Niederwiesa · DE

Park and Castle Lichtenwalde

Perched on a rocky spur above the Zschopau river valley in Saxony, Schloss Lichtenwalde is a magnificent Baroque palace wrapped around eight centuries of history and fronted by a ten-hectare garden ensemble that ranks among Germany's finest. Built between 1722 and 1726 by a minister of Augustus the Strong, the three-winged palace and its water-rich Baroque garden have survived fires, wars and decades of repurposing to become a living museum of aristocratic ambition and landscape art. Visitors today encounter three distinct experiences in one visit: the restored state rooms and Schatzkammer (Treasury) Museum inside the palace, the elaborate 335-fountain Baroque garden cascading down the hillside toward the river, and a series of museums, exhibitions and seasonal festivals that keep the grounds alive year-round.