Schloss Köthen

Beschreibung

Köthen Castle, once the seat of princes and dukes, has been extended, remodelled and renovated several times. The buildings, which have been owned by the Saxony-Anhalt Cultural Foundation since 1997, are now primarily used for cultural purposes. The Historical Museum with the Bach Memorial, the Naumann Museum, the Prehistoric Collection and the German Language Experience invite visitors, the modern event centre offers cultural events of all kinds and conferences on a large and small scale, the town archive preserves documents from the town´s history, over 500 pupils learn at the "Johann Sebastian Bach" music school, the non-profit Köthener Bachgesellschaft mbH has its headquarters in the Prinzessinenhaus and the Köthen Information Centre provides visitors and tourists with all the important information they need. Köthen Castle, located to the north of the old town centre, follows an early German castle complex, situated on an island on the southern edge of the Ziethe lowlands. The Ascanian Counts of Ballenstedt owned property here, which they defended against an Elbe Slavic attack in 1115. The lords of Köthen held the castle as vassals. In 1156 and 1160, the Ascanians exercised judicial and feudal rights in and near (Hohen-) Köthen. They first documented the castle in 1244. Köthen Castle became a permanent residence in the 15th century, until the fire in 1547, in which only the northern west wing was preserved. From 1606 to 1853, there was an independent principality and duchy of Anhalt-Köthen.The surviving Renaissance buildings from the late 16th and early 17th century are strongly characterised by Baroque, but above all Neoclassical remodelling from 1821 to 1833.With the renovation of the riding hall as an event centre in 2008, the castle has become the cultural centre of the town and a centre for the cultivation of baroque music. The palace is culturally and historically significant as the place where the court conductor Johann Sebastian Bach worked between 1717 and 1723. The highlight of a tour of the palace is the Throne Hall in the Ludwig Building, built by Gottfried Bandhauer in 1822, which has shone in new splendour since its restoration in 2018.