Sachsenburg Castle, Frankenberg, Saxony, Germany

Sachsenburg Castle rises near Frankenberg, Saxony, on a rock over the Zschopau river. The castle complex, which was built in the early 13th century at the latest, was converted into a castle in the 1480s. The complex is one of the few examples of a completely preserved late Gothic residential palace in Saxony.

The Lords of Sachsenburg were mentioned for the first time in 1197. It is uncertain whether a castle already existed at that time. Around 1210/30, however, the existence of the castle can be reliably proven on the basis of archaeological finds. The builders were evidently the Lords of Mildenstein.

Since 1610 the castle served as an administrative building for the Electoral Saxon Office of Sachsenburg with Frankenberg. During the Thirty Years War , the first and second outer bailey were destroyed and the castle looted.

From 1864 the castle was used as custody for young female prisoners and in 1867 a penal and correctional institution was established here. The property was only reserved for prisoners until 1926, and from 1914 onwards there were prisoners of war (Russians, including interned academics and students of the Freiberg Mining Academy , Englishmen, Serbs).

Along with Lichtenburg, Sachsenburg was among the first concentration camps to be built by the Nazis, and operated by the SS from 1933 to 1937. The camp was an abandoned four-story textile mill which was renovated in May 1933 to serve as a 'protective custody' facility for dissidents such as Jehovah's Witnesses, who opposed the Nazi regime.

Today the castle restoration is in progress.

References:

second.wiki

User Reviews

Frank B. (2 years ago)
The pictures are not typical of the castle as such, but in November there is a wonderful atmosphere all around the Zschopau. Dark, cool misty... glorious

P.K. Charmant (2 years ago)
Been here again for a long time. The renovation measures are progressing well, thanks to the city and its extra income from the state of Saxony. Is well built here. As far as I know, the castle was supported and plastered in 2021, completely cleared out in 2022 and the interior made. Which is really significant. Let's see what will happen next year and what will come in at some point. Please keep it up ??

Stanley Baas (3 years ago)
A small journey into the past. Was there with my little daughter and she found it very interesting. The boards with the description of the individual buildings and the people who had to live there are beautiful. Then you can do a nice hiking tour over a suspension bridge.

Andrea Rothe (3 years ago)
Unfortunately under renovation

Fred Boecker (3 years ago)
Leider immer noch Baustelle. Man sieht aber den Fortschritt der Arbeiten. Wird bestimmt einmal wunderschön aussehen.

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