History

The history of castle Purschenstein is related to the family von Schönberg.

As one of the oldest castles in Saxony, Purschenstein lies in the romantic upper Flöhatal, straigt on the former "Old Bohemian Sidealk". Moreover, here used to be the "Old Salt Road" which ran from Halle to Prague.

As „Castrum Borsensteyn“ it was first mentioned in the year 1289 but it was actually built arround the year 1200 by the bohemian Knight Borso II. from Riesenburg. From his name and the name Borsensteyn Purschenstein is derived.

1253	the Margrave of Meissen received the castle
1299	in the possession of Bohemia
1307	the Margrave of Meissen owns the property again
1324	a Lord of Berga was the new owner
1351	the dominion the Burggrave Meiner of Meissen owned the castle
1352-1389	Peter von Schönberg gets the authority over Sayda including castle Purschenstein and Pfaffroda
1426	the dominion goes to a fief of the house of wettin
1429	Sigfried von Schönberg follows
until 1945	the family von Schönberg owns the property
1945	the last owner, Georg von Schönberg, was expropriated

The possession of the family von Schönberg went over to a foundation. A part of the former inventory can be looked at today in the castle Nossen.

Building history

The architectural style was influenced by the Renaissance, recognizable by the typical door arcs, paintings and the round tower stair which is called as "Wendelstein". During this time the little tower with the clock was built . It contains a small chapel. The big tower, which is called "Bergfried", with his 2,85 meter thick walls and a highth of about 42 meter was built in former years. It is the only building that was originally maintained during the several centuries.

17. Century

in the 30-year-war the castle was badly damaged

18. Century

In the middle of the 18. Century, the northern wing was modified into the baroc architectural style

19. Century

Construction adapting to the neo-Gothic charakter.
In 1839 the small tower gets a neoclassical porch
a family vault was created in the park

20. Century

between 1951 and 1955 the castle was a Children´s home
between 1955 and 1989 it was a cultural center
on the 3rd April 1989 the roof of the castle was completly burnt by a big fire
between 1990 and 2001 the castle was partly renovated and gets a restaurant, a museum of motorbikes and a wedding-room, where people could marry
in the year 2005 the castle was bought by the dutch family R. Praagman who rebuilt this castle to one of the most beautiful romantic castle-hotel of the Erzgebirge

(Source: www.familie-von-schoenberg.de)