Berga Castle

The baroque castle features remnants of a fortified knight's castle from the 13th/14th century within its defensive walls. The three-story castle building dates back to the 16th century, while the gatehouse, hall building, and castle chapel were added around 1760.

The construction period of the castle complex, built on three rocks, can be traced back to the 12th century, with remnants of the fortified knight's castle from the 13th and 14th centuries partially preserved in the defensive walls. The castle's foundation is attributed to the Lobdeburgers, who sought to create a counterweight to the rule of the Vögte of Weida. In 1358, the Landgraves of Thuringia took over the complex. In 1373, it was pledged by Heinrich the Red, Vogt of Weida. In 1427, he finally regained it. In 1445, the Wettins acquired it again.

In 1592, the property was transferred from the Electoral Chamber and Mining Council in Dresden to Daniel von Watzdorf. The von Watzdorf family is recorded as owners until 1870. The last family member was Bernhard von Watzdorf, who served as Minister of State at the court of Grand Duke Karl Alexander of Saxe-Weimar. Until 1875, the castle belonged to Richard Hermann from Zeitz, who sold it in 1875 to Ernst Semmel, the son of the District Administrator and Privy Councillor of Justice Moritz Semmel from Gera. Ernst Semmel was elected as a community representative and sold the castle in 1909 to Captain Toppius, who had already served as administrator of the castle estate. In 1938, Ludwig Scharpenseel, who had previously sold his shares in the Schlegel-Scharpenseel Brewery, acquired the property and had the building and the outdoor facilities thoroughly renovated. On September 10, 1945, the Scharpenseel family was dispossessed without compensation and fled to Sichtigvor. They lost the knight's estate and the associated lands, totaling 239 hectares. The furnishings were relocated or used to furnish emergency shelters for refugees. At the same time, an agricultural school was established in the castle. In the late 1950s, this was relocated, and the state-owned estate of Meilitz took over legal responsibility. The stables were converted for pig fattening. With the reunification, the castle became the property of Weigl Holding. On March 8, 1994, the roof truss of the tenant's house, built in 1760, burned down. The fire and the extinguishing water caused significant damage to the masonry.