CastleZwickau

Osterstein Castle

Home for the elderly

Osterstein Castle in Zwickau, Saxony, is a structure that has undergone a transformation from a medieval castle to a Renaissance palace and a penal institution, to its current use as a retirement home.

History+

The castle's origins date back to 1292, when it was first mentioned as Castrum Czwickaw. A city fire in 1403 caused damage, leading to the demolition and reconstruction of the complex between 1404 and 1407 under Margrave Wilhelm I of Meissen. In the early 16th century, during the reign of John the Steadfast, the castle temporarily housed the Zwickau mint. A redesign into a Renaissance palace took place under Elector Christian I from 1587 to 1590. Towards the end of the 18th century, the castle was converted into a penal institution, which operated until 1962 and housed prisoners such as Karl May and Rosa Luxemburg.

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Source: Wikipedia · Licence: CC BY-SA 4.0 · Image: Thomas Eichler

This description draws on the facts documented in the linked Wikipedia article; Wikipedia content is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Wording and editing: Mobile History.

Location: 50.7210, 12.5004