Hidden Leipzig: Lützschena Palace Park

The beautiful castle park of the Lützschena manor is laid out in the style of an English landscape park. On a walk through the park, you can enjoy the landscape of the alluvial forest and walk along the river course of the Elster and Luppe. The winding path forms a harmonious unit with the park and the landscape of the alluvial forest. You will find magnificent little temples on islands or small elevations in the park. The Diana Temple is particularly well-known and a popular wedding photo motif. A special feature awaits you in the north-west of the park. Alpacas  (a subspecies of camel) continue to be bred there according to the Sternburg family tradition. The cultural and environmental education facility Auwaldstation offers regular guided tours of the castle park. If you would like to explore the park on your own, you can borrow audio guides from the Auwaldstation. The castle park is open to the public all year round.

Unlike the associated park, the castle is not freely accessible. In 1278, it was first mentioned in documents as the manor of Lützschena. During its long history, the estate has repeatedly experienced wars and destruction. During the 30 Years' War, soldiers plundered the manor. In 1813, the Battle of Nations raged around Leipzig. A historic event took place at the manor's mill when Emperor Franz of Austria offered Napoleon peace. The estate also suffered from regular flooding due to its location on the River Elster and the alluvial forest.

The estate experienced its heyday under Maximilian Speck von Sternburg, who acquired the estate at auction in 1822. He succeeded in developing the manor into an important agricultural business. The new owner was also a great fan of art and exhibited a significant collection of paintings in the castle. The collection has been preserved in its entirety and is now housed in the Museum of Fine Arts. After the Second World War, the former owners were expropriated and the estate fell into disrepair. The palace has been privately owned again since 1998 and is regularly renovated and maintained.</p