SCHLOESSERLAND SACHSEN. OLD SPLENDOR IN NEW GLORY. Exhibition 300 Years of MEISSEN Old Splendor in New Glory. All Nations Are Welcome 300 Years of MEISSEN as a Bridge between Cultures, Nations, and Religions The world-famous MEISSEN trademark is celebrating In the year 2010 the Museum of MEISSEN Art in the City Experience MEISSEN not only as table culture but also as its 300th anniversary. Three centuries of the connection of Meißen is going to show how the manufactory has been MEISSEN Fine Living, as high-quality interior design and of craftsmanship, aesthetics and passion are the occasion interpreting international infl uences since its foundation in art de vivre, as artistic expression of the linkage for presenting an intercultural anniversary exhibition: the year 1710 and how it made its contribution to art history. between cultures, nations and religions of our world. Museum of MEISSEN Art | Talstraße 9 | 01662 Meißen | Phone +49 (0) 3521 468 700 | Fax +49 (0) 3521 468 804 | [email protected] | www.meissen.com Old Splendor in New Glory. How the nobility left their mark Palaces and mansions in Saxony Albrechtsburg Castle Meissen / Augustusburg Castle 08/09 06 – 35 Burgk Castle / Colditz Castle 10/11 Delitzsch Castle / Dresden Castle 12/13 Little Pheasant Castle / Freudenstein Castle 14/15 Güldengossa Castle / Hartenfels Castle 16/17 Klaffenbach Castle / Klippenstein Castle 18/19 Krobnitz Castle / Lauenstein Castle 20/21 Lichtenstein Palace / Castle & Park Lichtenwalde 22/23 Lingner Palace / Moritzburg Castle 24/25 Nossen Castle / Castle & Park Pillnitz 26/27 Rammenau Castle / Rochlitz Castle 28/29 Schlettau Castle / Schwarzenberg Castle 30/31 Wackerbarth Castle / Weesenstein Castle 32/33 Wildeck Castle / Dresden Zwinger 34/35 A country in arms Castles and fortresses in Saxony Dresden Fortress / Gnandstein Castle 38/39 36 – 45 Königstein Fortress / Kriebstein Castle 40/41 Mildenstein Castle / Ortenburg Castle 42/43 Scharfenstein Castle / Stolpen Castle 44/45 Nature and art in harmony Gardens and parks in Saxony Spa Park in Bad Elster / Count Pückler Park 48/49 46 – 51 The Great Garten of Dresden / The Grosssedlitz Baroque Garden 50/51 The triumphant march of knowledge Monasteries in Saxony Altzella Monastery Park 53 52 – 55 Buch Monastery / Wechselburg Benedictine Monastery 54/55 The experience of grand joie de vivre Accommodation in Saxony Althörnitz Castle Hotel / Colditz Castle European Youth Hostel 58/59 56 – 65 Dresden-Pillnitz Castle Hotel / Gaussig Castle Hotel 60/61 Hohnstein Castle / Schweinsburg Castle Hotel 62/63 Hotel Taschenbergpalais Kempinski Dresden / Boarding House »Zur Königlichen Ausspanne« 64/65 Four ways to Saxony’s history Theme routes The valley of the castles 68/69 66 – 75 Palaces of the old and the new rich 70/71 Between nature and culture 72/73 Foreign rule and tolerance 74/75 Map of Saxony Editorial details Old splendor in new The medium for the spread of culture, however, was not nobility itself so much as the church. Significant libraries and art treasures were to be glory. found behind thick monastery walls, in chapter houses and in hermitages where the classical languages were cultivated as well as in peaceful cloisters For more than eight hundred years the Saxons lived under only one dy- where the art of medicine, horticulture and handicrafts was cultivated. Af- nasty. The art-loving margraves, dukes, prince electors and kings from the ter the Reformation, which as we all know built its first »mighty fortress« House of Wettin invited first-class architects and artists to stay permanent- in Saxony, many monasteries passed over to a secular use. ly at their court, especially during the Baroque era when the Saxon Sun King Augustus the Strong and his son Friedrich August II ruled the land so Dresden as a royal seat developed into Germany’s most beautiful city, sparkingly. They transformed their country into what it is today: the most lavishly furnished with splendid architecture and unique art treasures. popular destination in Germany for culture-loving tourists. The world of A wealth of top-class cultural monuments also developed in many other the Wettin dynasty is an absolute feast for the senses and attracts millions places in Saxony. In the 19th century »new regents« appeared: mining of visitors to the country along the banks of the Elbe river every year. barons and industrial tycoons erected mansions that took second place to the splendor of the feudal residences only in age. Saxony lies in the heart of Central Europe at the crossroads of great cul- tures where during the Middle Ages the trading route between the Baltic The time is right for a journey to the land of palaces, castles and gardens Sea and the Adriatic met many times with the one between Russia and – especially after this world has once again come to life following the re- Flanders. Anyone who wanted to assert his rights in the midst of this unification of Germany. Now is therefore the moment to enjoy the grand confused mixture of secular and religious interests had to have a firm base savoir-vivre at the lovingly restored palaces where you can now cast a which was able to withstand any onslaught. Later, when the former me- glance over the battlements of formerly impregnable castles and fortresses dieval robber barons where replaced by diplomacy, the law of succession and peer into a great past and find mystic tranquillity among the peace and marriage politics, many of these former fortified castles changed into and quiet behind old monastery walls and even stand in awe at the beauty prestigious palaces. of the lavish historic gardens and parks. How the nobility left their mark Palaces AND MANSIONS IN SAXONY The splendor of the grand architecture of the Middle Ages, the Renaissance and Baroque could only express itself during an age when wealth and a refined taste for art were able to come together as one. This was a time and a place where na- ture and culture, picturesque river valleys and magnificent palatial gardens, high cliffs and mighty fortresses, the depths of the forests and the romantic seats of nobility were able to come together and form an awe-inspiring tout ensemble. Where else can visitors find a room containing millions of artistically woven feathers next to the oldest castle in Germany which is not far from three splendid palaces situated like pearls strung on a chain or, for that matter, unexplainable stairway constructions which seem to defy the laws of physics? 010 Palaces and mansions in Saxony — The Meissen castle hill with the castle and the cathedral (top) — The spiral staircase (bottom) — The Town of Augustusburg with the Castle www.schloesserland-sachsen.de 011 The crown of the and mansions in Saxony Palaces Ore Mountains ere, where stallions once breathed heavily in front of grand atmosphere but also because of its spaciousness which has been put to barouches, horse-powered engines now roar. Augustusburg good use. There is hardly another castle in Germany which offers such H Castle is one of the favorite places of motorcycle fans since a large variety of cultural and educational programs inside its castle this is the home of Europe’s largest motorbike museum. Numerous walls. Here visitors will not only find the motorcycle museum but former exhibits from the history of this fascinating means of travel are also other worthwhile exhibitions and an observation tower. In ad- on display here. During the »Winter Meeting« of the motorcycle con- dition, falconry shows of eagles and hawks allow visitors to vividly gregation, Augustusburg Castle attracts thousands of motorcycle fans. experience these majestic birds of prey. The artistically minded will The monumental Renaissance castle stands on a well-chosen site. Visible love the sight of the altarpiece of the castle church which was painted from afar, this old hunting lodge rises above the Zschopau valley on by Lucas Cranach the Younger. This altarpiece is considered to be one a porphyry cone. It is aptly called the »Crown of the Ore Mountains« of the most remarkable works of art of its kind. It has never been removed because of its roof shape. The imposing structure which in four centu- from its original location since the church was consecrated. Furthermore, ries has lost none of its former appeal was completed in the year 1572. for those who wish to rest after having enjoyed all the sights, the castle Augustusburg Castle, however, not only impresses through its historic also contains a youth hostel where you can stay the night. The cradle of Saxony here is the hill on which three beautifully mirrored in the waters of the Elbe, a Gothic masterpiece, is just as inviting as the castles stand alongside three wa- a literal highlight of the panorama of the once decrepit and now lovingly restored old W ters – thus goes an old German valley. The tragedy of the place being that town of Meissen with its red tiled roofs. rhyme. The solution to the riddle is »Meis- this precious jewel on a high cliff remained sen« whose castle hill is surrounded by the almost unused for centuries. It was not un- rivers Elbe, Triebisch and Meisa and where til Augustus the Strong decreed that the first in the days of old the margraves, bishops European porcelain manufactory move into and the burgrave would reside high above the building that new life was breathed into the town. The presence of these powers in a the castle. With the »White Gold« produced confined area aptly demonstrated the former therein Meissen then began its triumphant significance of the »cradle of Saxony«. With march through Europe. On the three exhibi- Albrechtsburg Castle the first German palace tion floors we are reminded of this stroke of and a masterly piece of architecture was cre- occidental inventive genius.