Schloss- und Stadtfest Augustusburg — 450 Years of the Castle

450 Years of Augustusburg Castle — A Historical Anniversary

Augustusburg Castle, often called the "Crown of the Ore Mountains," was built between 1568 and 1572 by Elector August of Saxony as a representative hunting and pleasure palace. It sits enthroned on the Schellenberg, a basalt cone above the town of the same name in the Ore Mountains — an unusually well-preserved Renaissance castle complex with its own castle church, well house, hare house, linden house, and kitchen house. In 2026, the town celebrates the 450th anniversary of its completion — the occasion for a three-day festival connecting the castle and the old town.

The "Living Procession of Princes"

The highlight of the festival weekend is the "Living Procession of Princes" — a spectacular historical reminiscence of the 102 m long mural "Procession of Princes" in Dresden. With 44 horses and over 70 participants in historical costumes, the line of Wettin Electors and Kings will be led through the old town of Augustusburg — riders, carriages, standard-bearers, ladies-in-waiting, and courtiers, all in historically meticulously researched attire. It is one of the most elaborate living tableau spectacles in Saxony's festival calendar.

Historical Market Days, Carriages, and Castle Life

In the courtyard of Augustusburg Castle, a Historical Market with craftsmen, blacksmiths, turners, bow makers, musicians, and showmen runs for all three days — with costumes and atmosphere of the Renaissance. Carriages and horses connect the historical festival parades in the city center with the castle; the carriages run through the old town. Accompanying this are concerts (sacred music in the castle church, secular music in the castle courtyard), demonstrations, minstrels, equestrian games, and show performances with the collection of Ore Mountain costumes. The Augustusburg Castle Motorcycle Museum (one of the largest in Germany) and the Carriage Museum will also open their doors especially for festival visitors.

Saxony, Erzgebirgskreis, and Augustusburg

Augustusburg belongs to the Erzgebirgskreis district in Saxony and lies just 25 km east of Chemnitz on a prominent elevation with views far into the Saxon Ore Mountains. The town was renamed in honor of the castle in 1929 — before that, it was called Schellenberg. Today, the castle is one of the most visited Renaissance castles in Saxony — alongside Moritzburg Castle, Albrechtsburg in Meißen, and Dresden Castle, it is one of the four most important Wettin castles in the state. The 2026 anniversary festival will impressively showcase it.