Elsterwerda Castle

The castle's origins date back to the 13th century, when a fortress is believed to have stood here, serving to secure a river crossing and as a military outpost. The castle was first documented in 1288. Ownership changed hands, including the von Köckritz family, who held the estate until the 16th century, as well as Duke Georg of Saxony and Christoph von Maltitz. In 1612, the von Rohr family acquired the property and, by 1616, had erected a multi-winged complex, replacing an older structure. Around 1700, the castle was a four-winged complex with a moat. Around 1708, Baron Woldemar von Löwendal purchased the estate and had parts demolished to create an open three-winged complex. Financial difficulties forced him to sell it in 1727 to August the Strong, who transformed the castle into a royal estate and had it rebuilt according to plans by Matthäus Daniel Pöppelmann. Construction was overseen by Johann Christoph Knöffel and Samuel Locke.