History

High above the Müglitztal, the Schloss Lauenstein castle is picturesque view on a steep cliff. It is a jewel of Saxon Renaissance architecture.

The historical origins of the castle are unknown. Lauenstein was probably founded around the year 1200 as a border castle. Whether the margraves of Meißen or the Bohemian aristocracy of the Hrabishites were allowed to invest in securing their country is uncertain. Lauenstein is mentioned for the first time in writing in 1241. Even today, the ruins are still reminiscent of the medieval castle.
The castle is essentially characterized by the Renaissance style. The east and south-west wings have been preserved from the once three-winged castle. The north wing collapsed in the middle of the 19th century due to dilapidation. It has not yet been rebuilt.

The impressive Wappensaal, the Vogelsaal, the music room and many interesting details still testify today to the artistry of the builder Günther von Bünau (1557 - 1619)
and the subsequent generations of Saxon noble family, residing for three centuries in Lauenstein. High-quality portrait sculptures - dating from the beginning of the 17th century - have been preserved in the chapel and the tower room. The reconstructed park in baroque style and the herb garden with its ornamental plants frame the castle.
The main castle has been extensively renovated and restored over the past three decades and now houses the Museum of East Ore Mountains.

1241

A "Christianus de Lewensteine" is mentioned as a witness of Margrave Heinrich in Tharandt

1289

it is thought that the "castrum Levensteyn" listed among the possessions, the son of Margrave Heinrich of Illustrious (1218 - 1288) thoughts came up, Friedrich, cede to the Bohemian King

1320

Pledged Albrecht the Elder - Burggraf of Leisnig - Lauenstein to Herrmann Burggraf of Meißen: here Lauenstein is already called "castle"

um 1340

Lords of the castle are those of Bergau, for the first time the place Lauenstein and also ironworks around Lauenstein are mentioned

1372

By Emperor Charles IV (1316 - 1378) and son Wenzel (1361 - 1419), in common with the Margrave of Meißen, Lauenstein was declared a Bohemian fief, but the Saxon margraves

1374 bis 1436

Lords of Kürbitz reside on the castle as inheritance administrator of the lords of Bergau

1449

Elector Frederick the Gentle. (1412 - 1464) bought the mines of Altenberg and Zinnwald and in this context, Burg Lauenstein, bailiffs manage the castle

1459

In the treaty of Eger, Lauenstein is transferred to Saxony as a hereditary Bohemian fief, and the lease is not expired until 1806

1464

Elector Frederick II. the Gentle sold the castle and town Lauenstein to the councilors of Freiberg and mine owners Hans Munzer, this is instrumental in the development of mining Lauensteiner Region

1490

The castle and town go to Münzer's relative, Stephan Alnpeck the Younger, who gives the town urban privileges

ab 1517

Castle and Lauenstein owned by von Bünau, will be inherited within the family until 1821

1594

devastating city fire: a great contribution in the reconstruction by Günther von Bünau (1557 - 1619), he had Lauenstein taken over after the fire - castle and church received new artworks the sculptor Michael Schwenke from Pirna (1563 - 1610) and Lorentz Hörnig (1575 - 1624 ), Among other things, Wappensaal and the Vogelsaal. Other city fires: 1643, 1668, 1806, 1858

1821

Count Carl Ludwig August von Hohenthal-Dölkau acquires the castle, after his death in 1826 in possession of Hohenthal-Püchaus

1852 bis 1899

The castle in the east wing houses business premises of the Royal District Court and District Courts

1945

Hohenthal-Püchaus loses the castle through land reform, this is going on in the country property, it is been transferered to the City Lauenstein, housing for refugees and evacuees are set in the castle, nursery and youth club are also located in the castle

1950er Jahre

Citizens in the castle open a local museum, which must later close again due to lack of maintenance

Mitte 1970er Jahre

restoration works begin on the castle and of some rooms

1980

the museum re-opens

1990er Jahre

beginn with the securing work of the castle ruins, the reconstruction of the Baroque park and the expansion of the museum

Heute

The castle houses the Museum of Eastern Ore Mountains. The castle with museum is sponsored by the city of Altenberg. It is promoted through the cultural area Elbtal - Saxon Switzerland - Osterzgebirge

2019

werden das Lauensteiner Schloss sowie die Lauensteiner Kirche UNESCO-Welterbe als Bestandteil der Montanregion Erzgebirge/Krušnohoří

2018 bis 2020

wird der Ostflügel des Wirtschaftshofes saniert. Dieser kann heute im fertig gestellten Teil öffentlich genutzt werden. Zu den neu eingerichteten Räumen gehören ein Puppentheater, ein Turnraum und der sogenannte Malzkeller.