Moritzburg Castle

The castle's origins date back to 1542–1546, when Duke Moritz had a Renaissance-style hunting lodge built, named Dianenburg. This hunting lodge, which already featured four round towers, was later named after him. Between 1661 and 1672, the castle chapel was constructed under Elector Johann Georg II, based on plans by Wolf Caspar von Klengel. Augustus the Strong, who converted to Catholicism in 1697 and became King of Poland, consecrated the chapel as Catholic in 1699. From 1723 to 1733, Matthäus Daniel Pöppelmann realized Augustus the Strong's plans to transform it into a Baroque hunting and pleasure palace, which included the creation of new ponds and animal enclosures.