Mylau Castle

The heritage-protected Mylau Castle is the only almost completely preserved and largest castle complex in the Saxon Vogtland and is therefore an outstanding architectural monument. The collections of the cultural history museum in the castle are among the oldest museum collections in the Saxon-Vogtland region.

The heritage-protected Mylau Castle is the only almost completely preserved and largest castle complex in the Saxon Vogtland and is therefore an outstanding architectural monument. The collections of the cultural history museum in the castle are among the oldest museum collections in the Saxon-Vogtland region.

The castle's architectural roots lie in the Middle Ages. To this day, the mighty 27 metre high keep and the two square towers bear witness to this era. Built as a fortress, the castle was the administrative centre of the region during the expansion of the country in the Middle Ages. The documented history begins with the first written reference to Mylau in 1212. Emperor Charles IV visited the castle in 1367 and granted the settlement at its foot a town charter.

From the middle of the 15th century, the noble von Metzsch family used the castle as a residential complex. One prominent descendant of the family was Joseph Lewin von Metzsch - a friend of Martin Luther and pioneer of the Reformation in Saxony. Other noble families such as the von Schönbergs, the noble von Bose family and the von Planitz family also lived in the castle. They were followed by castle owners of bourgeois descent, such as the merchant Christian Friedrich Petzold and Gottfried Golle. Golle's use of the castle as a residence came to an end at the end of the 18th century. From 1808 to 1828, the cotton mill of the Mylau textile entrepreneur Christian Gotthelf Brückner occupied the castle. After years of vacancy, the Baust calico and wool printing works took up residence within the historic walls from 1868 to 1894.

In 1892, the castle was transferred to municipal administration. The castle building association, founded in the same year, then campaigned for the preservation of the castle building. From 1892 to 1908, the structural shell and interior were extensively renovated and redesigned in the historicist style. As part of this work, museum rooms, a castle tavern and the council chamber were established. From 1896, the town council used the castle as a town hall.

Futurum vogtland e. V. has been responsible for the castle complex since 2010. Under its leadership, various projects for the structural preservation of the castle have been realised - such as the renovation of the upper castle for museum use in 2013/14, the expansion of the meeting place in 2021 and the partial renovation of the castle wall.

bottom_line_80.jpeg