Schloss Jessen, Cultural heritage castle in Jessen, Germany

Schloss Jessen is a two-storey building from the 18th century in Jessen (Elster). Its ground plan follows the size and shape of the original medieval castle complex. The north wing was raised by one storey in 1752, and an octagonal tower was added during 19th-century alterations. The main portal bears an alliance coat of arms dated 1706.

A motte with a wooden defensive tower stood here in the late 12th century, and a brick ring wall about five metres high was added in the early 13th century, probably built for Archbishop Wichmann of Magdeburg. The castle passed to the County of Brehna at the end of the 13th century and was acquired by Elector Frederick the Wise in the early 16th century. In October 1813 Blücher, Yorck and Tauentzien used it as headquarters during the Wars of Liberation, and since 1999 it has housed Jessen's town administration.

Since 1999 the castle has housed the Jessen town administration, so the building is a working office rather than a museum. Its name recalls the lords "von Jessen", the illegitimate sons of Elector Frederick the Wise who inherited the estate in the early 16th century. Visitors can still read the alliance coat of arms of 1706 above the main portal.

The castle now houses Jessen's town administration, so the interior is a working office rather than a museum open to tours. Visitors can view the exterior and the main portal with its 1706 alliance coat of arms from the public street. The building stands in Jessen (Elster) in the Wittenberg district and is a protected monument.

The 18th-century building follows the outline and dimensions of the original castle, a circular motte about 34 metres across. At the main portal an alliance coat of arms dated 1706 is set into the wall. Similar round castles stand at Oelber and Oberpöllnitz.