Großsedlitz Castle

The buildings still preserved today, built in Baroque style, are the Friedrichschlösschen and the Upper and Lower Orangeries.

The Friedrichschlösschen, completed in 1847 according to plans by court architect Bernhard Krüger, embodies the former east wing of the castle built between 1719 and 1720 and demolished in 1871 due to dilapidation.

The Upper Orangery was built according to plans by Johann Christoph Knöffel from 1720 to 1721 as a functional building for housing orange trees in winter. It is single-story and has 23 window axes as well as corner pavilions with high mansard roofs on both sides. The triangular gable in the central axis is adorned with the Wackerbarth coat of arms.

The also single-story Lower Orangery was completed in 1727; it is characterized by 31 window axes and a successful integration into the terraced structure of the garden.

The Friedrichschlösschen today houses a historic restaurant, the Upper Orangery a registry office and a shop. The Upper and Lower Orangeries are used for concerts and exhibitions; the Lower Orangery also serves as winter quarters for the garden's potted plants.

The park area, oriented along a northwest-southeast axis, today covers about 18 hectares. Although never fully completed, the complex is one of Germany's most authentic Baroque gardens. The garden is characterized by a sloping location with terracing, grand staircases, and cascades, completed by sightlines for landscape views.

The geometric network of paths is oriented along the three main axes of the complex.

The Lower Orangery Parterre, located on the eastern side of the park, formed the garden's ballroom; here, among other things, the shooting competition took place. The sunken, U-shaped complex is bordered on the north side by the Lower Orangery, and on the south, an unusual staircase adjoins it. This grand staircase, called "Silent Music" due to the musical putti adorning it, was designed by the master builder Matthäus Daniel Pöppelmann. Here, two curved flights of steps embrace a basin, which with its three fountains represented the target point of the shooting range.

In the western part of the garden, the Forest Cascade with an upper basin called "Stone Sea" embodies the intention to create a "water axis" as the most vibrant part of the garden. However, like the Parterre d'eau located at the lowest point and the two water steps enclosed by the retaining walls of the Upper Orangery Parterre, it remained unfinished.

Of the formerly numerous sandstone sculptures from Roman and Greek mythology, 64 still adorn the garden complex today, including 24 originals. Noteworthy are the figure groups "Four Seasons" (Winter, Spring, Summer, Autumn), "Four Continents" (Europe, Asia, Africa, America; Australia was still undiscovered at the time), and "Four Elements" (Fire, Water, Air, Earth), all of which still exist as originals, created by court sculptor Johann Christian Kirchner. In the latter, two opposing elements are combined in a single figure: Fire and Water, as well as Air and Earth, are united here.

Collections of southern plants, often referred to as "Orangeries," became fashionable in the 17th and 18th centuries. In addition to oranges, myrtles, pomegranates, laurels, and figs were cultivated in Großsedlitz.

Due to their connection to the Greek Hercules myth, oranges held special significance at that time. According to this myth, Hercules, as one of twelve tasks, was to retrieve golden apples from the Garden of the Hesperides. The obvious similarity of oranges to golden apples allowed for a flattering association of their owner with the virtuous characteristics of Hercules.

According to the inventory list of 1736, the Baroque Garden at that time possessed 1,250 orange trees, with the stock of bitter oranges being particularly valuable. Years of neglect and presumably a heating failure in the severe winter of 1928/29 destroyed the last remaining stocks.

In 1997, 150 orange trees were acquired from Tuscany for the first time; the current stock has grown to over 400 potted plants, including 140 bitter oranges. They are overwintered at temperatures of 5 to 8 degrees Celsius in the Lower Orangery.

The Baroque Garden came into the possession of the re-established Free State of Saxony in 1992. At the same time, a comprehensive restoration and reconstruction of the garden and buildings began.

The publicly accessible complex today includes, in addition to the Friedrichschlösschen, the Old Gardener's House, the Upper and Lower Orangeries, the Upper Parterre, the Water Parterre (Parterre d'eau), the "Silent Music," the Lower Parterre, the Forest Cascade, and the Natural Theater.

From Easter to October each year, a variety of events take place in the garden. The highlight is the Garden Festival on the first weekend in August. It is intended to commemorate the first festival of the Polish Order of the White Eagle, which was celebrated for the first time in Großsedlitz under August the Strong.