Clan Rising
Kriebstein Castle today

Germany · Still standing

Kriebstein Castle

Burg Kriebstein

Kriebstein Castle is a medieval spur castle on a steep rocky crag above the River Zschopau in Saxony, Germany. The site is dominated by a monumental rectangular keep with late-medieval oriel turrets and a flèche, surrounded by a curtain wall, gatehouse, domestic wing, kitchen and chapel wing. The castle was first recorded in 1384 and preserves a compact arrangement of buildings on an oval plan above the river.

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Photograph via Wikimedia Commons

First raised

1384

Its prime

1500

Today

Still standing

As it stood in 1500

What Kriebstein Castle looked like in its prime.

Perched on a narrow rocky spur above the River Zschopau, the castle has an oval plan with a dominant rectangular stone keep rising from the highest crag to a steep dark roof topped by a central flèche and small late-medieval oriel turrets. Around the keep are a tower-shaped gatehouse, curtain wall and linked domestic ranges under red-tiled roofs. The Late Gothic kitchen abuts the keep, and a chapel wing contains a double-bay cross-ribbed vaulted hall; the whole sits against a wooded hillside.

Its story

The story of Kriebstein Castle.

Kriebstein Castle, first recorded in 1384, crowns a rocky crag above the River Zschopau near Waldheim in Saxony. Typologically it combines a tower castle and a ringwork castle on an oval plan, cut off from the rising ground behind by a man-made ditch, the Halsgraben. Dominating the whole site is the monumental keep, 22 by 12 metres at its base and 45 metres to the tip of its weather vane, whose late medieval oriel turrets and flèche give the castle its unmistakable silhouette.

Around the keep are grouped the tower-shaped gatehouse, the curtain wall with its domestic wing, the Late Gothic kitchen building attached directly to the keep, and the chapel wing, whose east side holds a double-bay, cross-ribbed vaulted Gothic hall. The range above the steep drop to the Zschopau carries a continuous upper storey of the 17th century, and the former great hall now serves as a concert and event chamber, weddings included.

Step inside

9 places to explore in 1500.

The record describes 9 distinct spots at Kriebstein Castle, including 4 interiors: domestic wing / great hall, chapel wing and gothic hall, late gothic kitchen (attached to the keep) and more. Create your own photoreal reconstruction and explore every one, more scenes means more rooms, more angles, and more of the place to stand in.

Approach from the riverKeep exteriorGatehouse and inner courtyardDomestic wing / great hallChapel wing and Gothic hallLate Gothic kitchen (attached to the keep)Well houseHalsgraben and rear approachNorthern defensive wall and wall-walk

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From the archive

Kriebstein Castle on paper: the measured plan and period views.

The survey plan and photographs below are the ground truth this page's reconstructions are checked against, drawn and photographed while the castle was still a working garrison. Every image is public-domain or openly licensed, with its source named.

Waldheim. Schloss Kriebstein, Kriebstein Castle

Waldheim. Schloss Kriebstein

· Deutsche Fotothek (via Europeana)

Public domain

Waldheim. Kriebstein Castle, Kriebstein Castle

Waldheim. Kriebstein Castle

· Deutsche Fotothek (via Europeana)

Public domain

Waldheim. Kriebstein Castle, Kriebstein Castle

Waldheim. Kriebstein Castle

· Deutsche Fotothek (via Europeana)

Public domain

Nearby

Landmarks within reach of Kriebstein Castle.

Colditz Castle, GermanyMuseumColditz Castle18 km away

Questions about Kriebstein Castle

What is the history of Kriebstein Castle?

Kriebstein Castle began in the 14th century as the residence and seat of authority of the von Beerwalde family. It was first recorded in 1384, and Dietrich von Beerwalde developed much of the standing castle, including the keep, chapel and curtain wall. Major rebuilding and enlargement began after Hugold III von Schleinitz acquired it in 1465, while later owners preserved its Gothic character.

What is inside Kriebstein Castle?

Inside Kriebstein Castle are a domestic wing with a great hall, a chapel wing and a double-bay Gothic hall with cross-ribbed vaulting. The complex also contains a Late Gothic kitchen and a well house. Interior features include wall paintings from the Late Gothic period to Historicism, a brightly painted timber room and the Kriebstein Room.

Why was Kriebstein Castle built, and what was it used for?

Kriebstein Castle was built as the residence and seat of authority of the von Beerwalde family. Its use later changed: after the family was expropriated in 1945, it served as housing and was used by the forestry administration, while its museum reopened in 1949. The former great hall is now used for concerts and events.

Where is Kriebstein Castle?

Kriebstein Castle is in the municipality of Kriebstein, near Waldheim in Saxony. It stands on a steep rocky spur above the River Zschopau, with the river flowing around three sides of the wider hill spur. The castle is separated from the rising ground behind it by an artificially cut Halsgraben, or neck ditch.

When was Kriebstein Castle built?

Kriebstein Castle was first recorded in 1384 and belongs to the 14th century. Much of the standing castle was built as a unified project by Dietrich von Beerwalde, including the keep, chapel and curtain wall. The keep’s roof timber dates from 1399, and substantial rebuilding and enlargement took place from 1465 onwards.

What did Kriebstein Castle look like in its prime?

Kriebstein Castle has an oval plan on a narrow rocky spur, dominated by a rectangular stone keep rising to a steep dark roof. The keep measures 22 by 12 metres at its base and reaches 45 metres to the weather vane. Late-medieval oriel turrets and a central flèche shape its silhouette, while a gatehouse, curtain wall and red-tiled ranges surround it.

Is Kriebstein Castle still standing or is it a ruin?

Kriebstein Castle is still standing and intact rather than a ruin. It retains its late-medieval Gothic character despite later extensions and alterations. Changes included rebuilding in Neo-Gothic forms in 1866–1868, while the chapel underwent restoration and parts of the northern defensive wall were altered.

Can you visit Kriebstein Castle?

Kriebstein Castle can be visited as a museum and parts of it were opened for public viewing in 1930. The museum reopened on 6 August 1949, and the castle with its museum has been owned by the Free State of Saxony since 1 January 1993. The former great hall is also used for concerts and events.

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