Festung Königstein
View from the top
Ravelin, casemate or battey – those wanting to study fortress construction of the early modern era will find they have chosen well to visit the 23.5-acre rocky plateau of Koenigstein, although in this fortress shots were only ever fired as part of military exercises. The rock was also a notorious state prison, mostly for prominent members of society.
Johann Friedrich Boettger, the alchemist and one of the inventors of porcelain, served a sentence here "for his own safety", or rather so that the other German rulers could not get hold of him and his abilities. Later famous prisoners in Koenigstein's dungeons did not come of their own will, including the anarchist Michael Bakunin, the Social Democrat August Bebel or the "scandalous novelist" Frank Wedekind.
It was as difficult to conquer Koenigstein Fortress as it was to escape from within its walls, which is why the Saxon court moved here with all the state treasures whenever the situation got difficult. Visitors should take the time to see George's Castle, the new and old arsenals, the cellar of Magdalena's Castle and of course the spring house with the deepest well in Saxony (152.5 m)— and then to enjoy a culinary journey through time in the restaurant »In den Kasematten«.
A panorama elevator carries visitors effortlessly to the top of the plateau of the walled table mountain, allowing superb views over the Elbe Sandstone Mountains and Saxon Switzerland National Park.
Address
Festung Königstein gGmbH
D-01824 Königstein
Phone +49 (0) 3 50 21 6 46 07
Fax +49 (0)3 50 21 6 46 09
info@festung-koenigstein.de
www.festung-koenigstein.de
Co-operating partner of State castles, palaces and gardens of Saxony
Disabled access
(lift available)
