Belgershain Castle

Belgershain Castle is a castle in the municipality of Belgershain in the district of Leipzig, which emerged from a medieval fortress. The castle was owned by various noble families until 1945 and now serves as the cultural center of the town.

Belgershain Castle's basic structure dates back to a swamp castle built in the 11th/12th century, which was surrounded by a moat and served to protect the Via Regia Lusatiae Superioris trade route passing nearby. It was built after 1104 on behalf of Margrave Wiprecht von Groitzsch. In 1330, this castle was owned by Heinrich von Trebsen. Later, the castle and its outworks belonged, among others, to the Burgraves of Leisnig and the von Pflugk family. From 1551, Belgershain was the seat of a manor and owned by changing noble families. By around 1600, the conversion of the fortress into a residential castle was largely completed.

The interiors received their design in the 17th century. Noteworthy is a spiral staircase and a hall behind it with cross vaults. The door frames made of porphyry also partly show Renaissance forms. In 1792, the von Uechteritz family acquired the castle, who had the building rebuilt in the Neo-Gothic style at the beginning of the 19th century. In 1844, Friedrich von Zehmen followed as the new owner. From 1852, Belgershain Castle was owned by the von Schönburg-Waldenburg family. The last owner was Prince Günther von Schönburg-Waldenburg, who had to leave Belgershain in 1945.

In 1945, Belgershain Castle was expropriated as part of the land reform and, according to SMAD Order No. 209, was to be demolished by resolution of the district council. The municipal council successfully lodged an objection and used the building as a central school from 1950 to 1973. From 2002, extensive renovation work took place on the castle and its moat. During this time, the building also regained its castle tower, which had been demolished in the post-war period. Today, Belgershain Castle serves as the cultural center of the town and is used, among other things, by a youth club and various associations.

The castle grounds also include a 17th-century manor farm located outside the moat ring, as well as the baroque Cavalier's House built around 1730. Originally, this was connected to the castle by a passage. Today it is used as the town hall. On the upper floor, there is a local history museum dedicated to the history of the town and the castle.