Brandenstein Castle

The origins of Brandenstein Castle date back to 1289, when the Brandenstein family was first mentioned in official documents. These knights and later lords held the castle as a fief from the Wettin dynasty by 1351 at the latest. In 1584, the property changed hands to the Lords of Breitenbauch for 16,000 Thalers. During the Thirty Years' War, particularly in 1634, the castle was besieged by Croatian troops and severely damaged, earning it the moniker “the desolate house.” Between 1698 and 1705, under District Administrator Christoph Adam von Breitenbauch, a reconstruction in the High Baroque style took place, during which the remnants of the old castle were removed, and a castle courtyard and a round garden pavilion were created. The outer bailey was rebuilt using stones from the ruin of Stein Castle.