Senftenberg Fortress

Very little is known about the predecessors of the fortress from the 12th and 13th centuries. The preserved fortress only emerged from the 16th century under Saxon administration. Senftenberg belonged to the Electorate of Saxony since 1446, before it transferred to Prussia in 1815. In the 16th century, the castle building, which is located in the middle of the complex, underwent a fundamental reconstruction. In the 17th century, the earthen ramparts were rebuilt into their form preserved to this day. Additionally, a water pond was dammed around the complex to make storming the ramparts more difficult and to prevent mining. In 1764, the military use of the fortress was abandoned. Since then, the complex has been used for various civilian purposes, such as an administrative building, a prison, or a school. In 1913, the first predecessor of today's museum "Castle and Fortress Senftenberg - Museum of the OSL District" was established.

A closed earthen rampart with four bastions surrounds the complex. Access is via the fortress gate located in the northwest bastion and the adjoining postern. The postern was newly constructed as part of the renovation work after reunification, as the original casemate system, with the exception of the gate front, was demolished at the end of the 19th century. The area of the former water pond and the glacis is now used as green space. The dam is still recognizable on the street "Zum Steinwall". In the middle of the courtyard stands the castle, a closed four-sided complex, which houses the museum. The so-called Commander's House is located on the south curtain wall. On the northeast bastion there is a powder tower, which is a new construction from the beginning of the 20th century. A narrow passage leads under the east curtain wall to a small side gate.