Wolkenstein castle (Schloss Wolkenstein)

Castle Wolkenstein was first mentioned in documents in the 13th century. From 1378, Wolkenstein was the seat of the Waldenburg family. After the death of the last Waldenburger in 1473, the estate passed to the territorial rulers of Wettin.

After 1500 it was owned by Heinrich the Pious (Heinrich dem Frommen), who, as the youngest son, was given posts in Wolkenstein and Freiberg to support himself. He enlarged the castle and used it as a hunting lodge. His son Augustus rebuilt the complex into a Renaissance palace around 1550.

In the 19th and 20th centuries, the castle housed the county court and prison, and after the Second World War and until 1990 it was used as residential apartments. At the moment the castle houses a local history museum, a restaurant and a registry office.
















We took a walk around the town as well.












The castle sits on a fairly high cliff and there are good views from the grounds. The railway station can be seen below.




The castle has a beautiful view from afar (50.648944, 13.058056).

Getting there: parking lot 50.657139, 13.065583. There is a Wolkenstein train station, though you have to walk up to the castle and the old town.