Neu-Augustusburg Castle

Neu-Augustusburg Castle is a Baroque structure perched on a hill above the city, featuring four wings with matching facades and a central courtyard. The building now houses several museums, including a shoe museum documenting local industrial history and a city museum displaying exhibits on regional development.

Construction of the castle began in 1660 under Duke August, Archbishop of Magdeburg, built upon foundations of a previous structure destroyed during the Thirty Years' War. The complex was erected as a residence and administrative center for the Duchy of Saxe-Weissenfels.

The castle church served as a performance venue for accomplished musicians including Johann Philipp Krieger, Georg Philipp Telemann, and Georg Friedrich Händel, who played on its 1673 organ. These concerts established the church as a significant musical center in the region.

The castle is readily accessible from outside and the hillside offers various pathways for exploring the grounds and surrounding green spaces. When planning a visit, allow adequate time to tour multiple museums and discover different sections of the complex.

Beneath the castle church lies a princely crypt holding 38 ornately crafted coffins from 1669 to 1775 belonging to members of the Saxe-Weissenfels ducal family. This underground burial chamber represents a notable example of 17th and 18th-century burial traditions.