castle | Schloss Lauenstein

History

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

he historical origins of the castle are unknown. Lauenstein is 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.

Zeittafel

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"
around 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 - 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
from 1517 onwards: 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 to 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
the 1950s: Citizens in the castle open a local museum, which must later close again due to lack of maintenance
Middle of the 1970s: restoration works begin on the castle and of some rooms
1980: the museum re-opens
the 1990s: beginn with the securing work of the castle ruins, the reconstruction of the Baroque park and the expansion of the museum
today: 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

Aktuell

Lauensteiner Schloss- und Schützenfest mit historischem Handwerkermarkt

21. und 22. Juni 2025

Ein Fest für die ganze Familie mit buntem Markttreiben, Puppenspiel, Musik, historischem Handwerk, Schützenfest und vielen Angeboten zum Spielen, Basteln und Probieren.

Wir freuen uns auf Ihren Besuch!

In Kürze finden Sie hier unser Programm

21./22.6.2025

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Lauensteiner Hutkonzerte: Frank Proft

Frank Proft blickt auf eine Bilanz von weit über 1.000 Konzerten zurück. Darunter einige als Support von City, Purple Schulz, Ray Wilson, IC Falkrenberg, Rockhaus u.v.a. Seit Jahren ist er zwischen Rügen, Hamburg, Thüringen, Sachsen-Anhalt, Sachsen, der Lausitz, Brandenburg on Tour. Überall gilt bei den Fans - der Song SEHNSUCHT darf auf keinem Konzert fehlen.

Die besondere Konzertreihe: Lauensteiner Hutkonzert

Die Musiker und Muskerinnen spielen zu diesem Konzert in den Hut. Der Eintritt ist frei. Wenn Ihnen die Veranstaltung gefallen hat, Sie von der Musik begeistert sind, dann können Sie dies gern mit stürmischem Applaus und mit einem Obolus, den Sie in unseren Konzertzylinder legen, tun.

Eine Veranstaltung von Kulturcafé M und dem Osterzgebirgsmuseum Schloss Lauenstein

28.06.2025

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