Sightseeing in Moritzburg

The Ausgustus Room in the Castle at Moritzburg

The “Peaceful Woods” were an ideal hunting aerial for Saxony’s royal court. In the 16th century, Prince Elect Moritz, erected a “royal hunting lodge.” The castle we visit today was erected under August the Strong from 1723-1736 and is a popular destination among tourists. The castle is a baroque museum, impressing its visitor’s with the splendor and standard of living enjoyed by Saxon’s royal court. In the historic arsenal pavilion is an exclusive restaurant where one can feast like royalty.

The spacious entry foyer impresses with its groined vaults and exhibit of gala carriages, a room decorated with feathers from exotic birds. The refectory (opposite the chapel) houses a collection of impressive antlers and the large hall prizes a collection of unusual antler formations. Exhibited are wallpapers made of leather, baroque furniture, east-Asian and European furniture, east-Asian china and porcelain from Meißen, as well as oil paintings from Lucas Cranach the Younger and Louis de Silvestre.

Located on the ground floor is a memorial to Käthe Kollwitz; a painter and graphic artist born in 1867 and deceased in 1945 whose last residence was a house on the castle lake.
The baroque garden on the north side of the castle terrace is flanked by two pavilions. The “Hellhaus” raised on the hill northeast of the castle, marks the axis of the hunting area and is a simple baroque building erected around 1770.

Seen 3 km east on the visual axis from the castle is the Fasanerieschlößchen. The miniature castle was designed and built by J.D. Schade and J.G. Hauptmann from 1769-1782 and shows today a collection of birds sponsored by the Museums für Tierkunde in Dresden.
The Churfürstliche Waldschänke, built in 1780, is nestled between the castle and the Fasanerieschlößchen and offers its guests fine dining and hotel accommodations. Other attractions in Moritzburg include the Wild Animal Park and the State Horse Farms. Equestrian parades and the large fish catch in the carp ponds around the castle are main events.