Stolpen Castle

Stolpen Castle (Burg Stolpen) in Saxony stands on a basalt hill about 27 kilometers east of Dresden and is best known as the prison of Countess Cosel, the former mistress of Augustus the Strong. The medieval fortress of the bishops of Meissen offers a museum, towers with wide views and an exceptionally deep well cut into the rock. It is an easy day trip from Dresden for anyone interested in history or geology.

Where it is and how to get there

Stolpen lies in Saxony between Dresden and the Saxon Switzerland region. Regional train RB71 stops at Stolpen Bahnhof, a walk of about 30 minutes from the castle, while buses 234 and 261 leave you about 10 minutes away on foot. The castle's website gives no parking details, so check a map app before driving. The address is Schloßstraße 10, 01833 Stolpen.

What makes it special

The castle is first documented in 1222. The bishops of Meissen held it for about 250 years until Elector August of Saxony acquired it in 1559. French troops blew up large parts of it on September 25, 1813, and it opened to visitors on June 1, 1877. Countess Constantia von Cosel was brought here around Christmas 1716 and lived under detention until her death on March 31, 1765; she is buried in the castle chapel.

Natural wonders are part of the draw. The castle states that its basalt well, at about 84.4 meters, is the deepest naturally preserved basalt well on Earth. The hill has been a national geotope since 2006, and recent research suggests the rock is basanite and that the hill formed from a maar volcano about 30 million years ago.

What to see

• The deep basalt well.
• The Cosel Tower, where the countess lived, with a wide view.
• The Hunger Tower, a torture chamber and cellar passages in the museum.
• The Seiger Tower, built around 1455 and raised in 1560.
• The basalt columns of the castle hill.

Tickets and opening hours (as of October 2026)

• Hours: daily 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. from March 30 to October 25, 2026; shorter winter hours afterward. Closed on December 24, 25, 26 and 31, and in icy conditions.
• Admission: adults EUR 8, reduced EUR 7, children aged 6 to 16 EUR 1, annual ticket EUR 16.

Practical tips

Allow two to three hours. The website does not say whether English-language materials are available, so ask beforehand. Expect uneven ground, stairs and narrow passages. For children there is a treasure hunt with the castle ghost "Basaltus".