Sights in Moritzburg near Dresden
See the Pheasant Castle, Palace Gardens, and Käthe Kollwitz Memorial
The best sights in Moritzburg near Dresden in Saxony, Germany include the Schloss, Pheasant Castle (Fasanenschlößchen), palace gardens, and Käthe Kollwitz memorial site.
Moritzburg, a small community of around 3,000 inhabitants near Dresden in Saxony, Germany, is mostly visited on day trips to see the lovely Baroque Schloss Moritzburg Palace. Although this perfectly symmetrical, yellow-and-white castle on an island in an artificial pond is undoubtedly the highlights of any visit to Moritzburg, the town has several further sights worth seeing.
The Moritzburg Fasanenschlösschen (Pheasant Castle)
The Fasanenschlößchen (Pheasant Castle) in the gardens of Schloss Moritzburg is, as the German name indicates, a very small castle. It was converted for Elector Friedrich August II in the late eighteenth century by Johann Daniel Schade and Johann Gottlieb Hauptmann into a summer residence.
The Pheasant Castle was done in the chinoiserie style popular in Europe during this period. The castle was recently restored to once again show what court life was like in Saxony during the late Baroque or Rococo period. Although small, it allowed for all the trappings required for a full ceremonial court. This palace was mostly used for official functions as the elector generally preferred to spend the night at his more lavish residences in Dresden of Pillnitz.
- The Fasanenschlösschen (Pheasant Castle) can only be seen on guided tours. As only 10 persons are accommodated per half hour, reservations (tel 03520-78-73-610) are highly advisable. Opening hours are daily from April to October from 10am to 5pm, closing at 6 pm from May to September. Admission is €5 (€9 if combined with Schloss Moritzburg on the same day).
The Park and Gardens of Schloss Moritzburg
Just north of Schloss Moritzburg Palace is the small palace park (Schlosspark) in a formal French style. Much larger is the more informal palace forest gardens (Waldpark), which is always freely accessible to hikers.
In the gardens are amongst others the Pheasant Castle and several water features. A small harbor in an artificial pond allowed the Baroque court to set sail for entertainment. Here, Elector Friedrich August II had special defense structures erected to allow miniature frigates to reenact the naval Battle of the Dardanelle fought between Russia and Turkey in 1770. A light tower survived from this period.
Hiking, Cycling, Riding, and Swimming in the Lake District of Moritzburg
In the Moritzburg region are around 25 natural lakes and artificial ponds as well as forests. The electors of Saxony came here to hunt and wildlife can still be seen in a special protected area. Around 200 bird species have been spotted in Moritzburg.
The Moritzburg region can be explored on numerous hiking and cycling routes – the Moritzburg tourist office has several available for free download. Horse riding can also be arranged through the tourist office. Swimming is allowed in some of the lakes while the Bilzbad water park has the oldest wave-making machine in Europe – it dates from 1912.
Gedänkstätte Käthe Kollwitz Memorial Site in Moritzburg
Käthe Kollwitz (1867-1945) was one of the most important German artists of the twentieth century. Her powerful paintings, graphics, and sculptures were not appreciated by the Nazis who banned her works and prevented her from working. She fled the air raids of Berlin and spent her final months in Moritzburg as the guest of Prince Ernst Heinrich of Saxony. She died on April 22, 1945, just days before the end of the Second World War.
The house where she lived – the Rüdenhof at Meißner Straße 7, across the pond from the Moritzburg Castle – has been converted into a memorial site. Only a few of her drawings are on display – German museums dedicated to her works are in Cologne (Köln) and Berlin.
- The Gedänkstätte Käthe Kollwitz is open daily from April to October from 11 am to 5 pm, opening at 10 am on weekends. From November to March, it is open Tuesday to Friday from noon to 4 pm and weekends from 11 am to 4 pm.
The top sight in Moritzburg is the Baroque Schloss Moritzburg Castle. This lovely palace, as well as all the other sights in town, can easily be reached on public transportation from Dresden or nearby Meißen.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
