I don’t know about you, but most of us try not to wind up going into a prison if we really don’t have to. But, when you come to the town of Waldheim in Saxony, it’s funny (like chuckle, chuckle funny) that one of the most visited places in town is its prison.
I’m not saying that the only place in town is a correctional facility. No. It’s actually the Waldheim Castle (built in the year 1200) that now houses the Saxon Prison Museum.
If you want a castle while in Waldheim (that doesn’t involve some sort of incarceration) then Burg Kriebstein is it. Built in the 14th century, its ballroom is now used as a concert venue; and its Event Hall for weddings. Oh, and it houses a museum, too.
Other top sights in Waldheim include a trip to the 19th century St. Nicolai Church, the shops along the Marktplatz, some snapshots of the Art Nouveau Town Hall, and the Kellerberg (a labyrinth of tunnels used for all sorts of storage). Hey, you gotta keep beer cold somehow, right?
Did I mention that Napoleon stayed here? No? Oh… There’s a stone memorial (called the Napoleonstein) commemorating the diminutive French Emperor stayed here in 1813.
There are a couple of other memorial plaques, one is dedicated to Fascist victims and resistance fighter. Another, found on Dresdner Straße, is dedicated to the victims of a death mark from the Buchenwald Concentration Camp. Plus, the Wachbergturm is a memorial to the Franco-Prussian War (1870-1871).
By the way, over at the Cemetery Chapel you’ll find the second largest clock face in all of Germany.
For a bit of whimsical fun, join in all the festivities during Carnival (usually February) and the Flower Market in April. The Mozart concerts are always a delight, too.
With all this sightseeing, you might not have the energy to even try to attempt all the hiking and biking trails throughout Waldheim’s countryside. But, hey, at least you won’t have to attempt a prison break. ;-)
