Freudenstein Castle hides a true treasure. The Renaissance castle was built in the 16th century on the walls of a 12th-century fortification to protect the town of Freiberg and the silver mining industry. Today, features such as the Romanesque round tower, the painstakingly preserved Renaissance staircases and vaulted rooms recall a time between military conflicts and lavish festivities. Freudenstein Castle now houses one of the world's most beautiful mineral exhibitions, "Terra Mineralia." Over 3,500 gemstones and minerals from five continents are waiting to be discovered by young and old.