Purschenstein Castle is one of the oldest castles in Saxony. The castle is situated on a wonderful country estate, nestled in the wild and romantic Flöha Valley, directly on the old Bohemian Trail.
Centuries ago, Purschenstein Castle flanked the old salt road from Halle to Prague. Today, the Erzgebirge-Vogtland ridge trail, which is popular with hikers, runs directly through the castle park.
At Schlosshotel Sachsen, guests have the opportunity to stay in style. Not only in the 4-star castle hotel, but also in the former financial administration RENTAMT and above the castle restaurant REMISE, guests have the opportunity to spend the night in grand style. The hotel grounds also include a castle park, which surrounds a series of idyllic natural ponds.
Dating back to the 12th century, this historic castle hotel in Saxony exudes timeless elegance and grandeur. It is not just a place to stay, but an enchanting journey into the past, where guests are enveloped by the rich history and beautiful architecture of a bygone era.
Purschenstein has been privately owned by the Praagman family since 2005, who have painstakingly and lovingly restored the castle.
The castle, first mentioned in documents as “Castrum Borsensteyn”, was probably built around 1200 by the Bohemian knight Borso II. The name Purschenstein Castle is also derived from the honorable knight.
After numerous changes of ownership, Purschenstein Castle was owned by the von Schönberg family for over 500 years – whose princes and counts found their final resting place in the family crypt in the castle park.
In GDR times, the castle was used as a children’s home and cultural center. After large parts of the castle burned down on April 3, 1989, it was partially renovated between 1990 and 2001.
In 2005, the Dutch Praagman family acquired Purschenstein and turned it into one of the most beautiful castles in the Ore Mountains.
The architectural style was influenced by the Renaissance, which can be seen in the door panels, paintings and the spiral stone. The tower with the clock, which housed a small chapel, was also built during this period.
The large keep, with a wall 2.85 meters thick and 42 meters high, was built earlier and is the only building that has survived the test of time.
The castle was severely damaged during the Thirty Years' War.
In the middle of the 18th century, the north wing was extended in the Baroque style.
Construction work has influenced the exterior of the castle in its neo-Gothic character.
From 1951 to 1955, the castle was used as a children's home.
It then served as a cultural center until 1989.
On April 3, 1989, large parts of the castle burned down.
Between 1990 and 2001, the castle was partially renovated. A restaurant, a motorcycle museum and a wedding room were created, where marriages were possible.
In 2005, the castle was acquired by the Dutch R. Praagman family, who converted it into one of the most beautiful castle hotels in the Ore Mountains.
Today’s library used to serve as an armory for storing horse harnesses and equipment. The historic room has been carefully redesigned and now offers a stylish ambience for small events, meetings and conferences for up to 20 people.
The castle’s former brewery cellar is located between the coach house and the rent office. A new use is planned for this historic area, but this still requires the approval of the building authorities and monument protection authorities.
Above the cellar is the Rent Office – formerly the castle’s financial area. It was once twice as large, but was not completely rebuilt after a fire.
In the immediate vicinity was the shelter for horse-drawn carriages, which served as a parking area for tractors in GDR times. During tunnel construction in 2007/2008, an old archway was discovered and integrated into the current architecture. In this way, the past is combined with the present in a special way.
At the entrance to the castle grounds stands the so-called Lion Gate, crowned by the Schönberg lion – the heraldic animal of the former lords of the castle. The colors in the coat of arms – green and red – are symbolic of moor and blood. According to an old legend, a knight of the Schönberg family was attacked in the Promised Land by a lion that was half covered in lentils and therefore appeared green. After a long battle, the knight killed the animal – a symbol of courage and perseverance that still characterizes the coat of arms today.
On June 16, 2012, part of the adjacent castle wall was washed away by heavy rain. Reconstruction has been difficult ever since, as it is subject to monument protection regulations.
The Burgfried tower is the highest part of the castle building. It dates back to the 12th century and has a wall thickness of 2.73 meters.
The clock tower got its name from a clock that used to be located there. Today, the tower is used as a wedding suite. The spiral stone is clearly visible through its slanted windows. The color scheme of the castle – dark white with a grey border – was determined by the monument protection authorities.
On April 3, 1989, there was a fire that destroyed the entire upper floor and the roof truss from the hall to the main entrance. A chimney fire was suspected as a possible cause, but there is no clear evidence of this.
Portraits of former castle owners can be found in the ancestral hall. After the political change, the room was initially used as a restaurant, today it serves as a bar and conference room.
Remains of historical paintings can still be seen on the walls and behind wooden beams in the wedding room. Originally, the room had two more windows, which were later closed.
The castle hall used to be the chapel. The architectural style of the windows can still be found in the Seiffen church today. The room was later used as a motorcycle exhibition.
After the castle fire, the gallery was destroyed and never rebuilt. It was only restored by the new owner. Today, the room is used as a breakfast room and for events.
Like many castles in Saxony, Purschenstein has an eventful history, which we would like to tell you about as part of our castle tours. Visit us and immerse yourself in exciting stories and anecdotes about Purschenstein.
