Colditz Travel Tip:
Colditz Castle and Escape Museum
Courtyard view of Colditz Castle
Ruler‘s seat, hunting lodge, widow‘s residence – with its white gables Colditz Castle is one of the most beautiful and stylistically unadulterated architectural monuments of central Germany in the 16th century. When nowadays groups of travelers from around the world crowd around the castle and its grounds, it is not only because of their interest in Renaissance architecture. The reason for the crowds has more to do with recent history than with the past since the spacious castle was a significant internment camp for high ranking officers of the Western allies during the Second World War and it was to become world famous later through the book The Colditz Story
and the film of the same name.
Mainly British, Dutch and French military personnel were kept prisoner here including the nephew of Winston Churchill and the nephew of the then King of England, George VI. The prisoners of the Oflag (officer‘s camp) IVC
were, however, only minimally impressed by the lovely atmosphere of the castle – they were mainly interested in escaping. About 300 documents of escape attempts exist, some of them reveal an unbelievable creativity, including successful escape attempts which today are part of this legendary military history. Secret radio rooms kept the prisoners in contact with their home country, tunnels were forced through the castle walls and even a glider was made. The Escape Museum
looks at this aspect of the castle‘s history in great detail. But also the battlements with the mighty walls, the prince‘s house, the Renaissance portal of the Trinity Church, the castle tower with the Welsh dome and the old stone bridge still impress visitors today. Also incorporated in the castle are the Saxon State Music Academy and the Colditz Castle European Youth Hostel.
Hours: Apr – Oct: daily 10 am-5 pm, Nov – Mar: daily 10 am-4 pm.
Admission: Adults 7 €, Concessions 3 €.
[ Source: http://www.schloesserland-sachsen.de/en/palaces_castles_and_gardens/palaces/colditz_castle ]
Related: http://www.schloss-colditz.com
Address: Schlossgasse 1, 04680 Colditz
Tags: Colditz, Castle, World War II, Internment Camp, Museum
Location of Colditz Castle and Escape Museum
More Colditz Travel Tips
Colditz is a city in the Free State of Saxony, Germany, near Leipzig, located on the banks of the river Mulde. The city has a population of 5,188 (2005).
Related: Colditz travel guide
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