Status: 18.05.2022

Rochsburg Castle – a hidden treasure in the countryside

Rochsburg Castle, which was first mentioned in a document in 1190, rises on a rocky spur high above the rushing Zwickauer Mulde river. It was extended several times until the 15th century and rebuilt into a castle from 1470 under the master builder Arnold von Westfalen. He also created the Great Spiral Staircase as one of the first staircases in castle complexes to be planned from the outset on the inside. After three devastating fires, Rochsburg Castle received its present appearance under the lords of Schönburg in the middle of the 16th century. At the same time, the exterior installations with towers, gates and walls retained their fortified character.

Visitors reach the museum along some of Rochsburg’s highlights: the path leads over the drawbridge at the front gate, through the northern bailey with its impressive half-timbered weir walk, past the palace of the core castle to the farmyard with the powder tower. Here the upper gate from 1475 opens to the keep with its single-handed clock from 1640 in the upper castle courtyard. In this courtyard lies the 53-meter-deep well with a wooden well house. A Gothic portal and tracery windows belong to the castle chapel “St. Anna” with its altar made of sandstone in the style of the late Renaissance and a late Gothic reticulated ribbed vault from 1522.

The museum provides an insight into the living culture of the nobility in the countryside in six historical rooms. In the historic banqueting hall there is an ancestral gallery of the Counts of Schönburg, who resided here for over 400 years. Under the title “People make clothes” 1000 years of fashion history are presented. In the large cellar, the exhibition “Clay, reeds, stone – materials not only for pharaohs” provides information about building materials from nature. Special exhibitions and an extensive program of events complete the offer.

Wonderful views from the castle into the nature reserve “Around the Rochsburg” invite to relaxing walks, hikes or a tour on the Mulder cycle path.

Geographical position

50°56’38.3 “N 12°45’52.1 “E
50.943969, 12.764463