Altfriedstein

“My resting place,” Count Heinrich von Brühl declared, christening his newly acquired estate Altfriedstein. Altfriedstein vineyard in Radebeul became Brühl’s sanctuary after the turmoil of the Seven Years’ War. Seeking an unspoiled haven, he purchased the property in 1763 from the Roos family. The original manor house, a baroque gem, was constructed between 1742 and 1745 by state vintner Friedrich Roos. Brühl, envisioning a peaceful retreat for his later years, named it “Mon repos”. This French phrase, meaning “my resting place”, evolved into Friedstein and later Altfriedstein to distinguish it from the newer Neufriedstein further upslope. Altfriedstein’s tranquility wouldn’t last forever. In 1770, Brühl’s heirs sold the estate to jeweler Carl August Böhmer. A series of owners followed, each leaving their mark. Around 1900, the architectural firm Schilling & Graebner transformed the vineyard into a villa colony. This ambitious project dramatically altered the landscape. In 1903, a road sliced through the heart of Altfriedstein. The manor house lost its west wing and parts of the middle section, forever disrupting its baroque symmetry. The once grand manor then served a more humble purpose. It housed a municipal nursing home until 1987. Today, Altfriedstein stands as a private residence, its interior hidden from public view. The echoes of “Mon repos” linger, a reminder of the count’s dream of peaceful repose. Yet, Altfriedstein’s story continues, woven into the fabric of Radebeul’s history.