Biggest chinoiserie palace complex in Europe with the Pillnitz Kamelie, historic palm tree house and castle museum with royal court kitchen.
The grand castle and park grounds directly situated on the banks of the Elbe River are considered a perfect example of the chinoise style merging the architecture of the Far East with the Baroque style. The best way to approach this pleasure castle with its distinctive pagoda roofs is on an Elbe River steamboat.
Elector Augustus the Strong once acquired the castle for his favorite Anna Constantia Countess von Cosel. When Saxony's best-known mistress fell out of favor and the castle became his property again, Augustus had the hillside and waterside palaces erected according plans by the famous architect Matthaeus Daniel Poeppelmann.
The English, Dutch and Chinese gardens on the extensive garden grounds invite the visitor to take a stroll and enjoy the exotic treasures, as the famous 250-year-old Japanese camellia, of Pillnitz Castle and Park. Within the castle grounds the »Museum of Decorative Arts« is situated in the hillside and waterside palaces. At the »Castle Musem«, one can see the originally preserved interior of rooms and learn about its eventful times as a summer residence.
