Ortenburg, Medieval castle in Bautzen, Germany

Ortenburg is a castle set on a rocky spur above the Spree River in the old town of Bautzen. The building combines late Gothic forms with Renaissance gables and includes a defensive tower alongside several structures spread across the elevated ground.

The Ortenburg was first recorded in 1405 as "castrum Orthenburg in Budissin". From the 12th to the 17th century it was the seat of the Landvögte of Upper Lusatia, and from the late 17th to the 19th century the Saxon Oberamt had its seat there. Today it houses the Saxon Higher Administrative Court.

The castle houses the Sorbian Museum, the only one in Germany dedicated to the culture and language of the Sorbian people. The displays include traditional costumes, crafts, and everyday objects that connect visitors directly to this community's way of life.

The castle is in the old town of Bautzen and easy to reach on foot from the main streets and central squares. Sturdy footwear is a good idea since the ground is uneven with stone steps and changes in level throughout the site.

The castle's most striking building is the late Gothic Matthiasturm, though the sources give no portrait of Matthias Corvinus on it. The name instead recalls the Hungarian king who ruled the region. In 1754 Baron Gottfried Schmiedel, second court jester at the Saxon-Polish court, wrote a poem about the Ortenburg while serving as castle inspector.