#burg #history #saxony #castles #renaissance #schloss #erzgebirge #castle #nobility #rule The Bünau family and their aristocratic rule in Saxony - Lauenstein Castle I Legend Lauenstein Castle rises above the Müglitz Valley, praised by King John of Saxony as the "most beautiful valley in Saxony". On the site of a castle that was essentially medieval and dates back to the 13th century, a spacious residential castle was built here in the 16th century. To this day, you can admire the artistic wall paintings in the Bird Hall, the vaulted stucco ceiling of the Coat of Arms Hall and the portrait sculptures in the castle chapel. The oldest parts are the underpinnings dating from the middle of the 13th century, cellar vaults and the ruins around the Trumpeter's Hall to the west from around 1600, which was demolished down to the north wall in 1849. On the courtyard side, the former, slightly pointed-arched main entrance with side gate has been preserved. The two round and semi-circular towers on the east side and the square tower on the southeast side remain from the outer ring of walls. They were incorporated into the reconstruction of the castle in the middle of the 16th century, which was mainly redesigned into a magnificently furnished Renaissance palace under Günther von Bünau. Rudolf (1750-1806), Lord of Lauenstein, Electoral Saxon Privy Councillor and ambassador in Paris, and Imperial Count since 1796, deserves special mention. On April 19, 1781, he married Charlotte Juliane Countess von Cosel, daughter of the General of the Infantry, Count von Cosel, and Countess Friederike von Holtzendorff. Count Cosel is the natural son of Augustus the Strong and Countess Cosel. Count Rudolf dies in Paris. The last owner of Lauenstein is the Royal Saxon Major in the Field Artillery Regiment, Günther (1744-1824). He had to sell Lauenstein a year before his death. With his grandson Heinrich, the male line died out. Great-grandson of Günther the Elder: Knight Rudolf (d. 1543) was lord of Brandis, Weesenstein, Lauenstein since 1515, ducal Saxon bailiff of Radeberg, tutor and councillor. He became the first Bünau on Tetschen/Elbe. As tutor and councillor to his lord, Duke George the Bearded of Saxony, he was, like him, a zealous Catholic. There is extensive literature about the Bünaus in Bohemia. Court was held at Lauenstein Castle until the middle of the 19th century. Numerous documents from the 17th and 18th centuries allow us to take a look into the time of the Counts of Bünau, who had the privilege of lower and higher jurisdiction. This meant that in addition to fines, corporal punishments and shameful punishments, they were also allowed to decide on people's life and death. A dark dungeon from the Middle Ages on the castle grounds bears witness to the way former delinquents were treated, as do the detention cells and the guard's room from the 19th century in the cellars in the east wing of the castle. _______________________ IMPRINT Daniela Bensch Email: [email protected] Facebook ▸ / danielabensch VAT identification number: DE231129701 Person responsible for content in accordance with Section 55 II RStV: Daniela Bensch Leipzig Editing program: Adobe Premiere Pro Camera: Canon EOS M50 Mark II Music: YouTube Creative Tool