Castle Albrechtsberg, Dresden

Located in the once affluent Loschwitz district of Dresden is this large neoclassical structure called Schloss Albrechtsberg. The building was at first a British manor house that was later turned into the castle for the residence of Prince Albert, the younger brother of the Prussian King, Frederick William IV.

The 7th Earl of Findlater, James Ogilvy, who owned vineyards at the location of Schloss Albretsberg, built a manor house as his residence overlooking the River Elbe. He died before the house was complete. Johann Gabriel Krebs bought the house and turned it into a restaurant that had many famous customers like composer Richard Wagner and architect Gottfried Semper. Prince Albert of Prussia chose the manor for his residence when he was forced to leave Prussia for marrying a lady of lower rank. Adolf Lohse designed the castle and the grounds were landscaped by Prussian architect, Eduard Niede. The castle escaped damage during the 1945 Dresden bombing. It was put to various uses during the communist regime.

In 1977, Schloss Albretsberg was declared a national monument and efforts were made to restore it to its former glory. Today the castle is a hotel and private catering school. The ten halls and saloons and the grounds are rented out for private and business events.