User:Schloss Mühlberg



Mühlberg Castle (German: Schloss Mühlberg) is a historical monument located on the right bank of the river Elbe and a little lake, in the western part of the town of Mühlberg in Brandenburg, Germany.

Present building is multi-winged, predominantly 16th Century complex in simple Renaissance forms. In the individual cell, on the left hand side of the chapel, there are still remains of the original fortress, from 8th and 9th Centuries. The first settlers were Slavics, of the people “Wenden”. They built a wall rampart. Probably, in the context of the establishment of the diocese Meissen, 928 A.C., and the fortification of the German border against the Slavic the first castle was built.

The first existing document of Mühlberg dates from 1228 when Bodo and Otto von Henburg, whose family owned the town of Mühlberg, donated a cloister of nuns of the order of Cistercian. In 1230 Mühlberg is called “oppidium Moleberc”, that means small town. The noble family of Henburg were bailiffs in the service of the Margravade of Meissen. The bailiffs collected toll (river Elbe) and coinage. First documentation of the castle itself dates from 1272.

From 1330 onwards, after changing ownership fiefdom there were confrontations between the noblemen of the region, the Margravades of Meissen and Brandenburg and the dukes of Bohemia and Sachsen-Wittenberg. About 1350 town and castle changed to the kingdom of Bohemia, they belonged to Karl IV (emperor of Holy Roman Empire, German king and Bohemian king).

In 1373 Karl IV visited Mühlberg Castle.

Until 1443 the fiefdom changed to the House of Wettin (Saxony), later back to the Bohemian House of Bircke-von-der-Duba.

After the death of Hans Bircke, 1520, the duke of Saxony Georg der Bärtige, took back the castle.

Bailiffs administrated again the castle. The first one was Christoph von Polenz.

In 1535 the castle was burned and devastated. Its reconstruction lasted until about 1550.

In 1542 Reformation took place in Mühlberg.

From 1546 to 1547 Schmalkalden War (German: Schmalkaldischer Krieg) took place and the climax of this war was the Battle of Mühlberg, 24th of April of 1547.

The Duke of Saxony (German: Moritz of Saxony) to whom Mühlberg belonged became elector prince of the Holy Roman Empire.

The Castle was used as a hunting lodge and for accommodation of Royal guests. E.g. in 1565 the King of Denmark and in 1602 the Danish Royal Princess Hedwig.

From 1618 to 1648 Thirty Years War (German: Dreissigjähriger Krieg) took place. The town and castle were damaged several times by the Swedish.

In 1702 Queen Christiane Eberhardine (1671-1727), wife of August der Starke (1670-1733) chose the castle for her jointure.

From 1756 to 1733 there was the Seven Year War (German: Siebenjähriger Krieg), Prussian troops occupied the castle several times and King Friedrich II accommodated here as well.

During the liberation wars against Napoleon Bonaparte, the castle was a military hospital of Prussian and Russian armies. As a result of the war Saxony lost about 40 per cent of its territory and Mühlberg Castle and town became part of the Kingdom of Prussia. Mühlberg Castle had the function of administration as in former times stewards collected taxes, administrated local police, regional judicial system, main customs office, regional hydro-building authority, jail, etc.

Up to 1930 it was also a Youth Hostel but during the Third Reich it was a Youth Hostel of the National Socialist Youth Organisation (German: Hitler-Jugend).

During the period of German Democratic Republic (GDR) there was a Public Professional School. The Youth Organisation of the State Party (German: Freie Deutsche Jugend) used the castle until 1949.

From 1960 to 1973 there was a polytechnic secondary school and some flats.

Almost during the whole period of GDR there were a youth club, a library and the town archive.

The main source of this historic chronology is: Schloss Mühlberg, Freundeskreis Schlösser und Gärten der Mark in der Deutschen Gesellschaft e.V.

In 1999 the town of Mühlberg sold the castle to a private person who himself sold it to Pixka Deutschland GmbH in 2018.

Nowadays, the castle is owned by this company, devoted to architecture, art, education and historical rescue. Your stay here will support the renovation of the castle, which was abandoned for many years. Having in mind that the renovation works are just starting, we ask you to refrain from visiting areas of the castle that are not yet safe. So far you can enjoy the apartment, the patio, and take a walk in our gardens.

Pixka Deutschland GmbH is working successfully in Mexico and this is an important project in Germany as a country which offers that much. Focusing in Mexican and German communities, this place is ideal for the development of contemporary art and culture.

Places of interest:

•	Mühlberg town

•	Elbe river

•	Museum Mühlberg 1547

•	Mühlberg churches

•	Elbe Cycle Route