Chemnitz Art Collections - Rabenstein Castle
Rabenstein Castle sits enthroned on a steep cliff in the middle of a park-like setting on the outskirts of Chemnitz. It is one of the oldest preserved buildings in the city. It is often referred to as the "smallest castle in Saxony". In fact, it is only the remains of a much larger complex that was built in the 12th century as part of the colonisation of the Erzgebirge foothills. In the 14th century, the castle came into the possession of the Benedictine monastery in Chemnitz and was gradually extended and expanded. From 1619, the von Carlowitz family owned the castle complex. One of its most important representatives, Hans Carl von Carlowitz, who became famous for his commitment to resource-conserving forestry, was born in Rabenstein in 1645 - but probably not at the castle. At that time, it was only used as a hunting lodge and summer residence, but hardly for residential purposes.
Most of the buildings were subsequently demolished, leaving only the keep and palas. Around 1820, the romantic park was created, in the centre of which the remains of the castle were staged as an enchanted knight's castle. After frequent changes of ownership, the building finally came into the possession of the city of Chemnitz, which established a museum here in 1959 after extensive reconstruction work. There are changing exhibitions on the building and art history of the castle as well as on everyday culture in the Middle Ages and modern times. A special experience is a visit to the banqueting hall with its unique Mannerist paintings, which depict both real animals and mythical creatures in the style of a painted menagerie.
Highlights 2025
New permanent exhibition
- The life and work of Hans Carl von Carlowitz
from 1 May 2025