Moritzburg Castle

Moritzburg Castle near Dresden is one of the most photogenic palaces in Germany: a Baroque hunting lodge with four round, red-domed towers, set on an artificial island in a lake. Augustus the Strong, Elector of Saxony and King of Poland, turned it into a lavish pleasure palace, and across Central Europe it is beloved as the filming location of the classic Christmas fairy-tale movie "Three Wishes for Cinderella." Inside you will find remarkable hunting trophies and a room decorated with a million feathers.

Where it is and how to get there

Moritzburg lies about 15 km (9 miles) north of Dresden, making it an easy half-day or day trip from Dresden. By public transport, take a train to Dresden-Neustadt and then bus 477 toward Radeburg. For a more memorable ride, take the S-Bahn to Radebeul Ost and switch to the historic narrow-gauge steam railway known as the "Lößnitzdackel," which runs to Moritzburg. Regional services in the Dresden area are covered by the Deutschlandticket; check whether that applies to the heritage railway before you go. Drivers can use the paid castle parking lot on Schlossallee, open around the clock.

A short history

Duke Moritz of Saxony built a Renaissance hunting lodge here starting in 1542, and the castle still bears his name. Its spectacular Baroque look dates from 1723–1730, when Augustus the Strong commissioned Matthäus Daniel Pöppelmann, the architect of Dresden's Zwinger, to rebuild it. Ponds were dammed, terraces and bridges added, and Moritzburg became the stage for grand court hunts. Around 1800, a later elector added the charming Little Pheasant Castle, a miniature harbor, and Saxony's only lighthouse in the surrounding park.

Things to see inside

• Dining Hall: Decorated with 71 red deer antlers, some up to 400 years old, including the heaviest red deer antler known, at 19.8 kg (44 lb).
• Feather Room: Augustus the Strong's state bed, adorned with about one million feathers from peacocks, pheasants, ducks, and guinea fowl, restored over 19 years and back on display since 2003.
• Gilded leather wall hangings: Preserved in eleven rooms, they are among the castle's greatest treasures.
• HistoPad: A tablet with augmented reality, included in the ticket, recreates the rooms as they may have looked in the 18th century.

"Three Wishes for Cinderella"

The 1973 Czech-German film (known in German as "Drei Haselnüsse für Aschenbrödel") was partly shot here, and it remains a TV Christmas tradition in Germany and the Czech Republic. From November 20, 2026 to February 28, 2027, the castle hosts its popular winter exhibition with original costumes, props, and film sets. Panels are in German and Czech.

Tickets and opening hours

As of October 2026, the castle is open daily 10 a.m.–6 p.m. until November 1, 2026 (last entry 4:45 p.m.). It closes from November 2 to 19, then reopens for the winter exhibition daily 9:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m. (last entry 4:15 p.m.), with some closing days around Christmas and in January and February. Admission is €12 for adults including the HistoPad, €10 reduced, and €4.50 for children aged 6–16. Photography without flash or tripod is allowed. Strollers are not permitted inside, but there is an elevator for wheelchair users.

Is it worth visiting? Yes, especially if you are spending time in Dresden. Allow about two hours for the castle and a walk around the lake, and more if you also visit the Little Pheasant Castle and the lighthouse.