Purschenstein Castle

The origins of Purschenstein Castle date back to the late 12th century, when it was likely built around 1200 by Boresch I as a customs and escort castle. Its strategic location secured one of the salt roads from Central Germany to Bohemia, known as the “old Bohemian Steig”. The first documented mention of the complex occurred in 1289. In the 13th century, the Purschenstein dominion came into the possession of the Margraves of Meissen, who enfeoffed it to the von Riesenburg family in 1350. After further changes of ownership, including to Margrave Friedrich the Strict, the estate passed to the Lords of Schönberg in 1372. This noble family shaped the castle's history by transforming the fortress into a Renaissance castle in 1550. During the Thirty Years' War, Purschenstein suffered damage from fires and hostilities in 1642/43. Wolf Rudolph von Schönberg owned the castle until his death in 1735.