Torgau - Schloss Hartenfels

The place was first mentioned in a document from 973. It fell under the rule of the Holy Roman Empire, and a stone castle was built, around which the settlement congregated. A market is attested in 1119.

Torgau belonged to the duchy of Saxe-Wittenberg, which in 1356 was raised to be the Electorate of Saxony. After the last Ascanian duke died without issue in 1423, the Electorate passed to the Wettin dynasty, which took up its residence at Torgau.

After 1485 Friedrich III, Elector of Saxony and his successors had Schloss Hartenfels (Hartenfels Castle) at Torgau built. During the Reformation, the town council closed all monasteries in 1523. Citizens of Torgau destroyed paintings and statues of saints in the churches and stormed the Franciscan monastery.
Hartenfels Castle is a Renaissance castle that Elector Friedrich III. and his successors built into the new main residence. The construction of the palace was started in the 15th century by Konrad Pfluger and continued in the 16th century by Konrad Krebs. It is the largest completely preserved palace from the early Renaissance in Germany.

The bridge to the castle leads over the moat, where bears are traditionally kept. Being ogled by tourists all day long can be very tiring for a bear.