Osterstein Castle (Zwickau)

First mentioned in 1292 as "Castrum Czwickaw", it was badly damaged in a fire in 1403, and demolished between 1404 and 1407 under William I, Margrave of Meissen.

There were numerous prominent prisoners, including Karl May, August Bebel, Rosa Luxemburg and Martin Hoop.

[1] On 31 December 1962, after 187 years, the use of the castle as a prison ended, although a public bathhouse continued to operate in an intermediate wing of modern construction, on the Dr.-Friedrich-Ring.

The castle became increasingly a blot on the urban landscape of Zwickau town centre, and a cause of civic embarrassment.

The work was undertaken by GP Schuppertbau GmbH, who after repair, restoration and rebuilding converted the former castle into a nursing home, with future plans for some parts of the complex for restaurant and museum use.