Furthermore, Mildenstein surrenders to

spines. Architecturally, the barrel vaulting of the Gothic

those intending to enter into wedlock to rule the castle

www.schloesserland-sachsen.de

Stolpen Castle

STOLPEN CASTLE

Fateful years of a mistress The castle and town of Stolpen

Johannis Tower, Countess Cosel’s parlor

fortress of roughly cut timbers is said to have

fame by war and catastrophes, but instead by intrigues

was to become a victim of her princely bedmate. The

stood here since at least 1100, where today the

at the Saxon court, to which Stolpen Castle ows its

stone on which the castle is built is as hard as the fate

castle of Stolpen greets its visitors. The castle was first

most famous and lasting resident. For almost half a

suffered by Countess Cosel. Basalt, which forms the

mentioned in documents in the year 1222. The follo-

century, until her death in 1765, Anna Constantia

base of the fortress, was first described by scientists in

wing eight hundred years saw much light but even more

Countess von Cosel was to remain banished behind its

Stolpen. The characteristic stone of the castle mountain,

shadow, for Stolpen was to suffer greatly in the storms

walls. This cheerful, beautiful and clever woman, long-

as well as the deepest, unsupported basalt well in the

of European feuds. Hussites, Swedes, Prussians and

time mistress of Augustus the Strong and mother of

world, carry the status of a national geotope.

French were to leave scars on the fortress, just as plague

three of his children, had made enemies due to her

and fire did, too. But the castle was not to achieve

apparent interference in political affairs and eventually

the way is signposted from the »Bastei« | BY BUS from Dresden to Stolpen, bus stop Schützenhausstraße | BY RAIL rail from Pirna to Stolpen, then about 30 minutes walk

Vi d

DIRECTIONS | BY CAR via Highway A 4, exit Ottendorf-Okrilla via Radeberg to Stolpen via Federal Road B 6 Dresden – Bischofswerda, then signposted; from Saxon Switzerland

»St

o l pe n C astl e« www.schloesserland-sachsen.de

GNANDSTEIN CASTLE

A picture T

book castle

he best preserved Romanesque fortification in

seem to be »hermits« in the sense of being closely con-

castle to anyone else. This may be the reason why,

Saxony rises near the »potters’ town« of Kohren-

nected to this place far off the world’s hustle and bustle,

despite numerous conversions and extensions, it ranks

Sahlis. The lords of the castle came from old Meissen

since the family continually inhabited Gnandstein from

among the unique group of German knights’ castles

nobility, the family von Einsiedel (the name literally

the late 14th century until the end of World War II,

still invoking the spirit of long-gone ages. The donjon,

meaning »hermit«). Indeed did the lords of the castle

without ever having had to surrender the keys of the

the bailey, the battlements, shielding walls, the palace: the fortress above the small Wyhra River is a dream come true for all those fascinated by the medieval period. Climb the donjon, which was ultimate refuge for the castle’s inhabitants in times of war. Or visit the late Gothic chapel with its splendid wood-carved altars and you can feel as if transported back to those unsettled times when Saxony was in the hands of armored warriors. Furthermore, befitting the medieval aura of Gnandstein, there is an old legend of a hidden treasure waiting to be found in the grounds of the fortress. Visitors to the Romanesque defense castle can still return home feeling enriched without having discovered gold or precious gems, as the exhibition of the »Gross Col-

Castle Chapel

lection« allows them to admire about four hundred precious exhibits collected over seven centuries.

The castle complex

id e

www.schloesserland-sachsen.de

s tle

o »G n d stein an

DIRECTIONS | BY CAR via Highway A 4 to Highway Junction Kreuz Chemnitz, continue along Highway A 72 direction Leipzig, exit Penig, continue along Federal Road B 95 direction Leipzig, then signposted | BY RAIL from Leipzig, Chemnitz to Gaithain; then continue with the bus to Kohren-Sahlis

SCHARFENSTEIN CASTLE

Arts

and Crafts At the Christmas and Toy Museum

or centuries the Ore Mountains had lived from the precious stone for which they had once been

named – especially the silver mines had made this picturesque mountain range a prosperous region. But when the faceworkers in the sixteenth century started to bring

a special treasure of folk art objects and toys from all

about the region and be entertained by the exhibitions

even less white ore out of the mines, the people of the

over the Ore Mountains. Scharfenstein is widely known

on folk art traditions, castle history as well as by Karl

Ore Mountains had to look for new sources of income.

as the »Family and Adventure Castle« which offers a

Stuelpner’s history. So anybody wanting to come as

Therefore, what previously had been a way of passing

hands-on historical experience to live and learn by.

near as possible to such items as carved wooden ani-

the long winter nights, became their way of earning

Fairy tale weekends, carving, painting and crafting

mals, the German incense smoker, the Christmas arch

their daily bread: the production of wooden figures and

workshops for children are among the castle attrac-

or the Christmas pyramid, should conquer Scharfen-

Christmas decorations. It is possible to see the rich fruits

tions. Also popular with the youngsters are scavenger

stein Castle as soon as possible!

of this craft tradition at Scharfenstein Castle. This

hunts with Karl Stuelpner, »the Robin Hood of the

800-year-old castle possesses the »Martin Collection«,

The castle complex

Ore Mountains«. Adults, too, can learn something

www.schloesserland-sachsen.de

Rochlitz Castle

Castles become palaces »As the widow of Duke John of Saxony, I resided in Rochlitz for ten years. Much to the dismay of my father-in-law, Duke George, who fiercely opposed Luther, I supported the Reformation in my dominion. But when the religious war started, in which even brothers and relatives fought each other, I tried to mediate. Nevertheless my heart beat for the Protestant side. Before my time in Rochlitz, the architecture in Central Germany was in full bloom already. This lent my residence special splendor, since it was here where renowned master builder Arnold von Westfalen tried out completely new forms and possibilities in building. High and wide windows ending in pointed arches and resembling gathered curtains became his trademark. This shape gave them their name: »arched curtain windows«. They are not only found at Rochlitz, but also at Kriebstein and Meissen Albrechtsburg Castle, which is deemed to be Arnold’s masterpiece. That is also where a second invention of his gained full recognition: the cellular vault, an

various groundplans in a wide range of forms. Slowly, along with these novelties and the changing requirements of the property owners, the frugal castles began to give way to a kind of architecture that turned away from the idea of defense in order to focus on representation: the palace.«

Mov FR ie »THE

Elisabeth von Rochlitz (1502 –1557)

»THE NE I L T N FRO « T S I N I FEM O NT IS LINE FEMIN

T«

entirely new technique of ceiling design. It was capable of spanning most

www.schloesserland-sachsen.de

ROCHLITZ CASTLE

Fat, One-Eyed, Revolutionary n the 10th century, this fortress was part of the

appear like a fortified cathedral. Whoever comes to vis-

of the history of the outpost above the Zwickauer

defense of the hard-won German victory over the

it this area can still feel the historic turbulence which

Mulde River – even today it still bears the scars of shots

West Slavs. Today, more than a millennium later, the

was part of the German settlement drive to the east dur-

from the Thirty Years’ War. However, there is also a

Rochlitz towers »Light Jupe« and »Dark Jupe« still rise

ing the High Middle Ages. Later emperors, kings and

brighter side to the history of Rochlitz Castle, especial-

over the Zwickauer Mulde River and have the castle

electors held court here. Wars and sieges were also part

ly thanks to three of the Wettins. Dedo von Groitzsch had the impenetrable forests cleared and encouraged the settlement of the lands around Rochlitz, while Margrave Wilhelm the One-eyed and later the Electors Ernest and Albert had the defense castle rebuilt as a residential palace. Duchess Elisabeth von Sachsen dedicated herself to the Reformation and attempted to be a The castle at the Mulde River

negotiator between the two sides in the Schmalkaldic War (1546-1547). Each generation of occupiers of the palace left their stamp on it, and inside there are

opened interactive exhibition thrills visitors both young

numerous architectural gems waiting to be discovered.

and old with the history of the »long forgotten Wet-

Anybody who likes to be transported back into history

tins«. The castle has also earned reputation by its excit-

will enjoy the Gothic windows, ornamented cruciform

ing and highly entertaining guided tours during which

vaults, defensive passages, dungeons, the large court

one can experience at close range how people lived

kitchen and the torture chamber. A special attraction is

centuries ago.

the lovingly restored Princes’ House with its impressive state rooms, such as the 300-m2 dining hall, for example. After almost 20 years of restoration, a newly

The Renaissance Hall in the castle’s Princes’ House

Vid

www.schloesserland-sachsen.de

tl e«

DIRECTIONS | BY CAR via Federal Higway A 72, exit Rochlitz, continue along Federal Road B 175, and via Highway A 14, exit Döbeln Nord, follow Federal Roads B 169 and B 175 | BY RAIL/BUS from Geithain, Narsdorf, Mittweida, Erlau by bus to Rochlitz

KRIEBSTEIN CASTLE

A dream of a

knight’s castle was built. The unique residential tower, 147 feet tall and with six dormer windows, was home to the first owner Dietrich von Beerwalde over 600 years ago. It contains the richly decorated Kriebstein Room from about 1423. Just as unique are the illusionist murals in the 15thcentury treasure vault, the scenes depicting the Virgin Mary in the 1410 chapel and, of course, the Alexius Inside the Castle Chapel

Altar. In 1986 a treasure was discovered in the chimney

aftsmen used to cross themselves when they

of the living room, the jewels of which are now on dis-

rea ched the steep rock of the ochre castle of

play in the treasure vault. A varied program of events

Kriebstein, from here on the Zschopau River was rea-

and cultural highlights, such as a medieval festival, a

sonably tame and the countryside safe, at least in times

»fairytale castle« event, rock concerts, stylish knights’

of peace. The steepest road in Saxony now leads up the

banquets and spine-chillingly mysterious tours of the

granulite rock, on top of which the late Gothic jewel

ancient walls are held here on this steep rock.

The castle

Burg Kriebstein | 09648 Kriebstein | Phone +49 34327 9520 I kriebstein@schloesserland-sachsen.de | www.burg-kriebstein.eu Vi d e

DIRECTIONS | BY CAR via Federal Higway A 4, exit Mittweida or Hainichen, follow the touristic signposting to the Talsperre Kriebstein/Burg Kriebstein;

»K

via Highway A 14, exit Döbeln-Nord direction Waldheim | BY RAIL Berlin – Chemnitz, get off at Waldheim Station

r ieb

stei n Cas t

l e«

www.schloesserland-sachsen.de

Weesenstein Castle

WEESENSTEIN CASTLE

pearl in crown

A Saxony’s

The Castle Chapel

ike a pearl, Weesenstein grew layer by layer. The

translation of Dante’s Divine Comedy before he became

where even the windows are often nothing more than

castle, which has stood over the Mueglitz Valley

king of Saxony. Today visitors can discover the nooks

an illusion, for every third is only a painting. In short:

for nearly seven hundred years, has often been partly

and crannies of this network of staircases. On the fifth

Whoever enjoys mazes and the unexpected will find

demolished and rebuilt according to prevailing con-

floor, they come across a horse stable while the noble

adventure enough in the peculiar residence of King

temporary tastes, which is why it shows varied stylistic

chambers from the 18th and 19th century, with their

John. Afterwards, a walk in the palace park, a visit to

elements from the Gothic to the Classicist periods.

precious wall coverings, can be found one floor below

the restaurant »Königliche Schlossküche« or a tankard

Thus, a curiosity among Saxon palaces arise; it grew

the cellar. The »Monk’s Way« is said to be haunted by the

of good »Weesenstein Schlossbräu« – a traditional beer

downwards into the valley over the centuries, and

lost ghost of a former palace resident. Perhaps it is the

which originates from the 16th century – guarantees a

occasionally was too much for its owners. Here, in his

illusion-filled façade paintings which prevent him from

most enjoyable recovery.

favorite residence, the gifted Prince John worked on his

finding peace in this confusion – in this unusual palace The Leather-Tapestry Hall

DIRECTIONS | BY CAR via Federal Higway A 17, exit Pirna, further along towards Glashütte or via Federal Road B 172 to Heidenau or Pirna, then continue towards Altenberg

Vi de o

tle

BY CITY RAIL Dresden – Schöna, get off at Heidenau, then by »Müglitztalbahn« railway to Weesenstein | BY BUS Heidenau-Glashütte, get off at the Weesenstein bus stop

ese

ns te i n Ca s

www.schloesserland-sachsen.de

MEISSEN ALBRECHTSBURG CASTLE

Meissen with the castle hill at night: Albrechtsburg Castle with the Cathedral and the Local Court

along its side three waters flow?« – Thus goes

an old German rhyme. The solution to the riddle is

Trendsetter

lbr Movie »A

»W

here is the hill on which three castles grow,

ec hts burg Meissen«

since 1471

View in the Boettger room

breathed into the castle situated above the Elbe River. With the »White Gold« produced in Meissen, its tri-

»Meissen«. Here, where the castle hill is surrounded by

Europe, which steadily gained in power. The fortifica-

tins as a symbol of their power to be seen from afar – a

umphant march through Europe began. Impressive

the rivers Elbe, Triebisch and Meisa, a wooden fortifi-

tion was soon replaced by a castle built of stone that

masterly piece of architecture whose bold architectural

exhibits in the castle rooms, displayed in a modern

cation was built in 929, high above the gloomy forests

henceforth stood out as a solitary landmark of mun-

solutions and design still impress visitors today. How-

interactive style, remind us of this stroke of occidental

in the eastern-most parts of the then still young Holy

dane power sending out impulses far beyond the bor-

ever, after centuries of blossoming, the place remained

inventive genius. In every corner, visitors will find a real

Roman Empire. It was to become the cradle of Saxony –

ders of the March of Meissen. So it was here that,

unused for a long time. It was not until Augustus the

picture book of Saxon history, which time and again

the place from where, for centuries to come, the princes’

supervised by master builder Arnold von Westfalen,

Strong decreed that the first European porcelain manu-

brings the fascination of architecture, power and porce-

dynasty of the Wettins ruled the land in the heart of

Germany’s first palace building was erected by the Wet-

factory move into the building that new life was

lain in Germany’s oldest palace back to life.

Albrechtsburg Meissen | Domplatz 1 | 01662 Meißen | Phone +49 3521 47070 | albrechtsburg@schloesserland-sachsen.de | www.albrechtsburg-meissen.de | DIRECTIONS | BY CAR via Highway A 4, exit Siebenlehn, further along Federal Road B 101 up to Meißen; via Highway A 13, exit Radeburg; via Highway A 14, exit Nossen-Ost; via Federal Road B 6 from Dresden to Meißen | BY BOAT by Elbe River steamboats up to the Meißen jetty | BY CITY RAIL S 1 to Meissen Station | By sightseeing tour bus between the Porcelain Manufactory, the Old Town and the Castle Hill 20

www.schloesserland-sachsen.de

SCHLETTAU CASTLE

An enchanting family castle The Knights’ Hall

hoever loves the magic of life, should visit

resque mixture of styles: Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque

medieval corridors with their corners and bays offer

Schlettau Castle with their children. This

and neo-Gothic – magical moments are normal in this

the visitor »intelligent« entertainment: ghost nights take

small 14th century palace, which had to watch over

ambitious fox’s den. As if in a set of pictures, you can pass

place here quite often, as do jousting events and monks’

the historic salt road near Annaberg, has been a manor

through the herbal liquor cellar, dark dungeons, the

banquets. Because of the careful redevelopment of the

house, abbot’s residence, hunting lodge, and cotton mill

Knight’s Hall, and come to see spinning wheels in opera-

old walls it is no surprise that the magical Schlettau

in its time. The interior of this curiosity is accordingly

tion, or a gallery of paintings from the Ore Mountains

Castle has, been designated as especially suitable for

colorful and full of crooks and crannies, with its pictu-

in the forest room with its animal trophies. Even the

family outings since 2005.

Schlettau Castle

www.schloesserland-sachsen.de

SCHOENFELS CASTLE

knights, bailiffs and the Wettins

hose who would like to see an unspoilt medieval

1200 when colonizers opened up new territories for

fortification, will find it at Schoenfels Castle.

settlement in the later Pleissenland area. In the 13th

Seldom, the typical setup of a castle like this, with a

century, Schoenfels was under the rule of bailiffs,

wall and moat running all round, with an outer bailey,

noble families who, on behalf of the emperor, gov-

a lower castle and the core castle, has been preserved in

erned and held court in the Vogtland [Vogt lit. bailiff ]

such completeness and genuineness over the centuries.

region, which was named after them. But they eventu-

The defiant building was founded presumably around

ally lost their power to the Wettins in 1398, who then, in their turn, enfeoffed noble lords with the Schoenfels dominion. Today’s appearance of the castle interior was most strongly influenced by the Lords von Weissenbach, who resided at Schoenfels from 1459 to 1586. The gentry, in its time, claimed higher standards in modern conveniences and enhanced the old buildings. To the outside, the fortified character of the cas-

Schoenfels Castle

tle was maintained; the interior, however, became

could be heated and created a pleasant atmosphere,

enchanting little organ with its wooden pipework as

more comfortable. Therefore, from about 1480, a new

even during winter time. At the same time, a castle

well as the lavishly decorated pulpit originate form the

wing was attached to the northwest of the castle. It also

chapel was set up, built of the remainder of a tower

time of the Baroque. A round tour of Schoenfels Cas-

included a bower that has largely been preserved in its

gate of the lower bailey. The winged altar in this late-

tle conveys fascinating impressions of the living condi-

original state. It was built of painted planks of timber,

Gothic sacred space shows Renaissance forms; the

tions of those who used to inhabit it.

Late Gothic Bower

ide

www.schloesserland-sachsen.de

s tle

o » S c h o e nf el s

DIRECTIONS | BY CAR along Highway A 4 to exit Zwickau, then follow Federal Road B 93 to Zwickau, B 173 to Lichtentanne; along Highway A 72 from Chemnitz-Hof to exit Zwickau West, then follow Federal Road B 173 towards Lichtentanne | BY RAIL/BUS from Chemnitz to Zwickau, then by bus No. 29 to Lichtentanne, then along the hiking path Rußbuttensteig, or bus No. 181 to Schoenfels (mo-fr)

Schoenfels Castle

Augustusburg Castle

New

thinking – new forms

»In my time, in the 16th century that is, the spirit of Renaissance came to take hold of Saxony. The Dark Ages gave way to the dawn of discoveries and to newly gained knowledge. We, the princes, supported the arts and sciences and took care of the development of trade and crafts. We did not want to carry on living in the tight, uncomfortable castles of our forefathers. So we had residential palaces redesigned in Torgau and Dresden. With their richly decART AD HE D »T

T IC

flights of rooms, they raised admiration throughout Europe. In fact, I myself contributed to the latter with my

Mo v ie

orated façades, long rows of windows, artfully designed spiral staircases, new castle chapels and representative

Cabinet of Artifacts and Curiosities, in which I collected anything precious or rare in the world that I could lay my hands on or that was given to me – from a unicorn to mineral specimens to precious items and paintings – and presented them to my awestruck visitors. Many of my successors became addicted to collecting, too, some even worse than me. I also had the old castles in Freiberg, Nossen and Colditz converted into palaces with splendidly decorated portals, widely stepped gables and large halls. State-of-the-art fortifications in Italian and Dutch style with cannon-armed battlements and safe casemates were built in Dresden and

RT A E H »T « T C I D AD

Leipzig for the defense of the towns. The Koenigstein Mountain in the Elbe Sandstone Mountains was extended to become an unconquerable state fortress. And with Augustusburg Castle in the Ore Mountains, I left a truly impressive edifice.«

Elector Augustus (1526 –1586)

www.schloesserland-sachsen.de

SCHLOSS AUGUSTUSBURG

The crown of the Ore Mountains H

ere, where stallions once breathed heavily in

largest motorbike museum. Numerous unique exhibits

thousands of motorcycle fans. The monumental Re-

front of grand barouches, horse-powered engines

from the history of this fascinating means of travel are

naissance castle stands on a well-chosen site. Visible

now roar. Augustusburg Castle is one of the favorite

on display here. During the »Winter Meeting« of the

from afar, this old hunting lodge rises above the

places of motorcycle fans since it is the home of Europe’s

motorcycle congregation, Augustusburg Castle attracts

Zschopau Valley on a porphyry cone. It is aptly called the »Crown of the Ore Mountains« because of its roof shape. The imposing structure, which in four centuries has lost none of its former appeal, was completed in the year 1572. Augustusburg Castle, however, not only

View from the service yard to the castle

impresses through its historic atmosphere but also because of its spaciousness which has been put to good use. There is hardly another castle in Germany which

At the Motorcycle Museum

offers such a large variety of cultural and educational

artistically minded will love the sight of the altarpiece

programs inside its castle walls. Here, visitors will not

of the castle church which was painted by Lucas Cranach

only find the motorcycle museum, but also other

the Younger. This altarpiece is considered to be one of

worthwhile exhibitions of game and birds, of coaches

the most remarkable works of art of the Protestant

and of the hunting and castle history, with impressive

faith. It has never been removed from its original location

murals in the Venus and Rabbit Hall. Visitors can have

since the church was consecrated. Furthermore, for

a magnificent view from its watchtower. In addition,

those who wish to rest after having enjoyed all the

falconry shows of eagles and hawks allow visitors to

sights, the castle also accommodates a youth hostel

vividly experience these majestic birds of prey. The

where you can stay the night.

Schloss Augustusburg | 09573 Augustusburg | Phone +49 37291 38018 I augustusburg@schloesserland-sachsen.de | www.die-sehenswerten-drei.de DIRECTIONS | BY CAR via Highway A 72/A 4, exit Frankenberg, further via Federal Road B180 towards Flöha up to Augustusburg BY RAIL Line 517 Flöha – Bärenstein to Erdmannsdorf, continue using the historical cable car to Augustusburg 26

www.schloesserland-sachsen.de

KLAFFENBACH CASTLE

isitors cannot but fall in love with the charm of

this castle to the south of Chemnitz which

hardly anyone will want to call a »castle«. This white Renaissance jewel is poised almost weightlessly above the waters of Würschnitz River which fills the castle moat. The unique sweeping ogee arch roof looks much too ornate and the picturesque view too friendly to appear splendid or even well-fortified. The wedding room is especially popular among those who are in love and who want to take their marriage vows with the good spirit of Fräulein von Taube, who once refused to marry the ugly burgrave of Rabenstein, watching over them. However, she had to pay the price as she was The castle with the moat and the side buildings

immured alive in the castle tower by her own father. Other rooms which have been reconstructed according to old handcraft tradition display regional and international artwork. The castle grounds include a friendly hotel and numerous studios surrounded by a golf course and riding stables.

Love at first

sight

Wasserschloß Klaffenbach | Wasserschloßweg 6 | 09123 Chemnitz | Phone +49 371 266350 | wasserschloss@stadthalle-chemnitz.de DIRECTIONS | BY CAR Highway A 72 Stollberg Exit to Neukirchen, from there follow castle signposting BY RAIL City-Railroad from Chemnitz main station to Klaffenbach/Neukrichen railroad station www.schloesserland-sachsen.de

Dresden Residential Castle

DRESDEN RESIDENTIAL CASTLE

Where the arts A

lmost eight hundred years of history are reflected

reside

in the Saxon Residential Castle which was not

only the royal seat but has also been the cultural center

it has now been restored to its previous beauty and

and is made of transparent plastic pillows. Close by,

houses one of Europe’s greatest art collections, the

another rather more precious material protects a

Dresden State Art Collections. The Residential Castle

unique mural on an outer wall from the adverse effects

is part of a museum complex of extraordinary European

of time: 25,000 painted tiles made of Meissen porce-

significance in which the famous Green Vault, the

lain© form the Procession of Princes, a 102-meter-long

»Turkish Chamber« and the Giant’s Hall of the Armory,

parade which depicts the rulers of the House of Wet-

the Coin Cabinet and the Collection of Prints, Draw-

tin. On the other side of Saxony’s most famous mural

ings and Photographs – Germany’s oldest museum of

is the Stable Courtyard, a building with a colonnade

graphic art – have found a worthy home. The Great

which was already an attraction of the city in the 16th

Castle Courtyard shows the artistic properties of the

century and which forms the backdrop of a romantic

Sgraffito in an exemplary manner. The façades here

medieval Christmas market in December. The size and

have been richly decorated using this ambitious

beauty of the castle can be seen best from the 100-meter-

pebbledash method. The visitor’s lobby of the »Art

high Hausmannsturm Tower with a platform affording

Residence« is located in the Small Castle Courtyard

visitors a fantastic panoramic view of the Old Town

whose Renaissance architecture is overarched by a bold

and the Elbe Valley below.

r es

DIRECTIONS | BY CAR via Highway A 4, exit Dresden Altstadt, then follow the signposting to the city center | BY TRAM get off at tram stop Theaterplatz or Altmarkt

Vid eo »D

Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden | Taschenberg 2 I 01067 Dresden | Phone +49 351 49142000 I besucherservice@skd.museum | www.skd.museum

Small Castle Courtyard

e«

roof construction which appears to be hovering above

s tl

of the Saxon capital. Severely damaged in World War II,

n Re

sid enti a

www.schloesserland-sachsen.de

FREUDENSTEIN CASTLE

Treasures of the earth the collection of the Wella heiress Dr. Erika Pohl-

and impressively beautiful witness to the history of the

shown in a part of the castle which has been specifically

Stroeher, who was born in Saxony, can be seen in this

earth on five continents. The splendor of the exhibits

refurbished for this purpose. This is where the func-

permanent loan exhibition which bears spectacular

has been increased as the »terra mineralia« is being

tional architecture of the third millennium merges with architectural structures which have developed over 700 years providing a fitting stage for the crystals and precious stones whose age is measured in eons. The neighboring rooms house the Freiberg Mining Archive’s collection of artifacts and scientific mining

Access road to the castle

documents from six centuries.

lthough you will not find the famous philosopher’s stone here, you will find everything which makes

the heart of geologists and mineral collectors beat faster. Freudenstein (literally Rock of Joy) is an appropriate name for this castle because it houses a treasure of worldwide reputation not just limited to the scientifically-minded public. The exhibition »terra mineralia« of the Bergakademie Freiberg, University of Technology, is the world’s largest private mineralogical collection. About 3,500 of the total of 80,000 exhibits from

The treasure champer of the »terra mineralia«

Entrance to the museum from the inner yard

Schloss Freudenstein | terra mineralia | Schlossplatz 4 I 09599 Freiberg | Phone +49 3731 394654I fuehrungen@terra-mineralia.de | www.terra-mineralia.de DIRECTIONS | BY CAR via Highways A 4/A 14, exit Siebenlehn/Nossen Ost, continue along Federal Road B 101 towards Freiberg to the town center (Schlossplatz); via Federal Roads B 173/B 101 to the Freiberg town center | BY RAIL Dresden – Chemnitz – Hof; get off at Freiberg Station 30

www.schloesserland-sachsen.de

HARTENFELS CASTLE

The spirit of reform beneath

the spiral staircase

View of the castle from the Elbe River

his town is a monument to Luther’s reform spir-

also where Luther’s wife Katharina von Bora died and

case«, created by great master builder Konrad Krebs,

it. In Torgau, the spiritual center of the German

was buried in St. Mary’s Church. The »Torgau Museum

supports itself without the aid of any central pillar. In

Reformation, Hartenfels Castle is the most significant

Route« leads visitors up the hill to the castle and the

its time, Hartenfels Castle was regarded as a »modern

building of the townscape, an outstanding masterpiece

Castle Church, the first Protestant church to be built in

residential castle« to which an innovative elevator for

in one of Germany’s most beautiful Renaissance towns.

Europe, whose design was based on an idea of Luther

lowering the drinks stored in the bottle tower pays

This is where the »Torgau Articles« laid the foundation

and which was personally consecrated by the great

tribute – this contraption would provide the nobles

for the Augsburg Confession, where the first Protestant

reformer. Today the castle courtyard is the central place

who were wining and dining to the sound of clinking

songbook was published, and where the Protestant

where cultural events in Torgau are held. It is dominat-

glasses with fresh supplies.

rulers signed the »Torgau League of Princes«. This is

ed by the Large Spiral Staircase: This »impossible stair-

Castle courtyard with the Large Spiral Straircase

Schloss Hartenfels | Schlossstraße 27 I 04860 Torgau | Phone +49 3421 70140 I info@schloss-hartenfels.de | www.schloss-hartenfels.de

Vid e

DIRECTIONS | BY CAR via Highway A 13, exit Duben, further along Federal Road B 87 up to Torgau; via Highway A 14, exit Mutzschen | BY RAIL from Leipzig to Torgau

»H

arte

n f e ls C as t

le«

www.schloesserland-sachsen.de

WILDENFELS CASTLE

Oriental

gloss of silk

deemed one of the main attractions of the venerable

and town history as well as the nobles of the Counts zu

trade of making ginger-bread and natural-historical

castle. Its name goes back to the dynasty of those von

Solms-Wildenfels. Further rooms in the north wing of

knowledge about the Wildenfels Intermountain Area.

Wildenfels who had set up a castle more than 800 years

the castle display pieces of contemporary fine arts, the

ago, which is regarded as the predecessor to today’s intricate building complex. After the noble family became extinct in 1602, the Counts zu Solms inherited its estate and shaped its current appearance. They conBlue Salon

verted the old castle palace into a granary, erected

andy-beaked birds in pink and gold crowd richly

today’s castle tower and redesigned the residential and

embroidered blue webs of silk, exotic plants

representation rooms in the area of the outer bailey in

blossom and oriental oil lamps gently swing. Still

neoclassicist style. It is mainly in the style of the late

being in the heart of Saxony, you will feel enchanted

18th century, in which the interior of the castle presents

by the magic of One Thousand and One Nights in the

itself to its visitors today. The castle hall, whose center-

»Blue Salon« of Wildenfels Castle. The wall decoration,

piece is a high, round stove of Meissen porcelain tiles,

which is unique throughout Europe, is presumed to

is being used for performing concerts and giving lectures

consist of parts of a pompous tent for representation,

now; the former ancestors’ hall with its precious wall

originating from the Persian-Turkish cultural area, which

and ceiling murals provides for a perfect ambience for

had come to Wildenfels as spoils of war in 1737. After

wedding ceremonies. The permanent exhibition »Court

their elaborate restoration, the silk tapestry webs can

of Muses – Wildenfels Castle« in what used to be the

be admired again for their previous splendor and are

comital family’s parlors is dedicated mainly to the castle

Wildenfels Castle

www.schloesserland-sachsen.de

HINTERGLAUCHAU CASTLE

Hinterglauchau Castle

Collectors,

benefactors and scholars

the end of the 12th century as a center of their new

beautiful bay, emerged later, during early Renaissance.

20th century as well as the history of the interior of

Glauchau dominion. Three hundred years later, this

In that time and in its immediate vicinity, only sepa-

stately residences from the Renaissance to Historicism.

fortification was converted into a late-Gothic residential

rated from Hinterglauchau by a duct, Forderglauchau

Another exhibition complex of fine arts (graphic art,

palace. The beautiful ogival curtain windows in the

Castle was newly built and motivated to slightly

painting, plastic arts) goes back in large parts to a dona-

east wing still catch the eye today as evidence to the

adjusting the older building to the current zeitgeist.

tion by Dresden medical professor and art collector Pro-

modernization during that time, adopting the archetyp-

The museum at Hinterglauchau Castle belongs to the

fessor Dr. Paul Geipel (1869–1956). As the famous

al design developed by Arnold von Westfalen in the

oldest of its kind in Saxony. It was founded in 1884

Renaissance scholar Georgius Agricola (1494–1555),

embers of one of the oldest bloodlines of Saxon

building of Meissen Albrechtsburg Castle (see p. 20).

and displays several fields of collection, including paint-

who became known as the »Father of Mineralogy«,

nobility, the immediately imperial – i.e., solely

The ogival portals as well as rooms, such as the Banquet

ings, sacral sculptures, furniture and handicraft. The

was born in Glauchau, a topical cabinet show is dedi-

subordinate to the emperor and thus counting among

Hall (»Knights’ Hall«) and the Chapel of the castle go

themes the exhibitions are dedicated to cover the town

cated to his life and work. A small, but nice collection

the high nobility – Lords von Schoenburg erected a

back to that time, too. Other forms of design, for

and castle history of Glauchau, the everyday life of the

of minerals complements this area.

castle on the edge of the Mulde River valley towards

example the volute-ornamented stepped gable or the

weavers in the Schoenburg lands from the 16th to the

Corridor to the knight's hall with ancestral portrait gallery

www.schloesserland-sachsen.de

WILDECK CASTLE

Cold ore and red-hot motorbikes Inner castle courtyard

Wildeck Castle

he Bohemian Route used to link the trading

tury fortifications, watched over the Zschopau River

order of Duke Moritz of Saxony into a far less martial

treasures, since Zschopau used to be a centre of the

centre of Leipzig with the royal residence of

passage by night and by day and made the town of the

hunting castle. From the 17th to the early 20th century

Saxon automotive industry in the 20th century – noble

Prague. Initially, it was mainly used for transporting

same name a safe harbor for merchants from all direc-

the Higher Forestry and Gamekeeping Authorities

DKW bikes of the »Rassmussen Collection«, numerous

salt from the Halle region to Bohemia, hence its name

tions. Today only »Fat Henry«, a more than 30-meter-

were accommodated there. Today, the white Renaissance

MZ motorbikes as well as enduros and racing motorbikes

»Salzstrasse« (salt road), but later also by traders and

high residential watchtower with meter-thick walls, is

castle that can be seen from afar, houses several museums

wait to be admired. Especially the children will love the

carters – and they all needed protection. Therefore,

a reminder of the once defiant fortification. In the

especially devoted to the industrial history of the region.

coin-minting workshop, the mineral collection and

Wildeck Castle, built on the foundations of 12th-cen-

middle of the 16th century Wildeck was converted by

Mainly bikers will be thrilled by the many two-wheeled

the giant slide.

Schloss Wildeck | Schloss Wildeck 1 (satnav address: Altmarkt 2) | 09405 Zschopau | Phone +49 372528 7170 | kultur@zschopau.de | www.schloss-wildeck.eu DIRECTIONS | BY CAR via Highway A 4, exit Chemnitz-Nord, further along Federal Road B 95 to Chemnitz and via Federal Road B 174 to Zschopau BY RAIL from Chemnitz to Zschopau 34

www.schloesserland-sachsen.de

DRESDEN FORTRESS

Beneath the balcony of Europe

The Brick Gate

he remnants of the fortress of Dresden, whose entrance lies hidden between the Albertinum

and the Art Academy, are witness to the feuds and military campaigns born out of courtly glamor. Stronglybuilt walls around the old Brick Gate receive the visitor

When it came to pomp and splendor, the rulers of

ential court favorite Heinrich von Bruehl. This Dres-

right where, in 1707, Johann Friedrich Boettger first

Saxony obviously had a luckier hand than in comman-

den landmark, originally a defensive structure, was

invented European porcelain in his laboratory deep

ding their troops or choosing military allies. An enter-

turned into a place where people from all over the

below the »Jungfernbastei« (the virgin bastion). As the

taining audio guide relating the history of the fortress

world could stroll and was named »The Balcony of

fortress by that time had become militarily insignificant,

in an original way will fascinate young and old alike.

Europe«. The panoramic view of the Elbe River and the

it could not prevent the Prussians pillaging and plun-

Above the darkness of the fortress casemates, there is

white steamboats is an essential part of any visit to

dering the Saxon capital during the Seven Years’ War.

Bruehl’s Terrace, which was built by order of the influ-

Dresden.

Bruehl’s terrace and the Dresden Fortress

Festung Dresden | Georg-Treu-Platz 1 I 01067 Dresden I Phone +49 351 438370320 I festung.dresden@schloesserland-sachsen.de | www.festung-dresden.de

Vid e

DIRECTIONS | BY CAR via Highway A 4, exit Dresden-Altstadt, follow the signposting towards the city center | BY TRAM get off at tram stop Theaterplatz or Synagoge

»D

res

d e n F ortre s

s«

www.schloesserland-sachsen.de

Colditz Castle

COLDITZ CASTLE

Great escapes Second inner courtyard with a view of the Castle Chapel

uler’s seat, hunting lodge, widow’s residence –

personnel were kept prisoner here, including the nephew

through the castle walls and even a glider was made.

with its white gables Colditz Castle is one of the

of Winston Churchill and the nephew of the then King

Of course, the »Escape Museum« looks at this aspect

most beautiful and stylistically unadulterated architec-

of England, George VI. The prisoners of the »Oflag

of the castle’s history in great detail. But also the old

tural monuments of Central Germany of the 16th cen-

(officer’s camp) IV C« were, however, only minimally

battlement with its mighty walls, the prince’s house,

tury. When nowadays groups of travelers from around the

impressed by the lovely atmosphere of the castle – their

the Renaissance portal of the Trinity Church, the castle

world crowd around the castle and its grounds, it is not

one and only goal was to escape its walls. About 300

tower with its bulbous cupola and the old stone bridge

only because of their interest in Renaissance architecture.

documents of escape attempts exist, some of them

impress visitors time and again. Visitors from all over

reveal an unbelievable creativity, including successful

the world can reside here quite nobly when checking

escape attempts which today are part of this legendary

in at the castle’s European Youth Hostel with its reaso-

It has far more to do with recent history than with the

The escape glider on display in the museum

past since the spacious castle was a significant internment camp for high ranking officers of the Western allies during

on by the book »The Colditz Story« and the film of the

military history. Secret radio rooms kept the prisoners

nably priced modern rooms, friendly atmosphere and

World War II and it was to become world famous later

same name. Mainly British, Dutch and French military

in contact with their home country, tunnels were dug

good cuisine.

Kultur/Museum-Gesellschaft Schloss Colditz e. V. I Schlossgasse 1 I 04680 Colditz | Phone +49 34381 43777 I info@gesellschaft-schloss-colditz.com

o»

DIRECTIONS | BY CAR via Highway A 14, exit Grimma, further along Federal Road B 107 towards Colditz; via Highway A 4, exit Glauchau, via Rochlitz to Colditz BY RAIL/BUS by regional railway from Leipzig Main Station to Grimma, then by bus to Colditz or from Leipzig Main Station to Colditz by bus

Vid

www.schloss-colditz.com | www.colditz.jugendherberge.de | Europa-Jugendherberge Schloss Colditz | Phone +49 34381 45010 | colditz@jugendherberge.de

Col

d i tz C as tl e

www.schloesserland-sachsen.de

LAUENSTEIN CASTLE

Inspiration for a master builder with calling the valley of the Mueglitz River, over which Lauenstein Castle rises, Saxony’s loveliest valley. Visitors may judge this for themselves. As a matter of fact, however, this castle perched on a mighty cliff is not only worth a visit because of its fabulous surroundings. Instead of a fortified medieval castle, in the 16th century, a spacious residential castle was erected here with lavish furnishings which testify to the artistic-mindedness of its

In the Museum of the East Ore Mountains

owners and which today houses the Museum of the

The castle with the Baroque garden

East Ore Mountains. The murals in the Bird Hall, the

village of Fürstenwalde in 1666. He spent his childhood

splendidly arched stuccoed ceiling of the Coat-of-Arms

and youth in Lauenstein. Perhaps it was the grand

Hall, and the portraits in the castle chapel remain a

architecture of the local castle which profoundly affected

feast for visitor’s eyes even many centuries after their

the later career of this carpenter from the Ore Moun-

creation. Lauenstein Castle really comes to life whenever

tains. Or maybe it was the famous sandstone altar and

the falconry presents its birds of prey. We must not,

the Bünau epitaph of the town church? Filigree »archi-

however, forget the town’s greatest son, George Bähr.

tecture« of a completely different kind can be found

lthough many a Saxon countryside has its own

praises because it had been marked so highly with the

This exceptional architect who built the world-famous

only a few kilometers away from Lauenstein – in Glas-

beauty, hardly any would be able to sing its own

favor of a king. King John of Saxony got carried away

Church of Our Lady in Dresden was born in the nearby

hütte where Germany’s finest watches are made.

id e

www.schloesserland-sachsen.de

s t le

Osterzgebirgsmuseum Schloss Lauenstein I 01778 Lauenstein | Phone +49 35054 2 5402 I info@schloss-lauenstein.de | www.schloss-lauenstein.de

o » L a u e n s t ei n

DIRECTIONS | BY CAR Highway A17 Bad Gottleuba Exit, direction Geising/Lauenstein via Route S178 to Lauenstein | BY CITY RAIL S1 Dresden – Schöna to Heidenau, then continue with the »Müglitztalbahn« railroad to Lauenstein

KLIPPENSTEIN CASTLE

huntsman's fortune

The castle with outer bailey and castle pond

teps for riders would provide their knightly users

the historical construction phases have merged in rapid

with a maximum amount of comfort. Especially

succession from the foot of castle hill – from Classicism

impressive is the winding stairway on Klippenstein

to Renaissance and back to Gothic times. Today a

Castle in Radeberg. With its flat wide steps it would

museum dedicated to the history of the castle and the

allow the noble hunters to reach the castle court com-

town is housed in Klippenstein Castle. Since 2012, the

fortably on horseback and thus save them from having

reconstructed castle – located near the Radeberg Export

to carry their weapons and armor by foot. This well-

Brewery, which once as a supplier to the royal court

fortified and romantic castle from the 13th century was

brewed the Saxon kings’ favorite drink and has hence

converted into a hunting lodge by the prince-elector

been well-known far beyond Saxony’s borders – has

Moritz in the middle of the 16th century. Since then

reappeared in its old, new splendor.

The Museum

www.schloesserland-sachsen.de

Koenigstein Fortress

KOENIGSTEIN FORTRESS

Conquest requested F

our centuries of the art of fortifying are presented

visitors to explore what everyday life at a fortress used to

legendary giant wine barrel, which could take 238,600

by this imposing fortification situated in the Saxon

be like. Thereby, one will encounter numerous super-

liters, can be marvelled at again, presented in its origi-

Switzerland: On a rock plateau of that table mountain,

latives, such as Germany’s oldest preserved barracks,

nal place in a modern way. For its unique location, the

which takes the size of thirteen soccer grounds, more

Saxony’s deepest water well (152.5 meters) and the first

unconquerable mountain fortress used to be a much

than fifty buildings and extensive green spaces invite

Saxon garrison church. Also, Augustus the Strong’s

favored destination for outings by the Saxon court; it was a place for celebrations to which high-ranking guests from abroad were invited to impress them. When the political situation got dicey, the Saxon state treasury was

Georgenbau and Gate House

brought to safety behind its walls. Also, the alchemist and porcelain inventor Johann Friedrich Boettger was temporarily kept there in safe custody and protected from other rulers. Numerous prominent prisoners, including Saxon Chancellors Nikolaus Krell and Wolf Dietrich von Beichlingen, the anarchist Michael Bakunin, the social democrat August Bebel and writer Frank View of the Lilienstein mountain

Wedekind, languished in the state prison dungeons of view of the Elbe River Sandstone Mountains and its

who conquer the fortress today as visitors, which is pos-

vicinity. Allow for sufficient time! And if you like, you

sible without much effort thanks to a lift and a panora-

can celebrate there, get married or rent a holiday apart-

mic elevator, will enjoy numerous exhibitions, themed

ment to feel like the fortress commander himself ...

culinary experiences and a breathtaking panoramic

www.schloesserland-sachsen.de

o »K

ort

re s s

Aerial view of Koenigstein Fortress

the fortress, also known as the »Saxon Bastille«. Those

n o e ni g st ei

Festung Königstein | 01824 Königstein I Phone +49 35021 64607 I info@festung-koenigstein.de | www.festung-koenigstein.de DIRECTIONS | BY CAR Highway A 17 Pirna Exit, follow signposting along Route B 172 from Dresden to Bad Schandau to Königstein BY CITY RAIL S1 Dresden-Schöna to Königstein | BY BOAT by Elbe River steamboats to Königstein

NOSSEN CASTLE

In the footsteps of Saxon nobility C

hanging fortunes create particularly charming

pronounced its relentless sentences. Also, Countess

buildings. This is especially true for Nossen

Cosel, the famous mistress of excessive Saxon ruler

Castle. The medieval knights’ castle that previously

Augustus the Strong, is part of Nossen Castle’s history.

stood on this site was first mentioned in 1185 in con-

In 1716, the critically sick mistress had been attended

nection with a legal dispute of the owners, the lords of

to at this place for a month before she was taken to

Nuzzin. Elector Augustus started converting the old

Stolpen Castle where she was to die in solitude

walls into a Renaissance hunting lodge in 1554. This

49 years later. Today, Nossen Castle presents the

gave the architecture of what used to be a murky forti-

fascinating history of Saxon nobility in changing exhibi-

fication a certain degree of ease. The spirit of that

tions. Apart from the von Schoenberg and von Friesen

European era of cultural dawn can still be sensed today.

families, the exhibitions will present further chronicles

Former prison cells and authentic replicas of medieval

of other aristocratic ancestry that ruled the country

torture instruments, however, are proof of the dark

between the Vogtland and Lusatia regions for many

side of this place where, for quite some time, a court

centuries.

Nossen Castle

The Fireplace Room

The historical library

BY RAIL from Dresden, Meissen, Döbeln, Leipzig to Nossen | BY BUS from Meissen, Freiberg, Döbeln, Dresden to Nossen

Vi d

DIRECTIONS | BY CAR via Highway A 14, exit Nossen-Nord or Nossen-Ost, via Highway A 4, exit Siebenlehn

»N

os sen Castl e«

www.schloesserland-sachsen.de

Grosssedlitz Baroque Garden

The

splendor of

Baroque and Rococo »Being the Senior Master builder in the services of His Majesty, Augustus the Strong, was not always an easy job. It was not that I felt neglected by the »Saxon Roi Soleil« since he was always busy courting his ever-changing mistresses. No – it was rather for his perpetually new architectural ideas and for him being so hard to please. Time and again he contributed sketches of his own hand. He was a particular admirer of the art of the Far East. Asian rulers were legendary for their wealth and immense power which many European princes starved to copy. Porcelain from these far-off lands was regarded to be extraordinarily precious, which is why the Elector and King took extreme delight in his alchemist Boettger who, as the first in Europe, had succeeded in making a »white gold« of similar

BUILDIN HE G »T

minutest detail: the well-dimensioned and diversely structured complex virtually amalgamates

COON« TY

But what I am especially proud of is the Dresden Zwinger. This is where I managed to merge the arts in the

Mov ie

quality. My job, however, was building. Pillnitz Castle was the implementation of my idea of Asian architecture.

with the richly decorated sculptures that were contributed by sculptor Balthasar Permoser’s workshop. What had initially been thought to become an orangery and backdrop to a festive area turned into a feast for my own eyes. But, of course, I was not the only outstanding architect of my time. My colleagues and successors Johann Christoph Knoeffel, Zacharias Longuelune and Jean de Bodt contributed their shares to increasing the scores of magnificent buildings in the middle and late Baroque in Saxony – an era that later became known in this area as the »Augustan Age«.

»THE G N I D L I BU N« O O C Y T

Matthaeus Daniel Poeppelmann (1662 –1736)

www.schloesserland-sachsen.de

Pillnitz Castle

PILLNITZ CASTLE AND PARK

Ease and magic of flowers E

lector Augustus the Strong once acquired the

according to plans by the famous architect, Matthaeus

of European Baroque. Away from the hustle and bustle

castle for his favorite Anna Constantia Countess

Daniel Poeppelmann. The grand castle and park

of the residence town of Dresden, the place served the

von Cosel. When Saxony’s best-known mistress fell out

grounds directly situated on the banks of the Elbe

noble family as a »pleasure castle« and retreat to nature

of his favor and the castle became his property again,

River are considered a perfect example of the chinoise

during the summer season. It is most impressive to

Augustus had the hillside and waterside palaces erected

style merging the architecture of the Far East with that

approach the pleasure castle with its distinctive pagoda roofs on an Elbe River steamboat. The view from the river was a sight Augustus and his entourage, who often indulged in pleasure rides on the Elbe River using fancifully designed gondolas, have already enjoyed in their time. One of them has been preserved and can still be admired in the park. The English, Dutch and Chinese

Baroque chinoiseries

gardens on the extensive grounds around the castle buildings urge the visitor to take a stroll and be enchan-

www.schloesserland-sachsen.de

»P il l

Vi d

ar k«

In the lilac yard of the new palace

le n i tz C ast

ted by the wealth of exotic plants and gorgeous floral

Arts and the Castle Museum accommodated in the castle

decoration. The Orangery and the Palm Tree Green-

itself are open during summer season. At the Castle

house that has been reconstructed in old splendor attract

Museum, one can see the royal court cuisine, the neo-

those who take a botanical interest to appraise their

classical dome hall and the Catholic chapel and learn

exotic treasures, as does the famous 250-year-old Japa-

about its eventful times as a summer residence. Most

nese camellia. It has meanwhile grown to the size of a

recently, there is a guided tour offered for guests who

tree and has been given a glass home all of its own to

suffer from dementia at Pillnitz Park. These are beautiful

protect it in winter. Every spring it displays anew its

moments for relatives and carers , if the sense of the

stunning wealth of blossom. The Museum of Decorative

memory awakes and a short, relaxing break is possible.

Schloss & Park Pillnitz | August-Böckstiegel-Str. 2 | 01326 Dresden | Phone +49 351 2613260 | pillnitz@schloesserland-sachsen.de | www.schlosspillnitz.de DIRECTIONS | BY CAR via Highway A 4, exit Dresden-Hellerau or Dresden-Altstadt; via Highway A 17, exit Pirna, direction Radeberg and then follow the signposting BY BOAT by Elbe River steamboats to the Pillnitz jetty

WACKERBARTH CASTLE

A fizzy

pleasure W

ackerbarth Castle (valiant beard) sounds like

presents the 850-year-old tradition of wine-growing in

the name from a fairy tale. In fact, what awaits

Saxony in its most beautiful form. A bubbly pleasure is

the visitor at the foot of the vineyard in Radebeul truly

the sparkling wine from the Wackerbarth vintners which

seems legendary: the unique ensemble of a stately home

has been produced for almost 200 years now. This

and a belvedere, Baroque gardens and a modern factory for making wine and sparkling wine in the middle of the lovely landscape of Saxony’s Elbe Valley; a true jewel built between 1727 and 1729 by Count August The belvedere amidst the vineyards

Christoph von Wackerbarth as his retirement residence. With all this pomp, the Count was not alone for long: even Augustus the Strong treasured the charming atmosphere and the delicacy maturing in the barrels.

second-oldest sparkling wine producer in Germany

a tour in the transparent factory to see the production

Wackerbarth Castle, which experienced many a euphoric

allows the grapes to mature traditionally in the bottle

of the wine and sparkling wines, feast on fine food, be

party of the Saxon court, has since then been a by-word

to become a fine and fizzy specialty. Visitors can try

entertained in various events and, of course, take

the quality of the Saxon State Winery themselves, take

home a bottle of this noble wine.

for elegant wines and Saxon joie de vivre, and now

Northern view of the castle

Sächsisches Staatsweingut GmbH | Schloss Wackerbarth | Wackerbarthstrasse 1 | 01445 Radebeul | Phone +49 351 89550 | kontakt@schloss-wackerbarth.de | www.schloss-wackerbarth.de DIRECTIONS | BY CAR via Highway A 4, exit Dresden-Neustadt direction Radebeul BY CITY RAIL S1 direction Meissen to Radebeul-Altkötzschenbroda | BY TRAM Line 4 direction Weinböhla to Schloss Wackerbarth www.schloesserland-sachsen.de

THE GRAND GARDEN OF DRESDEN

he Saxon capital itself is a big garden landscape.

for playing and sunbathing. The most impressive park

Only few large cities are so close to nature or have

in the Saxon metropolis is the 363-acre Great Garden.

such extensive gardens, spacious parks and generous lawns

Elector John George III started the most favorite park

The

green heart of Dresden

of Dresden with its absolutely straight avenues in 1678,

paths, little forests, extensive meadows, bodies of water

modeling it after the French parks. The Palace at the

and topical gardens. Restaurants and cafés, open-air

point where the avenues meet is a jewel of early Baroque

stages and facilities, such as the Dresden Zoo and the

and is still used today for festive events in the middle

Botanical Garden make the place a cultural oasis in the

of green surroundings. Especially the Baroque part of

middle of the city. To journey through the wide land-

the park around the Palace is regularly maintained and

scape, visitors, young and old alike, prefer to take the

attended to. Otherwise, the park is dominantly land-

miniature park railway, which is traditionally operated

scaped in the English style of romantic labyrinthine

by Dresden schoolchildren.

Miniature Park Railway

The Palace

www.schloesserland-sachsen.de

THE DRESDEN ZWINGER

The Nymphs‘ Bath

A Garden of Eden on Earth

zwinger, or outer ward, is actually just the free space between the inner and outer ring of the

city walls. In Dresden, the capital of Saxony, the most splendid outer ward in the world was created for the

and size. This courtly synthesis of the arts was created

gallery and opera house were built on the planned site.

Zwinger. In summer, the Zwinger forms an atmosphe-

prestigious festivities of the European aristocracy in

by architectural genius Matthaeus Daniel Poeppelmann

Today, visitors find the museums of the Dresden State

ric backdrop to a series of open-air events. The rather

the early 18th century. Pushed on by the architectural

and master sculptor Balthasar Permoser. Plans for the

Art Collections, including the Porcelain Collection,

secluded »Nymphs’ Bath« counts among the most

passion of Augustus the Strong, the originally simple

construction of an adjoining palace were never realized,

the Old Masters Picture Gallery and the Royal Cabi-

beautiful fountains of Baroque – an artistic synthesis

plans for a new orangery suddenly gained in extent

but in the 19th century Gottfried Semper’s picture

net of Mathematical and Physical Instruments in the

of architecture, sculpture and water.

besucherservice@skd.museum | www.der-dresdner-zwinger.de | www.skd.museum

V i deo

Dresdner Zwinger | Museen der Staatlichen Kunstsammlungen Dresden | Theaterplatz 1 | 01067 Dresden | Phone +49 351 49142000

r«

»T

DIRECTIONS | BY CAR via Highway A 4, exit Dresden Altstadt, follow the signposting to the city center | BY TRAM get off at tram stop Theaterplatz or Postplatz

D re s

d e n Zwi

www.schloesserland-sachsen.de

The Dresden Zwinger

RAMMENAU BAROQUE CASTLE

Invited by the

chambermaid

ere on the foothills of the Lusatian mountains

restored, Rammenau Castle stands out as a masterpiece

family obtained the grand estate by auction. Their

you can find the only manor house in Saxony

of Saxon country Baroque. After the building of the

most famous scion was Johann Centurius von Hoff-

which has remained intact. Having been comprehensively

mansion had ruined the first owner, the von Hoffmann

mann, Imperial Count von Hoffmannsegg, botanist and highly-respected entomologist; a stroke of luck for Saxon science, as the new owner was to give a new home to intellectual creativity and education in Rammenau. The interior of the castle is a sparkling treasure trove of late Baroque and early Classicist room design. The Chinese Room, the Pompeii Room, Bird Room, Peacock Room, Hunting Room and the painted walls around the staircase all go to show the ingenuity of the cultured country nobles. Even today you can

The Golden Room

regularly listen to concerts in the imposing Mirror Hall. Perhaps it was this special flair one can feel throughout the palace that set the greatest son of the soil on his path: Johann Gottlieb Fichte, born in Rammenau

in the cuisine. In the historic dining room, the master

in 1762, was to become one of the leading philosophers

chef and the chambermaids serve extraordinary dishes

of his age. The visitor can find varied and aesthetic

which combine original Lusatian delicacies with Me-

abundance not only in the interior decoration, but also

diterranean flair.

»R

www.schloesserland-sachsen.de

Vid

as t le«

View of the manor from the park

am m

e na

ro u Ba

BY RAIL from Dresden, Görlitz, Zittau to Bischofswerda, then continue with the bus to Rammenau

ZABELTITZ BAROQUE GARDEN

invitation to take a stroll Palais at Baroque Garden Zabeltitz

t Zabeltitz, magnificent alleyways lined by linden

August Christoph von Wackerbarth. At the place where

he erected a neat Baroque palace. This palace, and a

Registry Office in the adjacent palace with the adequate

and chestnut trees, rows of hedges, groves and

originally was a moated castle to protect the old salt road,

second one close-by, jointly form a charming architec-

ambience for an unforgettable wedding ceremony.

rondels form a backdrop that inspires to take a relaxed

tural ensemble. The oblong Renaissance building of the

Apart from a café, there are numerous rooms of various

stroll. Ever new and surprising views and perspectives

latter had already been built in the late 16th century

sizes available for cultural events and meetings. After

open up again and again. Artistic sandstone sculptures

under the Elector Christian I, who favored Zabeltitz as

taking a stroll through the extensive park grounds,

form highlights; large water surfaces reflect all the splen-

a hunting lodge. It is called the »Old Palace« today. Its

visitors who seek further encounters with the region

dor and additionally accentuate how nature was brought

ground floor used to serve as a horse stable originally,

and its cultural history are recommended to visit the

into strict symmetrical order by human hand. No less

whereas its upper floor provided electoral hunting par-

Zabeltitz Peasant Museum. Apart from that they may

a person than Johann Christoph Knoeffel, Augustus the

ties with adequate accommodation. Still today, festive

also have a closer look at St George’s Church with its

Strong’s Court Master Builder, designed this Baroque

events take place in the magnificant palace hall. Those

artistic epitaph altar and the burial place of Count von

garden around 1728 on behalf of the Imperial Count

who would like to get married at Zabeltitz will find a

Wackerbarth.

View in the Baroque Garden Zabeltitz

n« i tz B

e lt

(which can optionally be reached along country roads, too) | BY RAIL up to rail stop Zabeltitz, then approx. 15 minutes to the village center

DIRECTIONS | BY CAR from Dresden along Highway A 13 to Federal Road B 98 (exit Thiendorf) and then, in Großenhain, along Federal Road B 101 up to Zabeltitz

Vid eo »

aro que G

www.schloesserland-sachsen.de

GROSSSEDLITZ BAROQUE GARDEN

The unfinished

symphony The »Silent Music«

drawn by his own hand. It should have been nothing less

terraced grounds are a masterpiece of artistic garden

notable in Germany, but this jewel of absolutist

than a Saxon Versailles here, but in the end Grosssedlitz

architecture with two orangeries, fountains and

creative drive is worth a visit for other reasons, too. It is

was never completed – an acute shortage of funds at the

around 60 sculptures. Taking a walk around the garden,

also of special significance because a prominent Saxon

court of Dresden, where otherwise money was happily

new views and perspectives will open up to the visitor

ruler left his imprint on the park’s design. Having con-

and abundantly spent, put an end to the creative fantasy.

all the time, which still today testifies to the expertise

structed his residence for retirement here in 1719, the

Nevertheless, the 12 hectares which were finished in the

of garden planning at the time. Especially in summer,

Imperial Count von Wackerbarth sold it – not entirely

end are so full of splendor that it is hardly possible to

when orange trees and other exotic plants fill the park

of his own volition – to Augustus the Strong. The new

imagine how the park might have appeared had all the

with scent and colour, the visitor can experience the

owner had the garden and completely rebuilt, with plans

planned 96 hectares been completed. Today, the spacious

imagination of the highborn creator of Grosssedlitz.

»G

Vi de

Ga r den «

he garden at Grosssedlitz is among the most

www.schloesserland-sachsen.de

roßs

e dli tz

oq Bar

The Upper Orangery

Barockgarten Großsedlitz | Parkstrasse 85 | 01809 Heidenau | Phone +49 3529 56390 | grosssedlitz@schloesserland-sachsen.de | www.barockgarten-grosssdelitz.de DIRECTIONS | BY CAR via Highway A 17, exit Pirna, then follow the signposting; via Federal Road B 172 from Dresden up to Heidenau or Pirna, then follow the signposting BY CITY RAIL from Dresden to railway stop Heidenau-Großsedlitz, a 20-minute walk following the signposted walkway will take you there

WOLKENBURG CASTLE

The

count’s lovely cabinets

defiant building changed hands several times. It was

building around 1795. Neo-Gothic tracery, reminiscent

again. – Today some of what used to be the counts’ res-

mainly the von Einsiedel family that changed the

of the design in Venetian palazzi, decorates, for example,

idential rooms accommodate topical museum chambers

appearance of Wolkenburg, which was held by them

the cast-iron balustrades, the wall decorations and the

dedicated to the Counts von Einsiedel and to the

from 1635 for 310 years. The castle was then first

filigree grates of doors of the beautiful built-in cabinets.

Wolkenburg-born painter Fritz von Uhde. The castle

changed into a palace, giving it forms of the Renais-

The precious interior has undergone thorough restora-

bailey and the terraced castle park lend open-air events

sance and the Baroque. Around 1790, Count Detlev

tion and now appears in its vigor of 200 years ago

a romantic and atmospheric ambience.

Carl von Einsiedel had the main building redesigned in the style of Classicism. The banquet hall, which is still in use today for events, has been preserved from that time. Stucco reliefs on the walls include depictions of allegories on the stages of a lifetime, of the times of day and the seasons as well as portrait medallions. Likewise, cast-iron figurines that can be admired in both the castle and park recall the lifetime of the count. As proprietors The Count's library

of the art foundry in Lauchhammer, Count Detlev n the Middle Ages, the estate may have appeared as

Carl von Einsiedel and his son had developed a process

being in the clouds [Wolke lit. cloud] to those who

for manufacturing large-size cast-iron sculptures. The

beheld it from the Mulde River valley. Still today, some

count’s library is an architectural gem of the special kind.

of its walls seem to grow directly from the steep rock spur

The two-storied, pavilion-like room of a circular floor

precipices straight into the sky. Over the centuries, the

plan was installed into the attic of the palace’s main

Wolkenburg Castle

Schloss Wolkenburg | Schloss 3 | 09212 Limbach-Oberfrohna | Phone +49 37609 58170 | post@limbach-oberfrohna.de | www.schloss-wolkenburg.de DIRECTIONS | BY CAR along Highway A 4 to exit Limbach-Oberfrohna, then along country roads S 244 to Limbach-Oberfrohna and S 249 to Wolkenburg; along Highway A 72 to exit Penig, then along Federal Roads B 95 and B 172 to Wolkenburg | BY RAIL from Chemnitz to Glauchau, then by bus to Wolkenburg www.schloesserland-sachsen.de

MORITZBURG CASTLE

A fairytale

castle

and its treasures and magnificent setting for his glittering parties. This resulted in a Baroque jewel with four towers in ochre and white, the splendor of which is mirrored in the artificial lake surrounding the castle. One of the most outstanding collections of hunting trophies in Europe is not the only big treasure of Moritzburg Castle. Just as unique is the lavishly painted gold leather tapestry on the walls of the electoral refuge. The »Feather Room« even won a European Cultural Heritage Award. Far more than one million colorful feathers were made into a unique piece of art: the magnificent bed of the castle lord for the purpose of representation – a bed as one cannot find another one in the world. And there was a good reason why the stately home was used as a magical backdrop in the legendary fairytale movie »Three

The castle island and the Baroque garden

Hazelnuts for Cinderella«. During the winter season,

The Hall of Monstrosities, with leather tapestry

the Baroque castle turns into a mekka for hundreds of

he certainly most beautiful Saxon moated castle

Augustus the Strong commissioned Matthaeus Daniel

thousands of fans of the most beautiful fairytale movie

Also, the visitor should by no means miss a look at the

is named after Duke Moritz, who built a hunting

Poeppelmann, architect of the Dresden Zwinger, with

of all time. In the exhibition on the cult-movie, one can

Little Pheasant Castle that can be reached in just a few

lodge in 1542 near his residence in Dresden. In 1723

the conversion of the building to provide an appropriate

walk in the steps of the cheeky little fairytale princess.

minutes on foot or by horse and carriage.

www.schloesserland-sachsen.de

eo »

V id

s tle

Schloss Moritzburg und Fasanenschlösschen | 01468 Moritzburg I Phone +49 35207 87318 I moritzburg@schloesserland-sachsen.de | www.schloss-moritzburg.de

M orit

g z bur

DIRECTIONS | BY CAR via Highway A 4, exit Dresden-Wilder Mann; via Highway A 13, exit Radeburg | BY BUS/RAIL from Dresden-Neustadt Station by bus towards Radeburg – Großenhain, get off in Moritzburg | Historical narrow-gauge train Radebeul Ost – Radeburg, get off in Moritzburg

MORITZBURG LITTLE PHEASANT CASTLE

Paradise in a nutshell nly a few people are allowed to enter because this

inside the building. While strolling along the garden

solitaire amongst German castles is simply too

outside, visitors can go back in time to the world of

small for crowds. A walk through Little Pheasant Castle

18th century court society. Even more picturesque and

therefore remains an exclusive pleasure just as it used

unusual are the jetty and the red-and-white brick

to be in the past. Embedded in the gentle cultivated

lighthouse close by, which give testimony to the playful

landscape east of Moritzburg Castle, the prestigious

and decadent spirit of the times. This is where the

castle built by the Dresden Court in 1770 is the only

nobles of landlocked Saxony dreamed their dream of

late Rococo castle remaining in Saxony. Funding by the Deutsche Stiftung Denkmalschutz, the Ostdeutsche Sparkassen Stiftung and by the World Monuments Fund allowed for it to be comprehensively restored Little Pheasant Castle

and it is now open to the public again with all its filigree glory. Originally erected in a confined space in the chinoise style, it once housed a complete small-size royal

glorious sea battles which for want of a real fleet could

masters and mistresses a room with a real »sea view« –

court. Furniture and murals restored to their original

only be carried out with extras and a great amount of

this is also afforded to today’s visitors be they of royal

imagination. At least Little Pheasant Castle offered its

blood or not.

state and a collection of stuffed birds are eye-catchers Lighthouse at Moritzburg Little Pheasant Castle

Schloss Moritzburg und Fasanenschlösschen | 01468 Moritzburg I Phone +49 35207 873610 I fasanenschloesschen@schloesserland-sachsen.de | www.schloss-moritzburg.de DIRECTIONS | BY CAR via Highway A 4, exit Dresden-Wilder Mann; via Highway A 13, exit Radeburg BY BUS/RAIL from Dresden-Neustadt Station by bus towards Radeburg – Großenhain, get off in Moritzburg | Historical narrow-gauge train Radebeul Ost – Radeburg, get off in Moritzburg www.schloesserland-sachsen.de

DELITZSCH BAROQUE CASTLE

»Intrigue and Love« at court I

n the event that a princess should beget a child out

times had no scruples. The illegitimate offspring of

said to have been given to a nanny after birth and

of wedlock the European higher nobility of former

Duchess Henriette Charlotte von Saxony-Merseburg is

removed from the court. The child, however, passed away soon after – it is assumed today that poison may have been involved. This put an end to the collateral line of Saxony-Merseburg that could have rivaled for succession to the Saxon Electoral throne. In stark contrast to such nasty intrigues appears the bright and cheerful Baroque character of Delitzsch Castle. The pastel color of the castle, the once-popular residence of The dining room in the »beletage«

traveling Saxon princes in the middle of the Delitzsch Lake District, attracts artistically minded visitors with its museum, Baroque garden and watchtower. Inside, the castle visitors can marvel at the prestigious interior which despite the temporary use of the castle as a women’s penitentiary has still retained a great deal of its original appeal.

Baroque castle and park

o»

www.schloesserland-sachsen.de

Del it

Barockschloss Delitzsch | Schloßstraße 31 I 04509 Delitzsch | Phone +49 342 02 67237 I barockschloss@delitzsch.de | www.barockschloss-delitzsch.de DIRECTIONS | BY CAR via Highway A 9, exit Wiedemar, then follow the signposting; via Highway A 14, exit Leipzig-Mitte/Delitzsch

Vi d

Cas t

le«

The prayer room

zsch

oq Bar

BY RAIL Leipzig – Dessau/Wittenberg, get off at Delitzsch Unterer Bahnhof

LICHTENWALDE CASTLE AND PARK

Gently caressed by the waters Lichtenwalde Castle and Park

eing surrounded by a network of fountains,

good reason. Approaching the castle from the park’s

valley below, which is now a nature preserve. The cast-

Lichtenwalde is very different from other Saxon

avenue, one is left almost speechless by the impressive

le itself houses the »Treasury« Museum which displays,

castles. One hundred of these fountain complexes are

layout of this peaceful green paradise. While aptly illus-

on three floors, exhibits of foreign or long gone cultures,

situated throughout the Baroque garden with more

trating the transition from Baroque to Rococo, the ter-

including art objects and ritual items from Nepal and

than 400 individual fountains connected by an intricate

raced park, however, never completely reveals itself to

Tibet, pieces of porcelain, lacquered items, furniture

the visitor’s eyes. Time and again the eye is attracted by

and silk embroidery from China and Japan as well as

of rustling leaves, splashing water and the sweet scent

playful details such as antique amphoras, statues and

burial objects and ghost masks from West Africa. Visi-

of flowers in spring. Lichtenwalde was chosen as one

circular flower beds or it is drawn from the artificial

tors should not miss the largest and most comprehensi-

of Germany’s most beautiful park ensembles with

garden itself to the real nature of the Zschopau River

ve silhouette collection in Germany.

circulating system. Visitors can experience a symphony The Count's library

P ark

ten

BY RAIL/Bus Rail from Dresden/Chemnitz to Niederwiesa, then City-Rail to Braunsdorf, then bus No. 706 to Lichtenwalde

ic h

www.die-sehenswerten-drei.de | DIRECTIONS | BY CAR via Highway A 72/A 4, exit Frankenberg, continue along Federal Road B 169 direction Chemnitz up to Lichtenwalde

V ideo »L

Schloss und Park Lichtenwalde | Schlossallee 1 | 09577 Niederwiesa, OT Lichtenwalde | Phone +49 37206 8873812 | lichtenwalde@schloesserland-sachsen.de

w a l d e C a s t le a

www.schloesserland-sachsen.de

Count Pueckler Park Bad Muskau

Between Romanticism and industrialization »If my name ever rings a bell in you, then the triple-layered icecream specialty will come to your mind first. The

my plans and ideas never did, my wife even agreed to our formal divorce, so that, by re-marrying, I

INDLER« SW

my own will. I eventually sacrificed all my fortune to it. When my money came to an end, which, however,

MARRI AG HE »T

other things – first of all, of my parks, of course. All my life, I was driven by the urge to design landscapes after

Mo v ie

delicacy had once been dedicated to me, but, unfortunately, I didn’t invent it myself. Instead, I can be proud of

would have the opportunity to get hold of fresh money ... – It was in 18th century England where they first began to turn away from the geometric landscaping forms of the Baroque to start designing landscape gardens close to nature instead. Soon thereafter, the call »Back to nature!« had its effect in Germany, too – and my Muskau Park is certainly one of the most famous and beautiful among the newly designed grounds of that time. For building mansions and palaces in my time, architects borrowed shapes and forms from all styles of architectural

»THE E G A I R R MA « R E L SWIND

history. What used to be Baroque pomp was now answered by Classicist simplicity. Then the Romantic yearning for the Middle Ages was complemented by Gothic elements, such as little towers, pointed arches, vaults and buttresses. Towards the end of the century, even forms of the Renaissance, Romanticism and Baroque were »revived« and often merged with each other. In all new palaces, villas and manors, their builders were thereby striving for originality and high standards – noblesse oblige.

Prince Hermann Pueckler-Muskau (1785 – 1871)

www.schloesserland-sachsen.de

PRINCE PUECKLER PARK BAD MUSKAU

The New Palace

View of the park

At the Pueckler exhibition

Gardening art he park by the Neisse River in Muskau is a sym-

of world renown

landscape gardening of the Baroque court. Romanti-

century. The way the self-educated gardener combined

cism declared that nature should first and foremost be

plants and landscape together into a »natural work of

»natural«, and the landscape gardeners helped to the

art« was so rich in perspective that he even became an

of it are on Polish soil and only one third in Germany.

south wing you can see the spectacular exhibition

best of their ability. Ornamental gardening became the

example and a pioneer of the style as far away as the

The New Palace in the heart of Muskau Park, which

»Pueckler! Pueckler? Simply Unbelievable!« From the

art of scenic landscaping. The most outstanding example

USA. Today the spacious UNESCO world heritage site

burned down completely at the end of the World War II,

35-metre-high observation platform on the South

in the world is the park of Prince Pueckler-Muskau,

is also a symbol of European integration, since two thirds

has now been almost fully rebuilt. On two floors of the

Tower you can enjoy the panorama of the park.

»P

www.schloesserland-sachsen.de

ce P

Vi d eo r in

u ska u«

who was mainly known as a travel writer in the 19th

ad M

bol of greatest possible contrast to the geometrical

u e ckl er P

to Bad Muskau, Highway A 4 Dresden–Bautzen, Bautzen-Ost Exit, continue on Route B 156 to Bad Muskau, Route B 115 from Görlitz to Bad Muskau BY RAIL from Görlitz to Weißwasser (Oberlausitz), then continue with the bus to Bad Muskau

FROHBURG CASTLE

art

Ceramics, and childhood dreams W

hen Kurt Feuerriegel founded the »Workshop of Saxon Handicraft Potteries« in Frohburg in Frohburg Castle

1910, the little town developed into a center of ambitious ceramic production of great renown throughout

historical toys from 100 years will take visitors back to

current palace building over the centuries. Individual

Germany. The potter’s craft, with its deep roots in

the time when their grandparents or great-grandparents

building stages can still be retraced by the shapes of

Middle Saxony for centuries, received a new impetus –

were still children. Dolls and doll houses, affectionately

window and door jambs, gables, decorative elements and

and the master himself earned numerous prizes and

equipped toy kitchens, toys for playing shops, steam

the like. The castle saw its heyday at the beginning of the

awards. With its precious collection of ceramics made by

engines, railways, puppet-on-a-string theaters and much

19th century. Its owner at the time, Baron Ernst von

Feuerriegel, the museum at Frohburg Castle possesses

more will rekindle the desire to play, even in adults.

Bluemner, had the interior of the building redesigned

a truly special treasure. The variety of his works on dis-

Taking a first look at the four-wing property of Froh-

in Classicist style. Two beautiful halls with allegoric

play there – from faiences and terracotta sculptures via

burg Castle may not instantly reveal its age, but it does

decorations, the Stone Hall with its monumental land-

stove tiles down to structural ceramics – enchants and

go back to a Romanesque castle from around 1200. Its

scape fresco and the Paintings Hall with its arched,

surprises the beholder. A second exhibition area at the

masonry has been preserved to a large extent in today’s

illusionistically painted coffered ceiling, have survived

buildings, which have been »growing together« into the

time since then.

castle museum will definitely light up childrens’ eyes: Picture Gallery

www.schloesserland-sachsen.de

VOIGTSBERG CASTLE

Snug as a bug in a rug he carpet – once a simple substitute for fur – is a

130-year history of local machine and industrial carpet

habitat may be spurred. However, the rooms in the

demanding and also comfortable piece of interior

weaving, it provides information about the various car-

»older part« of Voigtsberg Castle will take visitors back

design nowadays. Carpets surround us, often unnoticed,

pet manufacturing techniques and shows, among other

to times long ago. The defiant building compound

as part of our living culture every day. The Oelsnitz

things, the variety of design on a »Road of the Best«.

cannot deny its origin as a medieval castle and stands

Carpet Museum at Voigtsberg Castle is dedicated

No wonder that, when visiting this fascinating exhibi-

out decisively against the more recent buildings of the

to this frequently »trampled-on« textile. Tied to the

tion, the visitors’ desire to freshen up their own living

outer bailey, which accommodate the Carpet Museum. Initially in the possession of the bailiffs of Strassberg and Plauen, respectively, it was used as electoral office

Splendid carpets

by the Wettins for almost 500 years afterwards. Today, visitors are impressed by the Gothic St. George’s Chapel with its sacral pieces of art, by the Schoesserstube parlor with its splendid Baroque ceiling as well as by the Knights’ and the Princes’ Halls with their carefully preserved architectural elements; with the latter boasting of a special attraction since 2012: an invaluable painting by Tizian, which an honorary citizen donated to the Minerals collection

Town of Oelsnitz. By the way, you may even get married being very close to it if you dare … The castle’s actual

ring in the Saxon Vogtland region: barite from Zobes,

treasury, however, is to be found in the historical vaults.

wavellite from Schloditz, fluorite from Schoenbrunn

It is there where the »Oelsnitz Minerals Vault« displays

and many other most beautiful treasures from below

a gorgeous collection of 400 minerals typically occur-

the ground – a feast for the eye!

Voigtsberg Castle

www.schloesserland-sachsen.de

eo »

V id

s tle

Schloss Voigtsberg | 08606 Oelsnitz/Vogtland | Phone +49 37421 729484 | museum@schloss-voigtsberg.de | www.schloss-voigtsberg.de

Vo igt

g s ber

DIRECTIONS | BY CAR Highway A 72 Plauen-Süd Exit, then follow B 92 and S 312 direction Oelsnitz, from there follow castle signposting | BY RAIL from Plauen to Oelsnitz/Vogtland

ROYAL GROUNDS BAD ELSTER

Touched by the muse many’s first open-air stage, the Bad Elster Natural Theater. The awesome stage on the Waldpark grounds is one of the trumps played by the town still today to The Albert Spa Bath

attract visitors. Awarded by the Saxon royals with the

The Royal Spa House

title of a ‘Royal Saxon State Spa’ in the middle of the

t certainly takes no wonder that well traveled Goethe

19th century for its curative water wells, Bad Elster

invite people to take a stroll and to enjoy culture. The

KunstWandelhalle art forum, the King Albert Theater

had also been to Bad Elster. Nonetheless, the idylli-

quickly turned into a posh spa town. That is where

historical spa park laid out in 1850 in the style of an

and three music pavilions form a »Festive Mile of Short

cally located cultural and festival town in the Vogtland

Europe’s high society met: you did something for your

English landscape park, boasting of rare shrubs and

Ways«. The Bad Elster »Electoral Saxon Philharmonic

border triangle is quite proud of that 1795 episode, as

health, enjoyed the surroundings and culture and

trees, colorful flowerbeds and sap-green lawns, is a treat

Orchestra«, jointly with other top-notch ensembles

his stay there is said to have inspired the prince of poets

maintained important social contacts. The Saxon kings,

for the eye and soul. Topical gardens, sculptures, trick

and artists, stage more than 1,000 cultural events a year.

to write the epic poem »Hermann and Dorothea«.

who loved being frequent visitors themselves, had

fountains and Lake Louisa complement the designed

Those who – faced with such rich variety in a gorgeous

Therefore, a festive performance elaborating on that

generous parks laid out and magnificent buildings set

landscape. Surrounding the historical Albert Spa Bath

ambience – are not touched by the muse, may well be

piece of poetry was put on in 1911 to inaugurate Ger-

up. Still in our day, the well-tended historical grounds

in the heart of the town, the Royal Spa House, the

out of reach of it forever …

Hof-Plauen Airport at a distance of approx. 40 km; pick-up service available on request

t er« Ro

E ls

o»

DIRECTIONS | BY CAR Highway A 72 Plauen-Süd Exit, follow signposting to Bad Elster | BY RAIL Bad Elster Railway Station approx. 2.5 km off the town centre

Vi d e

ya l

G ro unds B

www.schloesserland-sachsen.de

Nimbschen Monastery

Lodge

royally

»My husband loved good food in gay company. We used to have guests in our house at any time; many scholars and students, even noble lords wanted to have disputes with the famous Reformer Martin Luther. I attended to them and was proud when they felt at home. Back at the Nimbschen Monastery, I had learned much which was of advantage to me now: housekeeping and cooking, washing and sewing, gardening, brewing and animal keeping, and I was also well versed in the art if healing. Martin appreciated this a lot and would let me run the household my way. He used to call me – sometimes teasingly, sometimes respectfully – his »dear Mr. Kaethe«. – I was sure to expect that even 500 years after our time hospitality would still be regarded one of the highest Saxon virtues. Places where exclusivity had always prevailed can often be experienced again today: some of the most beautiful palaces and manors that have returned into private ownership have reopened as hotels and restaurants inviting customers to relax and enjoy. So everyone may take the temporary role of a »castle lord« or the »noble damsel«. Experience the flair of a glamorous past in the historical atmosphere of residences of the Saxon nobility and allow yourself to be invited to a real treat!«

Katharina Luther, née von Bora (1499 – 1552)

E»HOM D AN R E K A M HOST«

www.schloesserland-sachsen.de

NIMBSCHEN MONASTERY

Where

Katharina used

to live as a nun

estled among old beech and oak trees, it is only

special emanating from those grounds, for it was

reformer, Kartharina, jointly with another eight nuns,

romantic ruins today that attest to the once

Katharina von Bora who used to stay there as a Cister-

escaped from the monastery in 1523 and subjected

lavishly equipped Marienthron Monastery in Nimbschen.

cian, before she eventually got married to Martin

herself to Luther’s protection. He married her some

However, there is still an exuberant flair of something

Luther. Influenced by the teachings of the renowned

time later, after she had refused other candidates who had proposed to her. It was a good choice. Six children were born from that wedlock, who founded the ancestry of the »Lutherides« still growing in our day. Those who come to Nimbschen today will find a modern hotel

Art on the monastery premises

compound on what used to be the stables and warehouses of the old monastery premises. The buildings have been developed with great effort and much care for detail. This combination of historical ambience and exclusive equipment has created a special atmosphere. The range of services is extensive: Nights can be spent comfortably both at the four-star hotel, with its altogether 49 rooms, suites and apartments, or in Monastery ruins

one of the 32 rooms of the three-star guesthouse. Exquisite catering and a multitude of leisure activities will perfect any stay. Those who are looking for history not only within the monastery’s sphere, will find a wide variety of palaces and castles along the Mulde River. Comfort suite

Hotel Kloster Nimbschen GmbH | Nimbschener Landstraße 1 | 04668 Grimma | Phone +49 3437 9950 | info@kloster-nimbschen.de | www.kloster-nimbschen.de DIRECTIONS | BY CAR along Highway A 14 to exit Grimma, head for Grimma Zentrum, then follow Federal Road B 107 towards Colditz; the hotel is at a distance of 2 km after leaving Grimma (from the city limits sign) | BY RAIL from Leipzig to Grimma | BY BUS line 619 Rochlitz – Grimma (also from Grimma Railway Station) 70

www.schloesserland-sachsen.de

HOHNSTEIN CASTLE

Nature hostel in the Elbe River Sandstone Mountains

o enemy ever managed to scale the walls of Hohnstein Castle, such is the steepness of the

jagged rocky spur that it stands on, high above the Polenz River Valley. There was also no hope of liberation, making the Black Hole of Hohnstein one of the most feared dungeons of the Middle Ages. As the people said, »He who goes to Hohnstein seldom goes home«. Thank goodness, this saying does not apply any more, since the current owners of the castle happily welcome guests to their beautiful building. In 1924, the castle at the gateway to the Elbe Sandstone Mountains was judged »most beautiful youth hostel in Germany«. Today it is open to visitors of all ages and from near and far Hohnstein castle

for staying overnight, since the hostel is situated on a plateau of rock in the heart of the Saxon Switzerland,

in 1756 by residents who were enraged that animals

because artillery and horses under General Dominique

1795. Curiosity is today stilled by the »castle tour for

the most beautiful national park of Europe. Countless

had escaped and caused »high spirits« in the village; of

Vandamme had to surrender before managing to get

all the senses«, the many concerts, the famous church

stories tell of Hohnstein’s eventful past, of Elector

the steep Wartenberg Road, which »in a way« cost

up the wet road; from the sinister gallows hill, where

Christian II’s bear-pit, the closure of which was forced

Napoleon his victory at the 1813 Battle of the Nations,

the last public execution drew large curious crowds in

in front of the museum.

Burg Hohnstein | Am Markt 1 | 01848 Hohnstein | Phone +49 35975 81202 | info@burg-hohnstein.info | www.burg-hohnstein.info DIRECTIONS | BY CAR Route B 172 to Pirna, from there direction Neustadt via Lohmen and Rathewalde to Hohnstein BY CITY RAIL S1 from Dresden-Hauptbahnhof to Pirna, from there by bus to Hohnstein (bus stop Markt) www.schloesserland-sachsen.de

BOARDING HOUSE »ZUR KÖNIGLICHEN AUSSPANNE«

Rest

aristocratically

here there once was a manor house dedicated

areas of Dresden. In 1835, the Saxon King Friedrich

court’s demand for wine, was also to satisfy its thirst

mainly to vineyards there is now a boarding

August II personally acquired these chambers and expan-

for beer. After Friedrich August’s death in 1854, the

house with a long history in one of the most beautiful

ded them to become a brewery which, along with the

court disposed of this property and it functioned mainly as a residential property. Later it even became the location of a nationally-owned factory for decorated candles. In the 1990s, the old depots and stables were lovingly restored, and are now an insider’s tip for visitors to Dresden, who can discover the city on the Elbe and its fascinating surroundings from here. The former property of the King of Saxony is only a few steps away from Pillnitz Castle, the picturesque buildings along the Elbe are right on the doorstep and the sights of Dresden

Historical vault

city centre are only twenty minutes away by bus, tram or steamship. But surrounded by ivy-covered walls, vines and rose beds, it can sometimes be tempting just to stay at home and enjoy the almost Mediterranean flair of the »Königliche Ausspanne«.

Stylish interior

Entrance area

Pension zur königlichen Ausspanne | Eugen-Dieterich-Str. 5 | 01326 Dresden | Phone +49 351 2689502 | info@koenigliche-ausspanne.de | www.koenigliche-ausspanne.de DIRECTIONS | BY CAR Highway A 4 Dresden-Hellerau or Dresden-Altstadt Exit, Highway A 17 Pirna Exit, follow Route B 172 direction Radeberg to Graupa/Pillnitz Exit

www.schloesserland-sachsen.de

DRESDEN-PILLNITZ CASTLE HOTEL

Reside

royally Open-air terrace at the Lilac Court

Elbsuite

n the edge of the wide parkland of the Baroque

its first-class reputation especially because visitors to

the varied, special palace grounds. Therefore, having

very same footpaths. Should anybody then wish to leave

summer palace is this hotel on the banks of the

Dresden, after a visit to the Semper Opera House or

experienced Saxon cuisine par excellence in the Schloss-

Pillnitz at all, they can plan tours for the following day,

Elbe. It received its four-star ranking only partly thanks

walking by the Church of Our Lady, do not want to

restaurant, hotel guests may wander through the Pillnitz

for from here sights such as the picturesque vineyards

to its special location in a peaceful suburb of the former

miss the Baroque ambience. This private family hotel

Park and let themselves be whisked back to a time in

of the Elbe Valley or the natural treasures of the Saxon

royal residence city of Dresden. This small, exclusive

is only a few meters away from the many small and large

which ladies in layered dresses and gentlemen in

Switzerland National Park are only an hour away by

hotel with its three suites and 42 rooms has acquired

architectural and botanical attractions which make up

powdered wigs engaged in courtly conversation on the

steamboat.

Schloss Hotel Dresden-Pillnitz | August-BĂśckstiegel-StraĂ&#x;e 10 | 01326 Dresden | Phone +49 351 26140 | reservierung@schlosshotel-pillnitz.de | www.schlosshotel-pillnitz.de DIRECTIONS | BY CAR Highway A 17 Pirna Exit, continue along expressway direction Radeberg, turn off at Graupa/Pillnitz, Highway A 4 Dresden-Hellerau Exit, then follow signposting to Pillnitz BY BOAT by Elbe River steamboats to Pillnitz www.schloesserland-sachsen.de

Gaussig Castle Hotel

HOTEL GAUSSIG HOUSE

Quietness, enjoyment,

style

Palace and landscape park with lake

nybody who wishes to spend some days relaxing

Russian envoy Hermann Carl Count von Keyserlingk

and at the same time experience an aristocratic

have left their artistic imprint on the grounds since the

lifestyle will find their dream domicile here. Gaussig,

Baroque era. Gaussig experienced its last great recon-

one of the most prominent palaces in Upper Lusatia, is

struction at the turn from the 17th to the 18th century,

now a spacious hotel which combines the spirit of past

when Senior Master Builder Christian Friedrich Schu-

times with today’s demands for comfort and luxury. First

richt and the exiled Scottish nobleman James Ogilvy

mentioned in 1245 as a residence for nobility, the essen-

Terrace for relaxation

Earl of Findlater reformed the Baroque palace and the

provides accommodation in an aristocratic atmosphe-

spa area and a walk in the palace park – the Hotel

tial features of a large castle built here in 1700 are still

park in the style of Palladium Classicism. Today, the

re, guaranteeing a special kind of stay. Festivals with a

Gaussig House, owned today by the family of the

to be seen. Dresden courtiers such as the von Neitschütz

glorious manor house with its 30 hectares of landscape

noble touch, meetings in relaxed surroundings or sim-

Count von Bruehl-Pohl, is open to all who wish for a

family, the Imperial Count Heinrich von Brühl or the

park, elegant halls, salons and historic visitors’ rooms

ply a weekend with exquisite food, relaxation in the

stay which is anything but usual.

www.schloesserland-sachsen.de

use «

Double room on the bel étage

o»

Ho tel G a

ig u ss

PURSCHENSTEIN CASTLE HOTEL

Perfectly

romantic

odge close to nature and enjoy noble ambience – a most pleasurable combination to be found in

Neuhausen. This is where the four-star hotel of PurRestaurant Remise

schenstein Castle welcomes its visitors who, seeking relaxation from the hustle and bustle of the city, will still be able to enjoy high-class cultural events. The

in the hands of that aristocratic family until 1945. It

ambience. A team of top gourmet chefs offers superb

Ore Mountains, which are rich in forest, provide a per-

was reconstructed and converted several times: around

gastronomy for the best of culinary delights. The menu

fect natural backdrop for hiking tours; fascinating

1550 into a Renaissance palace, more changes followed

is seasonal and offers both international cuisine and

towns, such as Freiberg or Annaberg-Buchholz, but also

from the mid-18th century on, now in Baroque style.

Saxon specialties. The light-flooded and generous palace

larger cities, such as Dresden or Prague with all their

There are 35 double rooms and 15 suites available

hall is available for breakfast, but also as a venue for

sights are not far away and offer themselves to be

today on the castle estate, consisting of the Palace, the

meetings and exclusive events. Other rooms of different

explored. Purschenstein Castle goes back to a castle built

Bursary and the Coachman’s House. Their elegant and

sizes like the ceremony room, the ancestor hall and the

800 years ago that protected a trading route and raised

individual interior equipped with antique furniture from

library provide an ideal location for events. And those

toll. That castle later became property of the Meissen

various eras combines modern comfort with historical

who would like a special treat, will find anything their

margraves and, towards the late 14th century, of the

flair. The »Remise« restaurant in what used to be the

hearts desire – from massages to cosmetic attendance –

Coachman’s House enchants guests by its authentic

in the castle’s wellness parlor.

nobles von Schoenberg. The noble seat then remained Purschenstein Castle Hotel

Schloss Purschenstein | Hotel GmbH | Purschenstein 1, 09544 Neuhausen | Phone +49 37361 1408-0 | info@purschenstein.de | www.purschenstein.de DIRECTIONS | BY CAR along Highway A 4 to Chemnitz, then towards Marienberg and Olbernhau up to Neuhausen; from Leipzig along Highway A14 and A4 to Freiberg, then via Sayda to Neuhausen; along Highway A 4 to Dresden, then via Dippoldiswalde, Rechenberg-Bienenmühle and Sayda to Neuhausen www.schloesserland-sachsen.de

Movie »s ch

Discover Your

ndPASS serla « lös

Kingdom

Ten days at € 20 or a full year at € 40

Benefits at more than 50 properties • •

•

The schloesserlandPASS can be obtained at all participating properties or online. For further sales spots and detailed information, please go to www.schloesserland-sachsen.de Meissen Albrechtsburg Castle

www.schloesserland-sachsen.de

Tip You can truly save with your schloesserlandPASS. Travelling with someone accompanying you is more fun. Therefore, benefit from our family discount: Purchase two schloesserlandPASSES for ten days or a full year and save € 5 or € 10, respectively.

Movie »S av s« ing

•

Entitles to visit over 50 properties as often as you like Two children up to age 15 enjoy free admission to all permanent exhibitions when accompanied by the pass holder Free admission to all permanent exhibitions or outdoor facilities, reduced admission to special exhibitions Except: reduced admission to the Dresden Residence Castle (except the Historical Green Vault) and to the Dresden Zwinger; concession rates for guided tours at the Moritzburg Little Pheasant Castle and for the Dresden Park Railway 10 % discount on the regular room rate at our castle and monastery hotels Events are excluded

By car

By rail

Highways in Saxony A 4: Aachen – Cologne, interrupted once, continued in Bad Hersfeld via Erfurt – Weimar – Chemnitz – Dresden – Görlitz A 13: Berlin – Dresden A 14: Magdeburg – Halle – Leipzig and from Nossen further along the A 4 to Dresden A 38: Göttingen – Leipzig A 72: Hof – Chemnitz

There is an ICE connection between Dresden and Leipzig. IC or ICE connections are available from many larger stations in Germany. EC trains go between Dresden and Vienna, and between Dresden and Zurich there is a CNL (CityNightLine) connection. www.bahn.de

Driving times in Saxony Dresden – Leipzig: Dresden – Berlin: Dresden – Prague: Dresden – Munich: Dresden – Hamburg: Dresden – Frankfurt (M): Dresden – Cologne: Dresden – Vienna: Dresden – Zurich: Dresden – Warsaw:

1 hour 15 minutes 2 hours 2 hours 4 hours 30 minutes 4 hours 50 minutes 4 hours 30 minutes 5 hours 30 minutes 5 hours 7 hours 15 minutes 8 hours

By plane The Dresden and Leipzig/Halle airports are wellconnected to the largest inner-German airports of Berlin, Frankfurt, Munich and Duesseldorf. There are regular connections to other inner-German airports, too. Flight times do not take longer than one hour in any case. There are also direct flights to Vienna and Zurich.

e »F Movie

How to get to Saxony

rie nsp ass«

By public transport Saxony has a well-developed local public transport network. All public transport providers offer day tickets for individuals or groups. Verkehrsverbund Oberelbe (VVO) www.vvo-online.de: Dresden – Meissen – Saxon Switzerland – Eastern Ore Mountains

enspass. www.feri andrl schloesse e sachsen.d

Mitteldeutscher Verkehrsverbund (MDV) www.mdv.de: Leipzig – Halle Verkehrsverbund Mittelsachsen (VMS) www.vms.de: Chemnitz – Central Ore Mountains Zweckverband Verkehrsverbund OberlausitzNiederschlesien (ZVON) www.zvon.de: Bautzen – Görlitz Verkehrsverbund Vogtland (VVV) www.vogtlandauskunft.de: Plauen - Vogtland Traveling times by public transport in Saxony Dresden – Leipzig: 1 hour 15 minutes Dresden – Chemnitz: 1 hour Dresden – Görlitz: 1 hour 15 minutes Dresden – Meissen: 45 minutes Dresden – Saxon Switzerland: 30 – 45 minutes

For further information and current advice as well as ticket prices and opening hours please go to www.schloesserland-sachsen.de.

Moritzburg Castle

/Schloesserland.Sachsen www.schloesserland-sachsen.de

Editorial details PUBLISHER Staatliche Schlösser, Burgen und Gärten Sachsen gemeinnützige GmbH Stauffenbergallee 2 a | 01099 Dresden Phone +49 351 56391-1001 Fax +49 351 56391-1009 E-mail service@schloesserland-sachsen.de www.schloesserland-sachsen.de /Schloesserland.Sachsen

TMGS Tourismus Marketing Gesellschaft Sachsen mbH Bautzner Strasse 45-47 | 01099 Dresden Phone +49 351 491700 Fax +49 351 4969306 E-mail info@sachsen-tour.de www.sachsen-tourismus.de CONCEPT, DESIGN, MAPS Ö GRAFIK | agentur für marketing und design Wittenberger Strasse 114 A | 01277 Dresden | www.oe-grafik.de

PRINT SDV Direct World GmbH PHOTOS BY COURTESY OF Albrechtsburg Meissen, Alexander Schmidt, punctum, Angermann Luftbildservice - Holm Röhner, Anja Weiss, Burg Kriebstein, Burg Mildenstein, Burg Scharfenstein, Christian Leischner, Lutz Pfennig, Ernst Wrba, Festung Königstein, Foto-Walther-Heidenau, Frank Glabian, Frank Höhler, Fürst-Pückler-Park Bad Muskau, Gabriele Hanke, Gerhard Weber, Großer Garten Dresden, h. & d. zielske, Jörg Schöner, Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden, Jürgen Major, Klaus Schieckel, Kloster Nimbschen, Königliche Anlagen Bad Elster, Lothar Sprenger, Lutz Zimmermann, Manfred Lohse, Michael Schultz, Oliver Killig, panthermedia, Pension »Königliche Ausspanne«, Peter Mauksch, Rainer Weisflog, Schloss Augustusburg, Schloss Colditz, ©Schloss Gaußig (Foto: Marco Klinger), Schloss Klaffenbach, Schloss Moritzburg, Schloss Nossen, Schloss Rammenau, Schloss Schlettau, Schloss Voigtsberg, Schloss Wackerbarth, Schloss Weesenstein, Schlosshotel Dresden-Pillnitz, Schlosshotel Gaußig, Stadt Delitzsch, Steffen Peschel, Stiftung Fürst-Pückler-Park Bad Muskau, Sylvio Dittrich, René Schleichardt - Picturewolrd, Tourismus Marketing Gesellschaft Sachsen, Volker Kreidler, www.DDpix.de

Made with promotional funds from the Free State of Saxony as part of the promotion plan tourism. For information on the availability of free access for people with disabilities, go to www.sachsen-barrierefrei.de. There you can order your free copy of the brochure »Sachsen barrierefrei« (Saxony barrier-free travel) which provides comprehensive information on accommodation and places of interest especially for people with disabilities.

www.schloesserland-sachsen.de

serland Sac h oes l h

online: sen

November 2014

EDITORIAL DEADLINE

Experience

. . .

w i t h

memorable

t o p - c l a s s

b e a u t i f u l

a r t i s t s

festival

a t

moments...

D r e s d e n ' s

m o s t

v e n u e s

www.musikf e stspie l e .c om

phone:

035 1

656

700

The Dresden Music Festival is an official institution of the State Capital City of Dresden and is subsidized by the Saxon State Ministry for Higher Education, Research and the Fine Arts.

Herzberg

Saxony-Anhalt Torgau

Delitzsch Baroque Castle

Delitzsch

Halle (Saale)

Żary

Finsterwalde Hartenfels Castle

Senftenberg Prince Pueckler Park Bad Muskau

Elsterwerda

184

Spremberg

Brandenburg

182 6

Saxony

107

Zabeltitz Baroque Garden

Riesa

Leipzig

A 13

A 38

Nimbschen Monastery Colditz Castle

A 72

Naumburg (Saale)

Zeitz Altenburg

Frohburg Castle Gnandstein Castle

Thuringia

Mildenstein Castle

Meissen Döbeln

175

Kriebstein Castle

Rochlitz Castle

169

Chemnitz

175

173

Zwickau

Scharfenstein Castle 95

Wildenfels Castle 283

169

101

Dresden

Rammenau Baroque Castle

Radeberg

170

Hotel Gaussig House

178

Frýdlant ý Zittau

A 17

Czech Republik

Lauenstein Castle

Liberec

Deˇcˇín Nový Bor

Purschenstein Castle Hotel

Ústí nad Labem

ˇ Ceská Lípa

Teplice

174

500 km

Copenhagen

400 km

Most

Schlettau Castle

Plauen

Amsterdam

Chomutov

Rostock 300 km Hamburg 2 Berlin 00 km Hannover

Potsdam

Warsaw

100 k

London

Voigtsberg Castle

Dresden

Cologne Brussels

Royal Grounds Bad Elster

Görlitz

Bautzen

101 Stolpen Boarding House “Zur Königlichen Ausspanne” Castle Altzella A4 Pillnitz Castle and Park, Monastery Park Dresden-Pillnitz Nossen Castle Dresden Residential Castle, Dresden Fortress, The Dresden Castle Hotel Zwinger, The Great Garden Grosssedlitz Freudenstein of Dresden, Dresden Park Railway Hohnstein Baroque Garden Castle Castle Weesenstein Koenigstein 172 Castle Freiberg Fortress 173

Wildeck Castle

Klaffenbach Castle 169

Klippenstein Castle

101

A 72

Schoenfels Castle

Radebeul

Wackerbarth Castle

Augustusburg Castle

Hinterglauchau Castle

Zeulenroda-Triebes

Moritzburg Castle, Moritzburg Little Pheasant Castle

Meissen Albrechtsburg Castle

Lichtenwalde 95 Castle & Park Wolkenburg Castle

Gera

Frankfurt am Main

Prague

Ostrov Paris

Bavaria

Stuttgart Munich

Bratislava Vienna

Karlovy Vary Federal road

Poland

101

A 14

Hof

115

156 96

Scale

Motorway 1

Budapest

Berne

15 20 km

Castle, Fortress, Garden, Park, Monastery, Castle Hotel

Ljubljana Zagreb

Hartenfels Castle Torgau

Old Splendor in New Glory.