Surrounded by steeply sloping rock spurs, the castle ruins and mountain church of Tharandt are enthroned on a mountain spur above the town of the same name. The ruins are the impressive remains of what was once the largest castle in the Meissen-Saxon region.
From the late 15th century the castle was no longer inhabited and increasingly fell into disrepair. When the once proud castle finally burned down in a lightning strike in 1568, it was finally abandoned. Only on the remains of the lower castle the mountain church "Zum heiligen Kreuz" was built from 1627 to 1631.
It took almost 200 years before the historical value of the castle was recognized and new interest in it arose. From 1800, the castle was renovated and the remains were secured in the spirit of castle romanticism. Since 2013 at the latest, the castle has been restored for sightseeing. Today, there are still well-divisible remains on the site, which give an idea of the shape of the old castle. Among other things, impressive building parts of the core castle, the outer walls of the keep, numerous Gothic and Romanesque window and door arches as well as old cellar vaults and foundation remains are still preserved. Especially in the rear part of the core castle, visitors can see the well-preserved and reconstructed parts of the complex, such as the palace with the adjoining fortified tower. On the way up to the castle, visitors pass the church, which is also always worth a visit.
Today, the castle ruins as well as the mountain church are the backdrop for various events. A special highlight is the Tharandt Organ Summer, which takes place every year in the mountain church "Zum Heiligen Kreuz".
