Top 20 Castles around Machern

Information at https://www.thallwitz.de/thallwitz_schloss.htm

In 1968, the nave received a new roof. Gutters and lightning protection were also replaced, and a new cross was attached to the roof. Renovation of the nave began in 1971, during which a new altar was built and fitted with a new cross. This was followed in the spring of 1972 by the reinstallation of the organ and the replastering of the exterior of the nave. The ceremonial rededication of the technically overhauled organ took place in August 1992. In September 1998, the church tower was renovated, and the crowning of the tower was completed on January 23, 1999. Since the fall of 2000, visitors have been able to climb to the tower's observation deck and enjoy the panoramic view. Source: https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kirche_Thallwitz

The church was built in the 15th century, and the foundations and substructure of the church tower date from this period. Bishop Johann VI of Saalhausen commissioned the expansion of the choir and the elevation of the church tower. The latter's cap above the octagonal upper section was created in the 17th century. The inscription on the weather vane indicates the 1626 rebuilding of the nave, which likely incorporated older masonry. The ceiling received a shallow barrel vault. In 1896, extensive reconstruction took place according to plans by the architect Oswald Haenel from Dresden. The exterior of the church and church tower were completely replastered, and the church and tower roofs were re-roofed, repaired, and secured with lightning rods. Inside, the second gallery was removed in 1896, and the remaining gallery was replaced with double tiers of seating. The organ platform was widened. The windows were fitted with stained-glass cathedrals, and new vestments made of green, red, and black cloth with gold embroidery were purchased. Following the restoration, the rededication was celebrated after the Feast of the Dead, the old church consecration festival of Thallwitz, with the participation of the patron saint, the church inspectorate, and numerous pastors from the region. Source: https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kirche_Thallwitz

As state property of the GDR, the palace, which had survived the war largely undamaged, served as a retirement and nursing home until reunification. During this time, the complex began to deteriorate progressively, which was only barely halted. Thanks to the work of a group of Polish restorers since the early 1980s, the palace's garden facade was largely restored to its original condition. In the early 1990s, the municipality sold the palace complex to a private investor named Grimm. It later became a holding company, which is gradually restoring the late Baroque palace complex. To date, the facade of the courtyard, the adjacent orangery and administration buildings, as well as the teahouse in the park, have been restored. Extensive restoration work has taken place inside, including the ceiling and wall paintings, as well as the late neoclassical staircase. Source: https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schloss_Nischwitz

After further changes of ownership, extensive renovations were carried out on the ground floor in the mid-19th century under the direction of Gustav Adolf Boenisch. During this time, the Baroque staircase was replaced by a prestigious late-classical staircase and adorned with large wall and ceiling paintings. At this time, the Rococo park, designed by Friedrich August Krubsacius, was also transformed into an English landscape garden with tea pavilions, stone statues, and vases. In 1848, the von Ritzenberg family had a family crypt built in the form of a Doric temple in this park. Towards the end of the century, in 1888, Kurt von Zimmermann[3] purchased the Nischwitz Palace and Estate. In the final days of World War II, the von Zimmermann family fled from advancing Soviet troops and was expropriated during the Soviet occupation of 1945–1949. Later efforts by the family to regain their property after German reunification were unsuccessful, except for the return of some furniture. Source: https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schloss_Nischwitz

The history of the castle dates back to the late Middle Ages.[2] The village, along with the associated manor, was acquired by the von Nischwitz family in 1450, and received its name from them. In 1714, after the old manor had fallen into disrepair, the then owner, Baron von Rackwitz, Chamberlain of the Electorate of Saxony, commissioned the construction of a new castle with appropriate outbuildings and a park. Matthäus Daniel Pöppelmann was the architect. After its completion in 1721, the property changed hands several times over the years. Finally, Count Heinrich von Brühl acquired the property in 1743. Around 1750, he had the property converted into his summer residence in the Rococo style under the direction of the chief architect, Johann Christoph Knöffel. The extensive extensions and renovations created an ensemble that has survived to this day, with its spacious courtyard, orangery, administrative buildings, and the palace park adjacent to the garden. However, much of the original, precious interior furnishings has been lost. The late Baroque wall and ceiling paintings in the garden and ballroom, attributed to the Italian painter Stefano Torelli, are worth seeing. They depict hunting scenes and mythological scenes. During the Seven Years' War, Prussian troops marched into Saxony in 1758. They occupied and plundered the palace. After the death of Heinrich von Brühl, his heirs sold the property to the Leipzig lawyer Philipp Heinrich Lastrop. Source: https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schloss_Nischwitz

Püchau Castle rises on the eastern edge of the town on a mountain spur that towers several meters above the Mulde floodplain. The castle itself stands at the eastern end of the approximately 100 by 60 meter area. The square in front of it is lined with outbuildings, a few trees, and has a historic fountain at its center. The castle is an irregular three-wing complex grouped around an approximately 200 m² courtyard. The north side is enclosed by a one-story, crenellated battlement. In the southeast corner of the courtyard, a stair tower, also crenellated, rises above the three-story buildings. The entrance to the complex, designed as a bridge and flanked by two columns with eagles, leads to an arched gateway in the west wing. This is decorated with balconies and attached turrets on the front side. The outer southeast corner is also tower-like and features a two-story cast-iron balcony. Of the numerous rooms of the castle, the small dining room with its richly carved ceiling, the Marble Hall with its magnificent star-shaped ceiling[1], and the Armory are particularly magnificent. Below the castle hill, the 12.4-hectare English-style castle park with two ponds extends to the north and east. Source: https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schloss_P%C3%BCchau

Nischwitz Castle with a great park, especially in spring and summer. There is also an interesting church right next to it. If you want to discover both on a hike, take a look at the tour on my profile. 16km round trip from Canitz to just before Wurzen with a restaurant.