Deutsch · English · Français · Čeština · Nederlands · Polski · Italiano
Burg Tharandt – history
The ruined castle of Tharandt stands on a rocky spur above the town on the edge of the Tharandt Forest, right next to the Bergkirche. The medieval border castle of the Margraves of Meissen later became the widow's seat of a duchess and, in the Romantic era, a popular subject – Ludwig Richter and Caspar David Friedrich both painted it.
Border castle and widow's seat
Margrave Dietrich of Meissen founded the castle between 1206 and 1215 as protection against the Burgraves of Dohna; it later came to be regarded as one of the strongest castles in the land. In 1464 the wedding of Duke Albert the Bold to Sidonie, daughter of the King of Bohemia, was celebrated here – one of the marriages that sealed the Treaty of Eger. Sidonie lived at the castle as a widow from 1500 and died in 1510; after that it fell into decay, and from 1626 to 1629 the Bergkirche was built from parts of the lower castle.
Matching hikes
As of: 09/2026
Keep asking TOURsten
TOURsten is happy to tell you more, find the right hike and plan your holiday day with you – free of charge and in seven languages.
Ask TOURsten