Museum Schloss Moritzburg

Description

Moritzburg Castle in the municipality of Moritzburg near Dresden presents itself as a baroque hunting residence of the Saxon electors and kings, situated on a man-made island in the castle pond. Today the estate functions as a museum, event venue and frequent filming location.

The complex traces its origins to a 16th-century hunting lodge built under Duke Moritz, later called Dianenburg. The castle chapel was erected in the 17th century and was consecrated as Catholic at the end of that century. In the early 18th century Elector August the Strong had the house converted into an impressive baroque four-wing building and surrounded it with terraces, ramps, bridges as well as ponds and animal enclosures. Around 1800 the surrounding landscape was further developed; pavilions, fountains, harbour facilities and a lighthouse completed the ensemble. After wartime losses and expropriation, the castle served as a museum from the postwar period onward; parts of the inventory were lost in 1945, and individual buried treasures were later rediscovered and conserved.

The architecture and interior are characterised by a symmetrical four-wing layout with four directly attached towers and a pedestal-like base storey. On the ground floor, cross vaults recall the Renaissance origins; on the first floor lie four two-storey state halls (Billiard Hall, Dining Hall, Stone Hall, Monstrous Hall). The tower names refer to historical functions such as kitchen and bakehouse; cellar rooms served as utility spaces and stables. Exterior areas are defined by terraces with baroque figures and water features.

Inside, the museum presents courtly domestic culture of the 18th century: lacquered and ceremonial furniture, Augsburg silver, paintings, gala coaches and richly ornamented leather wall hangings, of which eleven rooms have been preserved. The splendid trophy collection of red deer ranks among the most important worldwide; numerous old antlers hang in the dining room, including one particularly heavy specimen. The Stone Hall houses reindeer and elk antlers as well as a prehistoric deer trophy of considerable antiquity. The Monstrous Hall assembles pathologically deformed antlers. Further treasures include a bed curtain made from around one million feathers, on display again since 2003, as well as historic wall tapestries; a pictorial tapestry featuring Emperor Charles V returned in 2022 and has been exhibited since May 2024.

The surrounding landscape park includes sightlines to the Fasanenschlösschen, the Venus Fountain and a star-shaped clearing system for the parforce hunt. The castle pond and the Friedewald ponds have served carp breeding since their inception; canals allow targeted fishing. The Hellhaus in Friedewald is being restored as part of monument conservation.