Albrechtsburg, Gothic castle on hilltop, Meissen, Germany
Albrechtsburg is a medieval castle perched on a hilltop overlooking the Elbe River near Meissen, featuring Gothic towers, pointed arches, and large windows that open onto the Saxon landscape. Inside, the building holds a museum with five sections dedicated to Saxon rulers and the evolution of porcelain craftsmanship.
Construction started in the 10th century as a strategic fortress to control the region and defend against Slavic threats. In the 18th century, it transformed into a porcelain production center before eventually becoming a museum and art collection.
The castle's rooms reveal how local craftsmanship shaped European taste, particularly through the porcelain workshops that once operated here under princely patronage. Walking through the spaces, visitors sense the connection between ruling power and artistic creation that defined the region's identity.
Entry is via Domplatz 1 in Meissen, with guided tours starting daily at 10 AM. The building offers wheelchair accessibility and elevators to reach the main exhibition areas comfortably.
From 1710 to 1863, the castle housed Europe's first porcelain manufactory, where Augustus the Strong guarded the secret formula for hard-paste porcelain. This jealously protected knowledge turned the town into the heart of European porcelain craftsmanship for generations.
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