11. Februar 2012
Castles & Palaces
The Upper Castle of Greiz
Schlossberg
07973 Greiz
Once a feudal residence of the principality of Reuss, nowadays the Upper Castle is the towns most famous symbol. Having been built on a rock about 50 m above the River "Weiße Elster", the castle was first mentioned in the 13th century. Burnt down in 1540 due to a lightning, current outward appearance established in the 16th and 17th century as a consequence of reconstruction and many expansions. The six-cornered tower with renaissance gables and the "Schanzengarten" offer a wonderful view of the town.
The Lower Castle of Greiz
Unteres Schloss
07973 Greiz
Having been built in 1564 in the town centre of Greiz and destroyed by the greatest town fire in the history of Greiz in 1802, starting from 1809, the Lower Castle was rebuilt in a classicistic style. It is for this reason that the castle, church, secondary school, old guardhouse and the tubular fountain form a unique classicist ensemble. Nowadays the castle is where the music school, a local historical museum with changing special exhibitions and a former workshop of early textile industry are located. In the tourist information (Fremdenverkehrsamt) visitors can obtain further information about the town and the Thuringian Vogtland.
The Summer Palace
07973 Greiz
Internet: http://www.sommerpalais-greiz.de/
Already about 1650 a baroque park was laid out beneath the castle. Afterwards this garden was reshaped into a 43 hectare park in the English style. In the course of expanding the natural park from 1769 to 1779, the Summer Palace was built as the "House of pleasant withdrawal" ("Maison de belle retraite") in the early classicistic style. During summer the palace served as the principality's summer residence. In 1922 it became a museum and now houses treasures of the state collection of books and copperplates as well as the SATIRICUM, the greatest national collection of contemporary caricatures and press drawings.
Weida Osterburg Castle
Schloßberg 14
07570 Weida
Internet: http://www.weida.de
Situated on a rock, Weida’s landmark the Osterburg is proudly dominating the town. Having been built from 1163 to 1193, the castle was the residence of the procurators of Weida and Plauen who were ancestors of the Reuss princes. Strongly influencing local history, the procurators coined the name of the country they ruled: Vogtland derives from "Vogt", the German equivalent of "procurator". In those days parts of today's Thuringia, Bavaria, Saxony and the Czech Republic belonged to the principality. It is for this reason that Weida is said to be the Vogtland’s cradle. Nowadays a museum about the castle’s history provides further information to visitors of the Osterburg. In two galleries, a studio and a tin workshop examples of local art can be seen.
Ronneburg Castle
Schloßstr. 19
07580 Ronneburg
Really worth visiting is the castle of Ronneburg which in the 90's has been restored to its former glory. Today the castle is where the town and school museum is located.
Reichenfels Castle Ruin
Gartenstr. 3
07958 Hohenleuben
About 1.5 km south of Hohenleuben visitors can find the ruins of the former castle of Reichenfels which was first mentioned in the records for the year 1356. The castle was probably built in the 12th century by the procurators of Weida. In the year of 1938 a museum which contains the oldest and greatest library of local history was erected. Since 1825 Reichenfels is the residence of one of the oldest German historian clubs.