Renovation of Hohnstein Castle begins - Kretschmer makes an appeal

After years of planning and preparation, the urgently needed renovation of the listed Hohnstein Castle in Saxon Switzerland has begun. The ground-breaking ceremony was held in the castle garden on Wednesday. According to the town, it is investing more than four million euros from its own funds and subsidies in this first construction phase. The federal and state governments are helping to finance the total costs, which are estimated at 45 million euros, with subsidies.

Kretschmer: Project realized thanks to community

"The fact that this is now being realized is actually an impossibility," said Minister President Michael Kretschmer (CDU). Stays at Hohnstein Castle had shaped generations of young people "who had great experiences here", including himself and his son. "And we absolutely want to preserve this for the future." This has been achieved through a cross-party joint alliance, even across state levels. "This shared spirit in politics for something is what makes this country what it is."

Hohnstein Castle is located right next to the Saxon Switzerland National Park, not far from the famous Bastei on a sandstone cliff 140 meters above the Polenz Valley. It was first mentioned in a document in 1317. In addition to the castle garden with an open-air stage, there has been a museum and a viewing tower since 1953 - with far-reaching views over the Elbe Sandstone Mountains.

Varying history

The Bohemian border fortress from the 13th century was later an electoral hunting lodge and official residence, courtroom, state correctional facility, protective and prison camp. When it was inaugurated as a youth castle in 1926, it was considered the largest and most beautiful in Germany with room for 800 overnight guests.

In 1933/34, a concentration camp for around 5,600 political prisoners was set up there by the National Socialists. From 1935, the facility was used by the Hitler Youth as a Reich Youth Hostel and was later used as a prisoner of war camp and refugee accommodation until it became a youth hostel again in 1949.

Expected to take six years to build

The castle, which also has an almost 100-year-old puppetry tradition and is popular with rock climbers, has been rebuilt, extended and repaired several times. Now a beauty treatment lasting several years is to be carried out during the ongoing operation of the facility, which is also considered a nationally important cultural monument - probably until 2030.