Dear friends, I was very happy about your comments and favs for my last pic here. Thanks to you all! Welcome to Chateau Pillnitz, the once residence of the maitresses of the Saxonian kings! Pillnitz was a very small village near Dresden (now a part of the City). The inhabitants here were farmer and fisher. Near the little village were 2 mansions situated, and these mansions with their barns and farming units were the core of the later chateau. The mansion houses were built around 1400 and had different owners. One of the houses were reconstructed as a castle. In 1694 both houses were sold to saxonian king JOHANN GEORG IV. as a present for his maitresse MAGDALENA SYBILLA von NEITSCHUETZ. When they disbanded, the house came back to the house Wettin (the king`s family. In 1706 the chateau was owned by saxonian king AUGUST THE STRONG and he gave it away to his maitresse DUCHESS of COSEL. This liaison was not happy and lasted only a few years. King August took back the house as his brother did before. It was king August who built this chateau as we can see it now. The construction works lasted from 1718 till 1730, later from 1778- 1791. tThe chateau has three parts: The "Water Palace", the "Mountain Palace" and the "New Palace" between the other parts. All parts were constructed in a "chinois - style", that means it should look as a chinese palace. Today it is seat of two or three museums and is surrounded by a fine parc. Hope you enjoy it! Pic was taken in spring 2009. Bye, billcody