Kriebstein Castle, Rock castle in Middle Saxony, Germany.
Kriebstein Castle stands on a rocky spur above the Zschopau River, its core a residential tower measuring 22 by 12 metres and rising 45 metres to the weather vane. Around this keep from around 1399 cluster a tower-shaped gatehouse, a curtain wall with domestic wing, a late Gothic kitchen building and a chapel wing. A continuous 17th-century upper storey links the buildings above the steep river bank.
Dietrich von Beerwalde pledged in 1384 to build "the krywenstein on which his father sat", and the keep, chapel and gatehouse with curtain wall date largely from this single campaign; the keep's roof frame is dated 1399. From 1465 Hugold III von Schleinitz had Arnold von Westfalen, court architect of the Wettins, rebuild the domestic wing, rear castle and kitchen house, giving the castle its present extent.
The chapel displays late medieval craftsmanship through its original cross-ribbed vaults and carved stone details. Visitors can observe how medieval stonemasons worked directly in the architecture.
The castle opens to visitors from February through October with seasonal hours that adjust throughout this period. Guided tours are offered most days, though closures occur on Mondays.
The Halsgraben is a man-made defensive ditch that cuts off the main castle from the surrounding elevated ground and made siege warfare difficult. This ditch system provided a crucial layer of protection that medieval hilltop fortresses needed against attackers.
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