Rottwerndorf Castle is a quiet Renaissance gem tucked into the Gottleuba valley, one of those places that surprises hikers who stumble upon it on the way south from Pirna. With its octagonal spiral staircase tower and volute gables, it's a slice of 16th-century history hiding in plain sight.

The surrounding landscape is gentle and rural, with the Gottleuba valley framed by low hills and the nearby Schäferberg offering a rewarding view all the way to Dresden on clear days, its TV tower clearly visible on the horizon. In spring and summer, the overgrown former castle park invites a slow wander, while autumn brings a melancholic beauty to the valley, and winter leaves the whole area wrapped in a peaceful hush.

How to get there

• Pirna town centre — via Rottwerndorfer Straße (state road S174) heading south through the Gottleuba valley, approx. 20-30 minutes on foot, easy route
• By RVSOE bus to one of three stops along Rottwerndorfer Straße, followed by a short walk

Good to know

• The castle is privately owned (since 2011 by architect Martin Kusic) and not open to the public — it can only be viewed from outside
• The overgrown castle park and the ruined orangery belong to the city of Pirna
• Nearby lies the Lohmgrund sandstone quarry, known for hosting sculptors' symposiums since 1975

Remarkably, the castle survived a fire in 1555, a flood in 2002, and decades of neglect during the GDR era, yet it still retains its Renaissance character while awaiting full restoration.