Zehista Castle

The first documented mention of Zehista Castle near Pirna was in 1355. In 1390, the castle became a fief of the Dohna burgraves and finally passed into the possession of Elector August Christoffeln von Schönfeldt in 1561. During the Thirty Years' War, the castle became the headquarters of Swedish Field Marshal Johan Banér in 1639. During this time, people spoke of the "Pirna Misery," caused by the atrocities committed by the soldiers.

The Pirna pharmacist Theophilius Jacobäer finally managed to intercede with the Swedish King with a letter of protection signed by the Electress, thus saving the city of Pirna from complete destruction. In 1651, Lieutenant Colonel von Liebenau took over Zehista Castle. Finally, in 1735, Chief Equerry Count Johann Adolf von Brühl came into possession of the estate. He undertook extensive renovations to the castle. The construction of the remarkable house church from 1742 also falls within his time. After several changes of ownership, Count Alexander Caspar von Rex (1827–?) bought Zehista Castle in 1820. In 1945, the last owner Egon-Ferdinand Count von Rex (1914–2008) was dispossessed and expelled by the communists. After this, resettlement apartments were created in the castle.

Around the castle are several outbuildings and an extensive park with a pond system. A business was temporarily housed in the castle. In 2011, a private investor began renovating the main building. The castle has been used for residential purposes (12 apartments) since 2013.