Burg Stolpen
Castle on a basalt hill where Countess Cosel was held in exile for almost 49 years – with the Cosel Tower, torture chamber and one of the deepest basalt wells.
About the museum
The basalt hill of Stolpen probably carried a wooden fortification as early as around 1100; the name, of Slavic origin, means roughly "pillar" or "place of pillars." The castle is first mentioned in 1222. For about 350 years the Bishops of Meissen ruled the Amt Stolpen (administrative district), established around 1320, and used the castle as a secondary residence; the late Gothic buildings that survive today date from this period.
Elector August eventually forced the bishop to exchange Stolpen for the Amt Mühlberg and had the complex expanded in Renaissance style and lavishly painted. In 1675 Stolpen was enlarged into a fortress. Its most famous prisoner was Anna Constantia, Imperial Countess of Cosel, the disgraced mistress of Augustus the Strong: from 1716 until her death in 1765 she lived as a prisoner at the castle for almost half a century and was buried in the castle chapel.
After the garrison was disbanded, the complex fell into decay, and from 1773 dilapidated sections were torn down. In the 19th century, antiquarian societies campaigned for the ruin, and the castle has been a museum since 1875. In 1992 it passed to the Free State of Saxony, and since 2013 it has been operated by Staatliche Schlösser, Burgen und Gärten Sachsen gGmbH, which continues extensive stabilization and restoration work.
Today an exhibition on three floors of the Johannisturm, or Cosel Tower, recalls the countess's life, including original letters. The basalt hill and the nearly 85-meter-deep, unlined castle well are designated a National Geotope. According to the castle, it welcomes an average of around 100,000 visitors a year.
Highlights
- Cosel Tower with the exhibition "Lebenslänglich Stolpen. Der Mythos Cosel"
- Nearly 85-meter-deep, unlined basalt well (National Geotope)
- Torture chamber in the stables and castle cellar
- View from the Siebenspitzenturm (Seven Spires Tower)
- Original letters and the Cosel Bible
- Countess Cosel's tomb in the castle chapel
Permanent exhibitions
- Lebenslänglich Stolpen. Der Mythos Cosel – On three floors of the Johannisturm, or Cosel Tower, the exhibition traces Countess Cosel's rise and banishment and shows original items such as the Cosel Bible and letters in her own hand.
- Nationaler Geotop Stolpener Basalt – Stations on the castle grounds explain the formation and use of the basalt on which the castle stands, including the deep castle well driven directly into the rock.
- Founded
- 1875
- Operated by
- Staatliche Schlösser, Burgen und Gärten Sachsen gGmbH
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €8 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €7School students aged 17 and over, apprentices, university students, people in voluntary or military service, people with severe disabilities, recipients of unemployment benefit, social assistance or asylum seeker benefits, refugees with a residence permit pending asylum (Aufenthaltsgestattung) or tolerated status (Duldung), holders of a social pass or the Sächsische Ehrenamtskarte, members of the Bundesverband deutscher Gästeführer and the Verband deutscher Kunsthistoriker, visitors with a full-price ticket from Barockschloss Rammenau (no more than 2 days old) |
| Children & teens | €1free up to age 5 · Children up to 5 free, ages 6–16 €1. |
| Seniors | –No senior discount listed. |
| Visitors with disabilities | €7companion free · Reduced admission for people with severe disabilities; companion free with the "B" marker. |
| Students & apprentices | €7Reduced admission for university students, apprentices and school students aged 17 and over. |
| Groups (15+ people) | €7 per personGroups of 15 or more €7 per person; school classes €1 per student, one accompanying adult free per 10 students or daycare children; tour guides and bus drivers free. |
| Families | –No family ticket; holders of the Landesfamilienpass Sachsen get free admission. |
| Annual pass | €16 |
| Admission with the Gästekarte Sächsische Schweiz (guest card) | €7 |
Free admission for, among others, children up to 5, visitors on their birthday, holders of the schlösserlandKARTE (permanent and special exhibitions), holders of the Landesfamilienpass, journalists, and members of ICOM, ICOMOS and the Deutscher Museumsbund. General castle tour (1–1.5 hours) €50 tour fee plus admission; evening and costumed tours (Countess Cosel, lady's maid, commandant, "Der Schatz der Gräfin Cosel") flat rate €240, from 21 people €12 per person, max. 40 people. School class tour €50 plus €1 admission per student. Subject to change.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible: not available
- Elevator: no information
- Accessible restroom: no information
- Accessible parking: no information
- Service dogs welcome: no information
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
Due to the historic building fabric, the castle is not accessible according to the official website.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 5 |
|---|
- Family tours & workshops
Children's tours with the castle ghost "Basaltus", holiday programs and family events such as treasure hunts or fencing lessons according to the events calendar.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Bus R261 (Dresden–Sebnitz) and R234 (Pirna–Neustadt in Sachsen) to Stolpen Ärztehaus or Schützenhausstraße; RB71 (Pirna–Neustadt) to Stolpen station, then approx. 30-minute walk
By car
Parking available
Parking on the Stolpen Marktplatz (with parking disc, max. 2 hours) and at the Ärztehaus and Schützenhausstraße stops.
Amenities & dining
- Café
Restaurant "Zehrgarten" on the castle grounds, open on weekends, with outdoor seating in good weather. Dogs on a leash only in the castle courtyards, not in the museum and cellar rooms.
Events & venue rental
- Spaces for rent
- Private parties
- Corporate events
- Weddings / ceremonies
Up to 100 guests.
Historic granary (Kornkammer) with original timber beam structure (70 banquet seats/100 theater-style seats) for conferences, celebrations and concerts. Civil weddings in the Kornkammer (up to 40 guests) only on fixed dates (2027: May 22, June 26, July 17, August 28, September 18), registration through the registry office of the town of Stolpen.
Inquiries & detailsPlan your visit
| Guided tours | yes · approx. 60 min |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | Tours only by prior registration; special tours for groups of 15 or more, also bookable outside opening hours; no tours in January and February. Commandant tours on weekdays only from 14:30. Public special tours and children's tours according to the events calendar. Castle tours last 1 to 1.5 hours depending on the offering, evening tours about 1 hour. |
