Hainewalde Castle is a striking Baroque gem in Saxon Upper Lusatia, built directly into the hillside above the Mandau river valley. Once nicknamed the 'Sanssouci of Upper Lusatia', it now impresses visitors with its restored sgraffito facade and terraced garden.

The castle rises dramatically above the valley, with a stone staircase leading through five garden terraces down to the riverbank. The setting is peaceful year-round - lush and green in summer, colorful in autumn, and quietly atmospheric in winter. The terrace walls host a botanical curiosity, a wild-growing snapdragon species reportedly brought from Spain by one of the von Kyaw family during the Napoleonic Wars. Inside, though most original furnishings are long gone, ongoing restoration is gradually bringing historic rooms back to life.

How to get there

• Village of Hainewalde, Saxony - accessible by local road, easy walk from parking to the castle
• The castle sits right above the Mandau valley, within easy walking distance from the village center

Practical information

• Guided tours offered regularly, including on Open Monument Day
• Annual castle festival (Schlossfest)
• The castle park is part of the Garden Culture Trail along the Neisse river
• Occasional concerts take place in the park

Fun fact: in 2013, parts of Wes Anderson's cult film 'The Grand Budapest Hotel' were filmed at the castle, drawing film fans alongside history lovers.