Albrechtsburg Meissen

About the museum

From 929, a fortification stood on the castle hill above the Elbe and formed the center of the Mark Meissen. Between 1471 and 1524, the brothers Ernst and Albrecht of Wettin had a late Gothic new building erected there to plans by Arnold von Westfalen. It was intended less as a fortress than as a representative residence, and it is often regarded as Germany's first palace. The Großer Wendelstein (great spiral staircase) and the Zellengewölbe (cell vaults) are especially famous.

The building was hardly used as a residence, because the brothers divided their land while it was still under construction. From 1710, Augustus the Strong set up Europe's first porcelain manufactory here, which produced in these rooms for more than 150 years until it moved to a new works in 1863.

Afterwards the building was restored and, in the late 19th century, fitted out with large historical wall paintings on Saxon state history. It has been open as a museum since 1881. Today a modern permanent exhibition with media stations and room installations presents the history of the Wettins, the architecture of the building, living in the 15th century, and the origins of Meissen porcelain.

Highlights

• Late Gothic architecture with the Großer Wendelstein and cell vaults
• Historical 19th-century wall paintings on Saxon history
• Exhibition on Europe's first porcelain manufactory
• HistoPad with augmented reality or audio guide included in admission
• 3D-printed wall images to touch

Permanent exhibition

• Trendsetter seit 1471 – The permanent exhibition guides visitors through five areas: Wettin history, the building's architecture, living in the late Middle Ages, the porcelain manufactory and the 19th-century wall paintings, with media stations and room installations.

Founded

1881

Operated by

Staatliche Schlösser, Burgen und Gärten Sachsen gGmbH

Admission & discounts

Admission includes a HistoPad or an audio guide. Discounted admission with the Gästekarte Meißen and the schlösserlandKARTE; buying a full-price ticket gives a combination discount for Schloss Moritzburg.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description

All areas relevant to visitors are wheelchair-accessible; a panoramic lift leads to the Domplatz, and the building has an elevator (up to 16 people) and an electric platform lift. Wheelchairs on request. Tactile floor plan at the entrance; six wall paintings as 3D prints to touch, with descriptions in the audio guide; free sign-language guide at the ticket desk; guided tours for people with cognitive impairments on request. Dogs wait outside, where water is provided.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Hands-on stations
• Kids’ birthday parties

Children's audio guide featuring a boy from the 15th century; "Schlossdetektiv" puzzle sheet free at the ticket desk; interactive stations (periscope, porcelain lab, number game). During school holidays: flashlight and lantern tours for children aged 5 to 10, family tours, children's birthday parties and school programs.

Getting there & parking

By car via the A4 (Siebenlehn or Wilsdruff), A13 (Radeburg) or A14 (Nossen-Ost), or from Dresden via the B6. The Elbe Cycle Path runs below the castle hill. Navigation: Domplatz 1, 01662 Meißen.

Amenities & dining

• Café: not available
• Restaurant: not available
• Museum shop
• Lockers

Rest area with benches and a drink/snack vending machine in the entrance hall; the castle café is currently not operating. Museum shop available.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Private parties
• Corporate events
• Weddings / ceremonies

Up to 1,000 guests.

Available for hire: the Wendelsteinkeller (up to 80 banquet seats), Große Hofstube (up to 200 banquet or 260 theater-style seats), Großer Saal (100 banquet or 150 theater-style seats) and the Burghof (up to 1,000 theater-style seats); Hofstube and Saal only outside opening hours. Civil wedding ceremonies in the Kleines Gemach, Kleine Tafelstube, chapel and Große Hofstube; dates through the Meißen registry office.

Plan your visit