Schloss Albrechtsberg (Dresden)
Encyclopedia
Albrechtsberg Castle is a Neoclassical
castle above the Elbe
river in the Loschwitz
district of Dresden
. It was erected in 1854 according to plans designed by the Prussian
court and landscaping architect Adolf Lohse
(1807-1867) at the behest of Prince Albert, younger brother of the Prussian king Frederick William IV
.
had acquired several vineyards in the Dresden Elbe Valley
and had a manor house built on the later site of Schloss Albrechtsberg. However, Ogilvy died in 1811 and did not witness its completion. Johann Gabriel Krebs bought the country house and rebuilt it into a restaurant that became the most popular day trip restaurant of Dresden, abode of Gottfried Semper
and Richard Wagner
.
Prince Albert of Prussia (1809-1872) in 1853 had secondly married Rosalie von Rauch
, Countess of Hohenau (1820-1879); due to this morganatic marriage
he was forced to leave the Prussian court and had to look for a new home abroad. He commissioned his chamberlain
's wife, Baroness of Stockhausen to find an adequate domicile. She turned to the Saxon
capital and acquired the area “Findlater's Vineyard”, including the manor and gardens, by order of the Prince for 16,000 Thaler
s.
Adolf Lohse, a student of Karl Friedrich Schinkel
, designed the plans for the present-day castle. For the gardens, the Prince engaged the Prussian landscape architect Eduard Neide (1818-1883) who created the plan, though the court gardener Hermann Sigismund Neumann (1829-1880) accomplished them. Before Albrechtsberg, the adjacent Villa Stockhausen was completed. The villa was originally established for the chamberlain, but was used for the first year as domicile of the Prince and his wife. 1854 the castle was accomplished and the couple moved in.
After Prince Albrecht and Rosalie had died, their younger son Count Frederick of Hohenau (1857-1914) lived in the castle until his death, whereafter his elder brother Wilhelm (1854-1930) took over the residence. In 1925 Wilhelm finally had to sell the castle and the territory because of gambling debts. The new owner was at this time the City of Dresden. Eastern 1930, the gardens were opened for the public and redesigned as a recreational area for the Dresden citizens under Mayor Wilhelm Külz
.
During World War II
the premises were used by the SA
, while from 1943 the castle was used as a children’s home. All the three Elbe castles were spared from the Bombing of Dresden
, however occupied by the Red Army
, with depredations and damages as the consequences. In 1948 the City of Dresden had to sell the castle to the Foreign Economic Trade Ministry of the Soviet Union
. The castle was renovated by the architect Koeckritz. After the redecoration the castle was opened as a hotel called “Intourist”. In 1951, the East German Jugendheim GmbH Berlin bought the castle back and since 1952 the City of Dresden is the owner again. The building was used as a Pioneers Palace
by the Ernst Thälmann Pioneer Organisation
.
Since 1977 the castle declared as a historic monument. The step by step redecoration is continued until today. Since 1991 we can find the “Hotel- und Gastättenschule Schloss Albrechtsberg GmbH” in the castle. Today, all the premises are available for renting. The operator of the castle since 1999 is the “Konzert- und Kongressgesellschaft mbH Dresden”
For the creation of the park, the Prussia garden architect Eduard Neide 1818-1883 was engaged. However, the court gardener Hermann Sigismund Neumann carried them out. Under the management of the court gardener, four landscapes were created. Those were crossed by curved alleys that are go over bridges an a viaduct. These alleys passe applied ponds, rocks and a waterfall.
The school offers a unique education model in Germany. Students are able to do their Abitur
with a job at the job-related Gymnasium but this is just one of the few different school educations that are available at this school. In addition, students can go to Middle school, they can get general university qualification or they can go to the job – related Gymnasium. Furthermore, students can do their initial training as Hotel expert, Restaurant expert or a cook. Besides, students can receive a further education to a business economist; they can receive the college qualification in welfare or the education to a hotel assistant.
The castle is also available to rent for private ore business events.
All in all, there are ten halls and saloons, a sun patio and a park scenery that are available for renting.
Neoclassical architecture
Neoclassical architecture was an architectural style produced by the neoclassical movement that began in the mid-18th century, manifested both in its details as a reaction against the Rococo style of naturalistic ornament, and in its architectural formulas as an outgrowth of some classicizing...
castle above the Elbe
Elbe
The Elbe is one of the major rivers of Central Europe. It rises in the Krkonoše Mountains of the northwestern Czech Republic before traversing much of Bohemia , then Germany and flowing into the North Sea at Cuxhaven, 110 km northwest of Hamburg...
river in the Loschwitz
Loschwitz
Loschwitz is a borough of Dresden, Germany, incorporated in 1921. It consists of ten quarters :Loschwitz is a villa quarter located at the slopes north of the Elbe river...
district of Dresden
Dresden
Dresden is the capital city of the Free State of Saxony in Germany. It is situated in a valley on the River Elbe, near the Czech border. The Dresden conurbation is part of the Saxon Triangle metropolitan area....
. It was erected in 1854 according to plans designed by the Prussian
Kingdom of Prussia
The Kingdom of Prussia was a German kingdom from 1701 to 1918. Until the defeat of Germany in World War I, it comprised almost two-thirds of the area of the German Empire...
court and landscaping architect Adolf Lohse
Adolf Lohse
Adolf Lohse was a Prussian master builder and architect. He was a student of Karl Friedrich Schinkel and one of his projects was the Schloss Albrechtsberg in Dresden....
(1807-1867) at the behest of Prince Albert, younger brother of the Prussian king Frederick William IV
Frederick William IV of Prussia
|align=right|Upon his accession, he toned down the reactionary policies enacted by his father, easing press censorship and promising to enact a constitution at some point, but he refused to enact a popular legislative assembly, preferring to work with the aristocracy through "united committees" of...
.
History
About 1803 James Ogilvy, 7th Earl of FindlaterJames Ogilvy, 7th Earl of Findlater
James Ogilvy, 7th Earl of Findlater and 4th Earl of Seafield was a Scottish peer and an accomplished amateur landscape architect and philanthropist...
had acquired several vineyards in the Dresden Elbe Valley
Dresden Elbe Valley
The Dresden Elbe Valley is a former World Heritage Site in Dresden, Germany. The valley, extending for some 20 kilometres and passingthrough the Dresden Basin and the city of Dresden, is one of two cultural landscapes along the Central European river Elbe...
and had a manor house built on the later site of Schloss Albrechtsberg. However, Ogilvy died in 1811 and did not witness its completion. Johann Gabriel Krebs bought the country house and rebuilt it into a restaurant that became the most popular day trip restaurant of Dresden, abode of Gottfried Semper
Gottfried Semper
Gottfried Semper was a German architect, art critic, and professor of architecture, who designed and built the Semper Opera House in Dresden between 1838 and 1841. In 1849 he took part in the May Uprising in Dresden and was put on the government's wanted list. Semper fled first to Zürich and later...
and Richard Wagner
Richard Wagner
Wilhelm Richard Wagner was a German composer, conductor, theatre director, philosopher, music theorist, poet, essayist and writer primarily known for his operas...
.
Prince Albert of Prussia (1809-1872) in 1853 had secondly married Rosalie von Rauch
Rosalie von Rauch
Rosalie von Rauch was the morganatic second wife of Prince Albert of Prussia, the youngest child of King Frederick William III....
, Countess of Hohenau (1820-1879); due to this morganatic marriage
Morganatic marriage
In the context of European royalty, a morganatic marriage is a marriage between people of unequal social rank, which prevents the passage of the husband's titles and privileges to the wife and any children born of the marriage...
he was forced to leave the Prussian court and had to look for a new home abroad. He commissioned his chamberlain
Chamberlain (office)
A chamberlain is an officer in charge of managing a household. In many countries there are ceremonial posts associated with the household of the sovereign....
's wife, Baroness of Stockhausen to find an adequate domicile. She turned to the Saxon
Kingdom of Saxony
The Kingdom of Saxony , lasting between 1806 and 1918, was an independent member of a number of historical confederacies in Napoleonic through post-Napoleonic Germany. From 1871 it was part of the German Empire. It became a Free state in the era of Weimar Republic in 1918 after the end of World War...
capital and acquired the area “Findlater's Vineyard”, including the manor and gardens, by order of the Prince for 16,000 Thaler
Thaler
The Thaler was a silver coin used throughout Europe for almost four hundred years. Its name lives on in various currencies as the dollar or tolar. Etymologically, "Thaler" is an abbreviation of "Joachimsthaler", a coin type from the city of Joachimsthal in Bohemia, where some of the first such...
s.
Adolf Lohse, a student of Karl Friedrich Schinkel
Karl Friedrich Schinkel
Karl Friedrich Schinkel was a Prussian architect, city planner, and painter who also designed furniture and stage sets. Schinkel was one of the most prominent architects of Germany and designed both neoclassical and neogothic buildings.-Biography:Schinkel was born in Neuruppin, Margraviate of...
, designed the plans for the present-day castle. For the gardens, the Prince engaged the Prussian landscape architect Eduard Neide (1818-1883) who created the plan, though the court gardener Hermann Sigismund Neumann (1829-1880) accomplished them. Before Albrechtsberg, the adjacent Villa Stockhausen was completed. The villa was originally established for the chamberlain, but was used for the first year as domicile of the Prince and his wife. 1854 the castle was accomplished and the couple moved in.
After Prince Albrecht and Rosalie had died, their younger son Count Frederick of Hohenau (1857-1914) lived in the castle until his death, whereafter his elder brother Wilhelm (1854-1930) took over the residence. In 1925 Wilhelm finally had to sell the castle and the territory because of gambling debts. The new owner was at this time the City of Dresden. Eastern 1930, the gardens were opened for the public and redesigned as a recreational area for the Dresden citizens under Mayor Wilhelm Külz
Wilhelm Külz
Wilhelm Külz was a German politician . In 1926 he was interior minister of the Weimar Republic. After 1945 he took actively part in establishing the LDPD...
.
During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
the premises were used by the SA
Sturmabteilung
The Sturmabteilung functioned as a paramilitary organization of the National Socialist German Workers' Party . It played a key role in Adolf Hitler's rise to power in the 1920s and 1930s...
, while from 1943 the castle was used as a children’s home. All the three Elbe castles were spared from the Bombing of Dresden
Bombing of Dresden in World War II
The Bombing of Dresden was a military bombing by the British Royal Air Force and the United States Army Air Force and as part of the Allied forces between 13 February and 15 February 1945 in the Second World War...
, however occupied by the Red Army
Red Army
The Workers' and Peasants' Red Army started out as the Soviet Union's revolutionary communist combat groups during the Russian Civil War of 1918-1922. It grew into the national army of the Soviet Union. By the 1930s the Red Army was among the largest armies in history.The "Red Army" name refers to...
, with depredations and damages as the consequences. In 1948 the City of Dresden had to sell the castle to the Foreign Economic Trade Ministry of the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
. The castle was renovated by the architect Koeckritz. After the redecoration the castle was opened as a hotel called “Intourist”. In 1951, the East German Jugendheim GmbH Berlin bought the castle back and since 1952 the City of Dresden is the owner again. The building was used as a Pioneers Palace
Pioneers Palace
Young Pioneer Palaces or Palaces of Young Pioneers and Schoolchildren were youth centers designated for the creative work, sport training and extracurricular activities of Young Pioneers and other schoolchildren...
by the Ernst Thälmann Pioneer Organisation
Ernst Thälmann Pioneer Organisation
The Ernst Thälmann Pioneer Organisation, consisting of the Young Pioneers and the Thälmann Pioneers, was a youth organisation of schoolchildren aged 6 to 14, in East Germany...
.
Since 1977 the castle declared as a historic monument. The step by step redecoration is continued until today. Since 1991 we can find the “Hotel- und Gastättenschule Schloss Albrechtsberg GmbH” in the castle. Today, all the premises are available for renting. The operator of the castle since 1999 is the “Konzert- und Kongressgesellschaft mbH Dresden”
Architecture
Adolf Lohse designed the castle in a late Neoclassical style that was very characteristic for the mid 19th century. During the interior completion just the most high class materials were used, for example marble, the most kingly wood and the white sandstone from Saxony. Deciding for the composition was the style of the classicism. For this style, especially important is the Grecian and Roman antiquity; the Italian Renaissance and its traditionally application. The guide for the composition of the castle was the Ville d'Este close to Rome.For the creation of the park, the Prussia garden architect Eduard Neide 1818-1883 was engaged. However, the court gardener Hermann Sigismund Neumann carried them out. Under the management of the court gardener, four landscapes were created. Those were crossed by curved alleys that are go over bridges an a viaduct. These alleys passe applied ponds, rocks and a waterfall.
Albrechtsberg today
Today, the HOGA Albrechtsberg castle is used as a private hotel and catering school. HOGA is the short cut for the German words Hotel and Gastronomie. Gudrun Lamm and Regina Kirschstein founded the school 1991. HOGA trained students for the exalted gastronomy.The school offers a unique education model in Germany. Students are able to do their Abitur
Abitur
Abitur is a designation used in Germany, Finland and Estonia for final exams that pupils take at the end of their secondary education, usually after 12 or 13 years of schooling, see also for Germany Abitur after twelve years.The Zeugnis der Allgemeinen Hochschulreife, often referred to as...
with a job at the job-related Gymnasium but this is just one of the few different school educations that are available at this school. In addition, students can go to Middle school, they can get general university qualification or they can go to the job – related Gymnasium. Furthermore, students can do their initial training as Hotel expert, Restaurant expert or a cook. Besides, students can receive a further education to a business economist; they can receive the college qualification in welfare or the education to a hotel assistant.
The castle is also available to rent for private ore business events.
All in all, there are ten halls and saloons, a sun patio and a park scenery that are available for renting.