Rabenstein Castle

Burg Rabenstein, Foto: Uwe Fiedler

Saxony’s Smallest Castle

Rabenstein Castle is located in the Rabenstein district of Chemnitz and forms part of the Schloßbergmuseum. It was built in the second half of the 12th century during the settlement of the foothills of the Erzgebirge mountains. The frequently used nickname »Saxony’s smallest castle« is somewhat misleading in that the buildings still standing today make up only the heart of a formerly much larger complex.

Visit the castle and its surroundings to discover traces of an eventful history spanning the centuries since the Middle Ages: The small knights’ hall located at the upper level of the palace and adorned with frescoes featuring hunting motifs attests to the castle’s redesign in the first half of the 17th century, the early Baroque period. One example of the Rococo period well worth seeing is the Rabensteiner Schloss palace above Rabenstein Castle; it has since been turned into a hotel. Chemnitz textile merchant Johann Georg Siegert acquired the castle and the property appertaining to it in 1774 and had Rabensteiner Schloss built as a new manor house. Siegert and his successors, notably Maximilian von Welck, were also responsible for reshaping the castle and its surroundings into a Romantic English-style park.

The City of Chemnitz acquired the complex with the incorporation of the village of Rabenstein in 1950. A museum was created in the castle in 1959, following extensive restoration work. In the 1980s and 1990s, the castle complex was subject to further comprehensive restoration measures. Along with a host of other attractions in the local area (including the Rabenstein water reservoir, the Wildgatter game reserve, and the Felsendome show-mine and restaurant), Rabenstein Castle is one of the most popular destinations for excursions in Chemnitz today.

Rabenstein Castle is usually open from 1 May through 31 October
(other times of the year upon request)

In addition to individual visits, guided tours and special events (such as project days for schools) can be booked. A notable tradition at Rabenstein Castle is the annual event called »Ostern im Mittelalter« (»Easter in Medieval Times«) which takes place each year on Easter weekend.

 

Visitor Informationen

Adress and Contact
Oberfrohnaer Straße 149, 09117 Chemnitz
T +49 (0)371 488 4520, F +49 (0)371 488 4599
schlossbergmuseum@stadt-chemnitz.de

Opening Hours
Tu–Su 10–17 h
Open from May 1 to October 31.

Admission
General admission 3 Euros, reduced admission 2 Euros
On the first Friday of the month, admission is free.
For children and adolescents through age 17, as well as for students of the Technical University Chemnitz, holders of a Chemnitzpass, and chaperones to severely handicapped persons, admission is always free.
For further information regarding individual and group admission fees and combination tickets valid for more than one of the museums within the Kunstsammlungen Chemnitz, please see the schedule of fees (Entgeltordnung).

Gallery

Burg Rabenstein, Foto: Uwe Fiedler
Burg Rabenstein