Radeburg Castle

The oldest surviving document mentioning Radeburg dates back to 1248. A Hermannus de Radeburch is named as a witness to a transfer of property in a document from the "Marienstern" monastery. An even older document from 1233 mentions a merchant named Timo de Radebrc, but since the "decisive letter" is missing, the attribution - Radeburg or Radeberg - is not entirely certain. Not far from the town's market square are the architecturally unique town hall and the former castle of Radeburg. Both buildings now house the city administration. In front of them stands the Electorate of Saxony postal milestone, which was erected on the market square in 1731 and moved to the castle courtyard in 1875 due to damage. Until their expropriation and expulsion by the communists in 1945, the castle belonged to the Princes Reuss and Greiz.

The castle was first mentioned in 1288 as a "castrum" (fortified castle). It was probably built in the 12th century as a water castle on the site of a Slavic settlement. In the 14th century, it was expanded into a residential castle. In 1429, the castle was destroyed by the Hussites and rebuilt in 1436. In 1547, it was converted into a Renaissance castle. In 1637, during the Thirty Years' War, the castle was plundered and burned down by Swedish troops. It was rebuilt in 1650. In 1731, the castle was acquired by the Electorate of Saxony and served as an administrative seat. In 1875, it was sold to the Princes Reuss and Greiz, who owned it until 1945.

The castle is a four-winged complex with a courtyard. The oldest parts of the castle are the cellars and the ground floor of the north wing, which date back to the 12th century. The south wing was built in the 14th century. The east and west wings were added in the 16th century during the Renaissance conversion. The castle has a tower on the northeast corner, which was built in the 15th century. The facade of the castle is decorated with various architectural elements, such as bay windows, gables, and portals. The interior of the castle has been repeatedly altered over the centuries. Today, it houses offices of the city administration.

Today, the castle of Radeburg is home to the city administration. The former princely chambers are used as offices. The castle courtyard is open to the public and is used for various events. The castle is a popular tourist attraction and a landmark of Radeburg.