Mildenstein Castle

Mildenstein Castle
Burg Mildenstein, Schloss Leisnig
Leisnig in Germany
Mildenstein Castle above Freiberger Mulde
Mildenstein Location of Mildenstein in Saxony
Coordinates	51°9′44″N 12°55′32″E / 51.16222°N 12.92556°E / 51.16222; 12.92556Coordinates: 51°9′44″N 12°55′32″E / 51.16222°N 12.92556°E / 51.16222; 12.92556
Type	castle
Site information
Owner	Free State of Saxony
Operator	State Palaces, Castles and Gardens of Saxony
Open to the public	yes
Website	http://www.burg-mildenstein.de
Site history
Built	10th century
In use	14th century
Museum, concert and event venue

Mildenstein Castle, in German Burg Mildenstein, also called Schloss Leisnig, is located in Leisnig in Landkreis Mittelsachsen, Saxony. It is a property of the Free State of Saxony and is administrated by the company State Palaces, Castles and Gardens of Saxony.

The castle is located on a spur above the river Freiberger Mulde, at the northern edge of the town of Leisnig proper and opposite the village of Fischendorf. The rock is a former lava dome and consists of pre-mesozoic rhyolite, in particular the so-called Leisniger Quarzporphyr.

There is archeological evidence for an ancient settlement on the rock spur above Freiberger Mulde.

Mildenstein castle was probably built in the 10th century. However, it was first mentioned only in 1046 when Emperor Heinrich III gifted the Burgwards of Colditz, Rochlitz, and Leisnig to Agnes of Poitou. In 1084 the castle was enfeoffed by Emperor Heinrich IV to Wiprecht of Groitzsch. In 1143 it went by marriage to Franconian earl Rapoto von Abenberg, Stiftsvogt of Bamberg, who sold it in 1148 to Duke Friedrich III of Schwaben who later became known as Emperor Barbarossa. The latter made the castle in 1158 an imperial property, tied to the office of the Emperor and enfeoffed to the Burgraves of Leisnig. As such, it became a governing centre of the Imperial Territory of Pleißenland.