Senftenberg Fortress

Very little is known about the predecessors of the fortress from the 12th and 13th centuries. The preserved fortress only emerged from the 16th century under Saxon administration. Senftenberg belonged to the Electorate of Saxony since 1446, before it transferred to Prussia in 1815. In the 16th century, the castle building, which is located in the middle of the complex, underwent a fundamental reconstruction. In the 17th century, the earthen ramparts were rebuilt into their form preserved to this day. Additionally, a water pond was dammed around the complex to make storming the ramparts more difficult and to prevent mining. In 1764, the military use of the fortress was abandoned. Since then, the complex has been used for various civilian purposes, such as an administrative building, a prison, or a school. In 1913, the first predecessor of today's museum "Castle and Fortress Senftenberg - Museum of the OSL District" was established.