Koenigstein Fortress

in breve

Ravelin, casemate or battey – those wanting to study fortress construction of the early modern era will find they have chosen well to visit the 23.5-acre rocky plateau of Koenigstein, although in this fortress shots were only ever fired as part of military exercises. The rock was also a notorious state prison, mostly for prominent members of society.

Festung Königstein, Luftaufnahme
© Festung Königstein gGmbH; Foto: Bernhard Fischer

Koenigstein Fortress

nel dettaglio

The castle on Koenigstein Mountain in the Saxon Switzerland region was mentioned for the first time in 1241 and belonged to Bohemia until 1408. In 1459, it was integrated into the Margraviate of Meissen by contract.

In 1589, Elector Christian I ordered the construction of a fortress which was continually adapted to innovations in military technology and modernized its defence to keep up with advances until 1899. Among the most significant buildings are: George's Castle (1619) with George's Bastion (until 1679), the Gatehouse (from 1589 and 1729-1736), the Old and New Armoury (1594 and 1816), the Barracks (1590-1897) and the Garrison Church (1676-1681) which emerged from the Romanesque castle chapel.

Between 1563 and 1569, master miner Martin Planer from Freiberg directed the sinking of the 152.5 m deep well. The fortress served as a state prison beginning in 1591. Among the most famous prisoners were Chancellor Nikolaus Krell (1591), Johann Friedrich Boettger (1706/07), Mikhail Bakunin (1848/49) and August Bebel (1874). In 1913, Koenigstein was removed from the list of active fortresses in the German Reich.

It served as prisoner-of-war camp during both World Wars. In 1955, Koenigstein Fortress was opened to the public as a military and defence museum.

Festung Königstein

Ingresso
6,00 / 4,00 EUR

Google-Maps: