Glücksbrunn Castle

The construction of Glücksbrunn Castle began in 1703, commissioned by the Electorate of Saxony's court councilor Johann Friedrich Trier, who resided in Dresden. Trier had already revitalized mining in the Schweina area in 1701 by acquiring mines and smelters. By 1705, twelve smelters and over a hundred mine shafts were in operation, with demand for cobalt minerals bringing additional profits. The castle served as a secondary residence for the Trier family. Around 1780, the copper share of the business declined, but cobalt sales remained profitable. The Triers separated from their company in 1783 and also sold the castle to Duke Ernst II of Gotha. The castle initially remained the seat of the Glücksbrunn mining company, which managed the operation of the smelters and mines. When the Sachsen-Meiningen Chamber took over the ailing operation in 1818, Glücksbrunn Castle was sold to a textile entrepreneur from Langensalza.