The entries on this site document the students’ experience in Dresden and on their many excursions to surrounding areas of historical, cultural and social significance. It is intended to provide readers an impression of their progressive engagement and growing familiarity with Dresden, Saxon and German customs and inhabitants. The students begin their journals in their native language and as the program progresses, their blogs shift to the language they are studying, documenting their incremental acclimation and acquisition of their second language in progress.
Olivia Connaughton
Moritzburg was definitely the most interesting, yet fun, city that we had been to for our fieldtrips. Although I was terrified and creeped out by the copious amount of deer head within the castle, I learned a lot more about the history of that castle more than I had at other ones we have visited while in Germany due to the variety of different artifacts that were displayed, as well as their descriptions. I was particularly drawn to high ceilings and open rooms, such as the room with the deer heads and dog fight paintings and also the dining room, as well as the material used for the wallpaper in the castle rooms, which was painted leather. Moritzburg definitely exceeded my expectations for what it was to be, not to mention I drank the best wine and ate the most heavenly quiche that I have ever had in my life.
Brennan Corrigan
Moritzburg ist gleich wie Albrechtsburg. Est ist wirklich kein Burg, aber ein Schloss für Jäger, und deshalb es viele Skulptur und Geweihe von Hirsche hat. Es steht am schönen See mit einem kleinen Leuchtturm. Das interessanteste Ding war der Monströsensaal, der die viele absonderliche Geweihe hat. Es gab auch der Federsaal, in dem alles mit Federn dekoriert ist. Ich fand eine kleine Figur: Ein Mann mit dem Kopf des Hirsches, der im Bett liegt. Ich habe keine Ahnung, warum jemand ihm gemacht hat, aber er war trotzdem lustig. Dann haben wir das Käthe Kollwitz Haus besucht, und ihre Kunst gesehen.
Ryan Giavasis
On July 28th we traveled by bus and steam train to the town of Moritzburg. This location struck me odd as it seemed more recluse and open compared to many of the cities and towns we’ve visited. There was a calm and quietness about this town that allowed the walk through the woods to the Château de la Faisanderie (Little Pheasant Castle) to be a time of reflection of how different Dresden can be depending on where you are. From the Château we saw the Leuchtturm that was erected to provide visibility for sea battle recreations. From here, we walked past the landmine of geese debris and ventures through the woods more until we reached the Moritzburg Schloss.
The Schloss was an open museum that held artifacts and decor from the time of Augustus the Strong. These Baroque pieces of furniture and art are displayed within the castle and depicts how the Schloss looked during this time. Most notably were the dozens upon dozens of antlers mounted on the wall as this castle was used for hunting lodges. I enjoyed seeing the antlers painted gold mounted in a room of gold. It appeared regal and worth accomplishment (much like the less popular feather room…). Likewise, I enjoyed seeing the art pieces of the Leuchtturm and the depiction of the sea battles that were held there.
After the Schloss we traveled back to the train area and walked up the vineyard mountain until we reached the top. Here we enjoyed a gorgeous view of Dresden as well as a glass of wine. Truly a breathtaking sight whether for the view of the fact that those stairs took a lot out of you! Moritzburg is a wonderful piece of Dresden worth getting lost into. It reminded me of being home in suburban Ohio and driving a few minutes in order to get to the serenity of the woods. This was the first place that I’ve heard nothing but the birds in the background and that is something I both cherish and appreciate.
Andrew Gochenaur
On our trip to Moritzburg, we visited the preserved hunting lodge of Augustus the Strong. Our trip began with a stop at his man-made lake and lighthouse, which he has created for his own entertainment purposes. Our walk through the actual lodge was both fascinating and slightly perturbing. The architecture and grand paintings were not, in my opinion, enough to make up for the fact that there were a couple hundred taxidermized deer and elk heads staring at us from the walls. While the 60-point buck was rather impressive, I found the whole spectacle rather disturbing. The trip was not to end there however. We took an old steam train to the Moritzburg vineyards, where we enjoyed a rough hike up the “Year Staircase” to admire the views and tastes that the vineyards provided. I personally bought a small jar of jam to bring home to my parents. Being able to see for miles in every direction was certainly the highlight of the trip.
Margo Hertzer
I found the fieldtrip to Moritzburg extremely rewarding because the view from the top of the vineyard inspired me to reflect. These past 3 weeks have been so busy, energetic, crazy, and fun, which is exactly what I expected. I want to make the most of my time in Germany so I have been staying busy and taking advantage of every opportunity that presents itself. I think that is why I was so taken aback at the top of the vineyard. I was sitting on a bench looking at a beautiful landscape, overcome with gratitude and bliss. It was one of a few times so far on this trip that I was not moving, talking, or listening. I was alone with my thoughts and could simply reflect. I reflected on how lucky I am to be sitting atop a vineyard in Germany, to have made amazing friends, to be learning in a different country, and to be happy.
Jessica Kavinsky
On Thursday we visited Moritzburg. We started off by walking through pheasantry grounds. August the Strong had hunting grounds and also established buildings to rear game. Along with the pheasantry grounds and buildings, called the Fasanen Schlosschen, he had a hunting lodge built. The hunting lodge sits in the middle of the lake and has very clean and fairytale like architecture. Seeing the ornate detail in the rooms and seeing how August the Strong spent his hunting season was very interesting.
On our way to the vineyard, we stopped by Kathe Kollwitz’s home. In Moritzburg, she spent her final years creating art. Mainly prints, Kathe Kollwitz depicted the sorrow she has suffered through and the devastation she has seen through both World Wars. She lost her son in World War I and she saw many of her friends lose sons. Her art reflects the mother child relationship and the devastation that one can feel in the midst of war. I thought the museum was incredibly moving, especially since we were in the home she worked in. It added a tangible aspect to history
Next we traveled to the vineyard. It was a great way to decompress after walking all day and it amazing to just sit and enjoy the views of Germany.
Haley Kendrick
Travelling to Moritzburg was different- this time we took a bus instead of a train. I
definitely prefer trains, but at least it was a short trip. We were able to wander around the grounds of the hunting castle for a while before our tour. The highlight of that was the lighthouse. It was beautiful! Inside the castle was of course no different, even if the attendants were quick to yell out “no photos” at even the sight of a cell phone.
The true fun came when we started off for the vineyard. The old train we took their was absolutely adorable. For me, that was one of the best parts of the day. The real best part though was finally sampling some German wine! (After the excursion was over, of course.) Before that could happen, though, we had to climb up the “Jahre-Treppe,” literally Year-Steps. We dragged ourselves up all 365 steps to the best view I have seen yet. Moritzburg is truly beautiful.
Emma Lloyd
On 28.6.18 we took a trip to Moritzburg. First, we went to see the Fasansenschloesschen which was a small palace made to raise pheasants. Then we were able to see the lighthouse on the lake. It was built so August could reenact a historical naval battle. Then we hiked around the grounds for a little until it was time to go to the actual palace. We were able to walk around the museum in the palace where a lot of historical furniture and photographs were displayed. It was a very old and beautiful palace. Then we walked to the Kathe Kollwitz House where her artwork was presented. Her art work was so breathtaking and so sad. She lost two sons to war, so a lot of her paintings depict that sadness. She also had a very unique style or art because she carved linoleum and then printed the pieces. They were all so incredible. After that we took a steam train to a vineyard. There we were able to walk through the rows of grapes and then clime the “year stairs” which is just 365 stairs up this huge hill. The view was definitely worth it even though I can’t walk now. There we took in the view for a while and got to sit down and look out on Mortizburg. You could even see the top of the churches in Dresden. The view was amazing, and overall the day was full of exciting and beautiful sights and a lot of exercise.
Melissa Ma
Our Thursday fieldtrip to Moritzburg began with a hike around the town, leading us to our first stop at the Wettin Hunting Castle. Although interesting to walk through, the animal remains and feathered bedroom was a bit off-putting. Instead, I enjoyed the events following this visit; for instance, the Käthe Kollwitz Memorial was absolutely breath taking. This 20th century artist does a fantastic job representing human suffering, poverty, death and war. As I walked through the chronologically designed building, I saw the manifestation of emotion and feeling that Kollwitz wished to incite in the viewer. Specifically, the work she made after her son died in 1914 was both beautiful and intense. The figures in her images depicted raw, unmanageable human suffering. Following this memorial, we traveled to Radebeul and climbed Jahrestreppe which consisted of 365 stairs. There we oversaw a beautiful vineyard and in the distance you could see the core of Dresden.
Chloe Nelson
I was initially a little skeptical about visiting a hunting castle in Moritzburg, and kind of expected it to be a dingy old building full of stuffed carcasses. However, the castle was much more ornate than I expected (though there were no carcasses, there certainly were a lot of antlers). Photography was verboten which was a bit disappointing because the castle had so many beautiful sculptures and paintings. The employees were strict about it too and were constantly following you to make sure you didn’t whip out a camera. Ultimately, I understand they were just doing their job but it was still slightly discomforting. The winery was my favorite place in Moritzburg, and I don’t even drink wine! Though I practically died climbing the 365 Jahrestreppe, the view was really spectacular, and I’m glad I sweat it out to make it to the top. I’m not sure if it was a good as the view from the Dom zu Meissen, but it certainly gave me much less anxiety to climb up to. Despite the amount of exercise, I actually found Moritzburg to be one of the most relaxing places we’ve visited so far. Eating bread, cheese, and cake (even sans wine) with a few people on the top of a green hill was a nice break from the touring and activity.
Brooklyn McGue
In Moritzburg, we visited the Schloss and were able to walk around to see the plethora of antlers lining the walls. After this, we walked to Käthe Kollwitz’s House and saw many of her drawings. I enjoyed seeing the transformation of her art over the span of her life. The obvious pain and tragedy she experienced in her life was prevalent in most of her work. Then we road a steam train to my favorite part of the trip, Radebeul. Here we walked up 365 stairs to a beautiful view of the city and enjoyed some very tasty snacks in the Spitzhaus Restaurant at the top.
Brett Pittsley
On Thursday, June 28th, our class took a fieldtrip to Moritzburg. We started out the day by meeting at the Neustadt Hauptbahnhof at 9:00 am. When we all got together at the train station, there was an interesting treasure hunt going on for the local children. It was a fun way to start the day, to see the adults dressed up, and hear them speaking German to the children.
Our bus showed up at around 9:15 am, and we were off to Moritzburg. After about a half an hour journey, we were dropped off in downtown Moritzburg. We started the walk down the main street to soon be greeted with the magnificent site of the Schloss Moritzburg on the water. After a brief photo-op, we continued on through the woods, towards the Fasanenschlösschen, which was established by August the Strong in 1728. This is a very small castle that is located next to a lake with a small lighthouse. This lighthouse seemed very out of place on this small lake, but it was actually put there for a famous battle reenactment.
After walking out on the pier, and more photo-ops, we started our journey back towards the Schloss Moritzburg. This castle was primarily used as a hunting lodge, and this was ever apparent as soon as we walked in. There were various statues of animals spread throughout the house, and the main hall was decorated with what had to be over 50 different mounted deer heads. We were also able to look at Augustus the Strong’s bedroom, which was made completely out of feathers. This castle was a primary example of the indulgences and lavishness of royal life in the 17th and 18th centuries.
Next on our journey came the Käthe Kollwitz House. Frau Kollwitz was one of the most important artists of the 20th century. Her works were heavily influenced by the loss of both her son, and her grandson, in both world wars. She was strongly anti-Nazi, and lived a very rough life because of it. When looking at her art, one can feel the emotion that went into each piece.
After the Käthe Kollwitz House, we were off by steam train to the Elector’s vineyards, the Hoflössnitz. After climbing the 365-step Jahrestreppe, we were able to get an absolutely breathtaking view of the Elbe valley, from atop the mountain. We then visited the Spitzhaus to continue to take in the view. This completed our fieldtrip, and we then took the bus back to the Neustadt.
Nikki Schipperijn
Our day in Moritzburg started out with a beautiful view of the castle from across the water and then a nature walk to one of the hunting palaces Augustus the Strong had built. After quickly walking around, we continued our walk to the Moritzburg Schloss. The Mortizburg Schloss was built by the Wettin Dynasty to be used as a hunting palace. Because the palace was used for hunting the walls are decorated with many deer heads and antlers. Mortizburg is the home of the bust of a 30-point deer. The next thing we saw was the home of the artist Käthe Kollwitz. The home was not very big but it was full of her artwork and it was very clear to see that she lived a hard life and expressed that through her artwork. The last thing we did, and maybe my favorite, was the tour of the vineyard we climbed up the Jahrestreppe (named that for the 365) steps to have a glass of wine and Apfelstrudel with an amazing view.
Miles Sibley
This week’s expedition was to the town of Moritzburg, which is centered around the Mortizburg Palace. This palace is situated on an artificial island in the middle of a lake which is surrounded by forest. All of this made for an extremely pretty view of the palace and surrounding grounds. Perhaps the most ridiculous fact to me was that Friedrich August III constructed a lighthouse on the lake in order to stage a recreation of the Battle of Çeşme.
The fact that so much effort and resources were put into this task is astonishing, and points to the immense wealth of the Wettins. Another important aspect of Moritzburg was its role as a hunting lodge, which is so clearly demonstrated with the hundreds of antlers hanging from the wall. While I found it all to be a bit grotesque, it was certainly unique.
After Moritzburg we traveled to the town of Radebeul. The highlight of this town were the large vineyards that tower above the town on the hillside. At the top of the vineyards was an amazing view of the valley below, which made it a perfect place to end the trip and enjoy a glass of wine from the vineyard.
Haleigh Staugler
On Thursday, our group arrived to Moritzburg around 10 AM and went on a trek out to the lighthouse used to recreate battles in the lake at Moritzburg. While the lighthouse itself was a little underwhelming, the walk out was beautiful. We then headed back in to walk through the castle in the middle of the lake. The castle was beautiful; many rooms still had their original leather wall decorations and many also had the antlers of the hunts of past times.
After the palace, we walked down the road to visit the Käthe Kollwitz house. The house has many works from the famous artist and is the final place Kollwitz lived before her death. All of her pieces were beautifully haunting, but I think my personal favorite was the Maria and Elisabeth piece.
Then it was down to the train station to ride the steam engine to Hofflössnitz, a historically significant vineyard. When there, we were lead to a massive staircase to the top of the vineyard that was 365 steps. The steps were no joke (my phone counted almost 30 flights of stairs), but the view at the top was well worth it. Sitting at the top of the vineyard, looking down at the city was the perfect way to end our day.
Kyle Stock
Moritzburg is a place where I think I could live. This has been my favorite location in Germany so far. The palace was impressive, but paled in comparison to some of the churches that we have visited so far. I really enjoyed visiting Kaethe Kollwitz’s house, despite that it wasn’t particularly large. The art exhibited there was still powerful and the information on the artist was very interesting. I felt that I gained a much better understanding of who she was than I could if I were to see her work in a museum somewhere. I looked one of the window for a while and wondered if Kollwitz ever did the same thing, thinking about her own past. The part that really made me like Moritzburg was when we walked through to get to the winery. The town was incredibly charming and I absolutely loved that. I could see myself living there and commuting to Dresden. Of course, the view from the winery was amazing and was well worth the climb. Perhaps I will return once more, when it is dark, and see the city light up below.
Patrick Trago
On Thursday last week, we took a bus to the town of Moritzburg where we went and saw the old hunting lodge of the royal Wettin family. Here we saw a elegant castle like palace with a large lake and lighthouse. It was very interesting to see and slightly weird. In that the place was very large but when you walked inside of it, it didn’t feel as large as it did from the outside. It was still a very elegant palace but there was something off about the place. I don’t want to say that it was the endless amount of deer heads and slain animals of the nearby woods. However, with the number of slain animals inside the palace, it made sense why we didn’t hardly any wildlife in the nearby woods. We then went to a winery up on a mountain overlooking Dresden and enjoyed a delicious glass of wine while looking at a view that only 150 years ago was reserved for the royalty. It was a surreal moment and was easily one of the most beautiful sights these eyes had ever seen. It is probably so far one of my favorite moments of this wonderful adventure thus far.
Emily Udelhoven
Our field trip this week was to Moritzburg where we saw a palace/hunting lodge and also visited a little museum with art from Käthe Kollwitz. The forest surrounding the palace was really beautiful and I really enjoyed being able to walk through it. We saw the “Fasanenschlösschen” which means “Little Pheasant Castle” and it was cute. Nearby that, was the lighthouse which was strange because the body of water that it is on is a lake. However, it is there because Augustus wanted to stage battles and this was necessary for the reenactments. If you ask me, it sounds like he had way too much money and was simply looking for something to spend it on. After visiting this part, we went to the main palace which was nice, however I did not love how many antlers were in this palace. I understand that it was a hunting lodge at one point, so it makes sense, but there were some rooms where there were so many that it was a little creepy. Next, we went to the Käthe Kollwitz museum. I hadn’t heard of her before this trip, so I’m really glad that we stopped here. Her art was very unique and you could really see the emotions behind so much of what she made. The last stop was the “Jahrestreppe” which is named that because of the 365 steps that it takes to get to the top. It was a lot of steps but the view at the top more than made up for the trip up!!