Medieval Castle A.

This castle is probably the oldest lost place I have ever visited.
Well, it's actually not really "lost", because there are people working on preserving it or at least keep it from falling apart.
But it's no tourist attrcation (anymore) and it is truly a beautiful place.

The castle was first documented in 1156. This was the time that a first medieval fortification was built into a Romanesque castle.
It is situated on a hill 210 meters high and surrounded by four villages. The original lords of this castle belonged to an old saxonian family of nobles. Over the centuries however, a lot of different families came to be the owners.
Around 1400, new parts were added to the castle.

After parts of the castle were destroyed in the Peasants' War in 1525, it was rebuilt in 1530.
In 1563, the castle was more and more furnished for living. The hall building got two additional floors, and the castle chapel as well as the kitchen house were completely rebuilt.

From the 17th century on, the aristocratic families frequently complained to the Elector of Saxony about the condition of the castle.
Tenants that worked on the castle grounds took care of the most necessary repairs, but they couldn't stop the decay of the buildings.

In 1780, the last descendants of the original lineage died, the dominion fell to Electoral Saxony and in 1815, to the Kingdom of Prussia.
In the middle of the 19th century, the historic relevance of the castle led to more attention for its preservation, and the touristic exploitation was initiated. Further repairs followed until the 1930s.

Since 1992, a local initiative takes care of the remains of what is widely known as the "Romantic Ruin".

Recreation Home for Railroad Workers (Part 2)

There is nothing much left to say about this building.
Its name used to be "The Lodging House" and it used to be part of the original health resort which was founded at the beginning of the 19th century when the water of the region was recommended for its concentration of iron, iodine and fluorine.
Next to the health resort, an administration was built as well as a casino. This led to the founding of the town itself.
Famous guests include composer Carl Maria von Weber and famous Danish writer Hans Christian Andersen.

After World War II, most buildings were nationalized.
The "Lodge House" was given to the East German National Railroad and became a recreation home for the railroad workers.

Part 1 | Part 2

Recreation Home for Railroad Workers

This was - from the outside - one of the most beautiful locations I have ever had the pleasure to visit.
It is an abandoned recreation home for East German railroad workers.

I wasn't able to find any accurate descriptions or dates about this location, but I think the original house was built around 1810 and around 1890, the distinctive towers were added.
It looks like something right out of a fantasy novel or maybe like Hogwarts in the Harry Potter books.

As I said - from the outside it looks absolutely perfect, but the years of abandonment have taken their toll. The floors are rotten, and it is really dangerous to be walking around on the upper floors.

Here are some impressions from this beautiful place.

Part 1 | Part 2