The history of the Klippenstein castle dates back to 1289 when it was first mentioned as 'Castrum Radeberch' in official records. From 1543 to 1546, Moritz of Saxony had the castle converted into a hunting lodge and residential palace. It is also among the most significant surviving examples of sovereign architecture built during the reign of Moritz Elector of Saxony, a famous ruler from the House of Wettin. Members of the Saxon nobility often resided here. The influence of the Renaissance remains visible in many architectural details at castle.
Both its use as a noble residence and its use as a government administrative building greatly influenced the historical development of the castle complex. The poet August Friedrich Ernst Langbein descends from the dynasty of the Langbein family, who were the Electoral Officials at Klippenstein Castle in the 18th and early 19th centuries. It was not until 1952 that the district court was moved to another location, thus ending the era of the castle´s use as a government administrative building and clearing the way for it to house the heritage museum. All of these eras have left their mark on the castle.
Today, Klippenstein Castle attracts numerous visitiors by its museum of the history of the castle and its surrounding town. It is a cultural center for the Radeberg region, offering a wide range of events and exhibitions, rental opportunities, guided tours and educational programs for children.
References:The Petersberg Citadel is one of the largest extant early-modern citadels in Europe and covers the whole north-western part of the Erfurt city centre. It was built after 1665 on Petersberg hill and was in military use until 1963. It dates from a time when Erfurt was ruled by the Electors of Mainz and is a unique example of the European style of fortress construction. Beneath the citadel is an underground maze of passageways that can be visited on guided tours organised by Erfurt Tourist Office.
The citadel was originally built on the site of a medieval Benedictine Monastery and the earliest parts of the complex date from the 12th century. Erfurt has also been ruled by Sweden, Prussia, Napoleon, the German Empire, the Nazis, and post-World War II Soviet occupying forces, and it was part of the German Democratic Republic (East Germany). All of these regimes used Petersberg Citadel and had an influence on its development. The baroque fortress was in military use until 1963. Since German reunification in 1990, the citadel has undergone significant restoration and it is now open to the public as a historic site.