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Pleissenburg today

Germany · Demolished

Pleissenburg

Pleißenburg

The Pleissenburg was a fortified castle and later citadel in Leipzig, originally founded in the 13th century and rebuilt as a triangular fortress under Hieronymus Lotter in 1549. It served various military, religious and civic functions over the centuries before being demolished around 1897; only the Lotter tower base and a courtyard oriel survive in the modern cityscape.

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Photograph via Wikimedia Commons

Its prime

1800

Today

Demolished

As it stood in 1800

What Pleissenburg looked like in its prime.

A triangular, peninsula fortress surrounded by a broad moat, with steep, sloped stone bastion walls at water level pierced by casemate openings. Above the masonry base rise timber-clad upper ranges with vertical boarding and red clay-tiled roofs of varying gables. A tall, multi-stage cylindrical tower with a conical/lantern roof (Lotter’s tower) dominates the complex. Wooden piers and simple timber bridges connect the fortress to the city walls; an inner courtyard contains a projecting oriel window.

Its story

The story of Pleissenburg.

The Pleissenburg was built in the 13th century by Theodoric I, Margrave of Meissen, and took its name from the Pleisse Mill Race running nearby. In 1549 it was rebuilt as a triangular fortress under Hieronymus Lotter, and served Leipzig over the centuries in military, religious and civic roles.

In the Thirty Years' War, Tilly's Catholic League army opened its attack on the Electorate of Saxony by capturing the Pleissenburg on 14 September 1631. From 1794 the Leipzig Observatory, built by the city's director of planning Johann Carl Friedrich Dauthe, stood atop the tower, visible from afar, and from 1838 to 1876 the western wing housed the Royal-Saxon Construction School founded by Albert Geutebrück. The fortress was demolished around 1897; only the base of Lotter's tower and a courtyard oriel survive in the modern cityscape.

Step inside

8 places to explore in 1800.

The record describes 8 distinct spots at Pleissenburg, including 2 interiors: castle chapel interior, casemates (former mint and vaults). Create your own photoreal reconstruction and explore every one, more scenes means more rooms, more angles, and more of the place to stand in.

Exterior approach from the moat (south bank)Wooden bridge and gate entranceLotter Tower summit / observatory platformCastle chapel interiorInner courtyard with Pappenheim orielCasemates (former mint and vaults)Field-side triangular bastion and glacisWestern wing façade (Academy wing)

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From the archive

Pleissenburg 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.

Die Pleissenburg, Pleissenburg

Die Pleissenburg

· Deutsche Fotothek (via Europeana)

Public domain

Nearby

Landmarks within reach of Pleissenburg.

Red Bull Arena, GermanyStadiumRed Bull Arena2 km awayColditz Castle, GermanyMuseumColditz Castle38 km away

Questions about Pleissenburg

What is the history of Pleissenburg?

Pleissenburg was founded in the 13th century by Theodoric I, Margrave of Meissen, and named after the nearby Pleisse Mill Race. After severe destruction in the Schmalkaldic War, it was demolished and rebuilt as a triangular fortress in 1549 under Hieronymus Lotter. It later served military, religious and civic purposes, including an academy, mint, observatory and construction school.

What is inside Pleissenburg / what can you see in it?

Pleissenburg contained a castle chapel and casemates, including spaces used for the mint and vaults. Its inner courtyard included the Pappenheim oriel window, which survives. The fortress also had a tower carrying the Leipzig Observatory from 1794, although the supplied material does not describe the observatory’s interior.

Why was Pleissenburg built, and what was it used for?

Pleissenburg was built as a castle and later rebuilt as a fortress and citadel. Its original purpose was to serve as a city castle against Leipzig’s citizens and to support the margrave’s power claims. The rebuilt fortress formed part of the city’s fortifications, while later uses included administration, barracks, religious services, education, a mint and an observatory.

Where is Pleissenburg?

Pleissenburg was in Leipzig, in Saxony. It stood on the edge of the historic city and was attached to Leipzig’s fortification system. The former site is now occupied in part by the New Town Hall and Burgplatz, while the surviving tower base forms the base of the New Town Hall’s tower.

When was Pleissenburg built?

Pleissenburg was first built in the 13th century and rebuilt as a triangular fortress in 1549. The first-raised year is not recorded, so the material supports a century rather than an exact construction date. The 1549 rebuilding followed the demolition of the earlier castle after severe destruction in the Schmalkaldic War.

Was Pleissenburg ever attacked or besieged?

Pleissenburg was captured during the Thirty Years’ War on 14 September 1631. Tilly’s Catholic League army began its attack on the Electorate of Saxony by taking the fortress. The wider attack ended three days later with Tilly’s heavy defeat at the Battle of Breitenfeld against the Swedish-Saxon army under Gustavus Adolphus.

What did Pleissenburg look like in its prime?

Pleissenburg was a triangular peninsula fortress surrounded by a broad moat. Steep, sloped stone bastion walls rose from the water and contained casemate openings, while timber-clad upper ranges had vertical boarding and red clay-tiled roofs. Lotter’s tall cylindrical tower, with a conical or lantern roof, dominated the complex, which also had timber bridges and an inner-courtyard oriel.

Is Pleissenburg still standing or is it a ruin?

Pleissenburg is no longer standing as a complete fortress; it was demolished from 1897 and around 1900 Burgplatz was built on part of the site. Only the base of Hieronymus Lotter’s tower and the Pappenheim oriel from the inner courtyard survive. The New Town Hall was later built on the former castle grounds.

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