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Exhibitions at George’s Castle

Imprisoned at Königstein Hill

Like many other fortresses in Europe, Königstein Fortress served as a state prison. At the same time, it housed more prisons for prisoners convicted to do construction work, military prisoners as well as prisoners of war. The new exhibition “Imprisoned at Königstein Hill” shows their history and the fates of those imprisoned here from 1588 to 1922. Famous inmates of the state prison were, e.g. Johann Friedrich Böttger, co-inventor of the European porcelain and social democrat August Bebel.

A short film shows the dramatic arrival of a prisoner in chains at Königstein hill. A media station enables visitors to research on approx. 1,000 documented prisoners. In addition to their names, there is information available on their origins, special occurrences and their food supplies during their imprisonment as well as the reasons leading to their detention at Königstein hill.

Surely of special interest to our youngest guests: A cell with construction prisoners from 1790 and a guardroom – both equipped with life-size figures! In both rooms, visitors can listen to conversations among prisoners and soldiers.

 

George’s Castle – History of the Building and its Use

IIn the passageway from the court of George’s Castle to George’s Bastion, visitors can find a new documentation of the building history and use of the almost 400-year-old John George’s Castle and its precursor buildings. An architectural model of the late Gothic castle around 1500, texts, photos, and a virtual film show the building’s colourful past– from the medieval royal castle to the electoral hunting lodge and the state prison to it becoming a residential and administrative building.

Königstein Fortress around 1900

The parlour from the 16th century and its anteroom have become accessible to the public for the first time! Here, a photo exhibition shows daily life at Königstein hill around 1900. The highlight is the around 100 year old, manually operated mangle, which was still used by the fortress inhabitants after 1955.

Photo gallery of the exhibition opening

  • Dr. Angelika Taube, Geschäftsführerin der Festung Königstein bei der Eröffnungsrede
    Dr. Angelika Taube, Geschäftsführerin der Festung Königstein bei der Eröffnungsrede
  • Harfenspielerin in der Hofestube
    Katharina Müller spielte auf der Harfe Musik aus der Renaissancezeit
  • Film-Produzentin und Ausstellungskurator stehen vor Monitor
    Kathleen Biermann-Jung, Filmproduzentin mit Kurator Andrej Pawluschkow.
  • Besucher vor der Fotowand von Inhaftierten
    Besucher vor der Fotowand von Inhaftierten
  • Medienstation mit Gefangenen-Datenbank
    Medienstation mit Gefangenen-Datenbank
  • Hörstation vor der Stube des Wachtmeisters
    Hörstation vor der Stube des Wachtmeisters
  • Besucher in der Ausstellung "Festung Königstein um 1900"
    Besucher in der Ausstellung "Festung Königstein um 1900"
  • Wäschemangel aus der Zeit um 1900 in der Hofestube
    Wäschemangel aus der Zeit um 1900 in der Hofestube
  • Besucher in der Schau zu Bau- und Nutzungsgeschichte der Georgenburg
    Besucher in der Schau zu Bau- und Nutzungsgeschichte der Georgenburg

Arrival of a prisoner at Königstein Fortress in 1849

The story is based on the memories of August Röckel who was director of music at the royal court theatre in Dresden until his detention. He was arrested because he was involved in the May Uprising in Dresden.

This video shows parts of a short film which can be seen in the exhibition.