Wednesday 10 April 2013

Castles

Castles




A unique cultural landscape exists in the very heart of Europe. East and West meet here. Europe is coming together here. Saxony - land and people; it is a long story - an exciting present and an interesting future. Discover Saxony and the Saxons - Welcome to the Free State.
To the south of Torgau is Wermsdorf, with the impressive Baroque hunting residence of Hubertusburg. After the castle had been plundered during the Seven Years' War, the castle chapel is all that remains to give us an impression of the original magnificent interior decoration. The Renaissance castle of Colditz became famous after 31 Allied officers, among them French, Dutch, and British, successfully escaped from the supposedly maximum-security prison. The old guardhouse of the SS is now an "Escape Museum".

Farther to the east is Kriebstein, one of the most significant Gothic castle complexes in the German-speaking world, which has unique interior decorations. The most famous lord of the castle was Kunz von Kaufungen, who felt unjustly treated and subsequently abducted the sons of Frederick II, Elector of Saxony, for which he was executed. In Dresden, along with the royal residence, the three so-called Elbe Castles should be mentioned. The late Classical Albrechtsberg Castle with its lavish interior decorations is today a meeting and cultural center. The Villa Stockhausen is often called Lingner Castle after its last private owner, Karl August Lingner, a pioneer of oral hygiene. The terrace of the hotel "Schloss Eckberg", built in Tudor style, offers a fantastic view over the Elbe River. Pillnitz Castle, built in the Chinoiserie style as a "summer residence for park and water festivals", also lies on the Elbe. Now it houses an arts and crafts museum. In the castle park the first camelia to be brought to Europe still attracts visitors when it blossoms in the spring. To the south of Kamenz is the Baroque castle of Rammenau, whose construction ruined the von Knoch family. Its interior includes the Mirror Room, which is used for concerts. On the restaurant terrace in the park, visitors can relax and decide which of the Saxon castles they would like to visit next. The choice is bound to be difficult.









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