Hans von Löser, who also cultivated a close friendship with Martin Luther, built Pretzsch Castle between 1570 and 1574. There was already a fortress on this site in 981, making the castle one of the oldest fortifications in the Düben Heath region. The castle survived the Swedish bombardment during the Thirty Years' War. After the war, the Löser family had to sell the castle. The castle is famous for Christiane Eberhardine, Electress of Saxony, Queen of Poland and wife of Augustus the Strong, as she chose the castle as her permanent residence. Due to the War of Liberation against Napoleon in 1815, parts of Saxony had to be ceded to Prussia, meaning that Pretzsch also came into Prussian possession. Since then, the castle has served as an orphanage, which had to be abandoned in 1923 during the period of inflation. From then on, the castle was used for a wide variety of purposes. After the Second World War, Pretzsch Castle has been used as a children's home to this day.
The 8-hectare landscaped park with baroque design elements is particularly inviting. Visitors can visit the castle museum, use the indoor swimming pool or stroll through the castle park. Events are regularly organised in the castle grounds. Also worth seeing in Pretzsch are the town church of St Nicholas and the local history museum.
