Stolpen Castle

The history of Stolpen Castle is associated with the Slavic tradition. It is first mentioned in the works of the Prague chronicler Kosmas in 1121. At the beginning of the 13th century it became the property of the Bishops of Meissen. Back in 1241 these bishops had their assets in Lusatia (including Stolpen) confirmed by the Bohemian King Wenceslas. The so-called Upper Lusatian Border Charter, signed at Königstein, is now considered to be the first border agreement between Saxony and Bohemia.

Stolpen Mountain is a natural monument. The name Stolpen derives from an old Slavic work and means “column” (from “stolp”, or “stolpno”). The regular basalt columns of Stolpen Mountain formed the basis for the names of other basalt formations all over the world.

You can enjoy an interesting tour of the castle complex, which shows the unmistakable imprints of its owners, bishops and prince-electors: the tragic fate of the Countess of Cosel, the most notorious lover of the Saxon prince-elector August the Strong, the dark underground cellars, the maze of cellar corridors, the torture chamber and the dungeon.

One unique experience for visitors is the view from the tower with seven turrets, from where you can see as far as Bohemia. The castle was made famous by the aforementioned Countess of Cosel, who spent 49 years imprisoned in the castle tower, which is the longest stay in the castle’s history. Her grave is situated in the castle chapel.