“Blankenburg” is a name whispered by locals. It is not entirely correct but it has stuck in the popular imagination. We are standing at what was once the Wasserburg Blankenau.
This water castle’s story is one of lords, strategic locations, and ultimate disappearance. Today, it is a protected ground monument. It offers a glimpse into Chemnitz’s distant past.
Let’s journey back to around 1269. Albert von Blankenau was first mentioned then. He likely established this very burg as his family’s stronghold. The von Blankenau family weren’t new to the area. They were formerly the lords of Gersdorf near Leisnig. They needed a new fortified seat. Wasserburg Blankenau became it.
Strategically placed, the burg sat along an old trade route. This route connected Altenburg and Chemnitz to Rübenau. It crossed the Chemnitz River near Glösa. This location made it a vital point for commerce. It linked the imperial cities with Bohemia.
Imagine this place bustling with activity. Merchants, knights, and servants filled the courtyard. However, the burg’s existence was not always peaceful.
In 1307, war broke out between the Wettin dynasty and King Albrecht I. Wasserburg Blankenau likely fell victim to destruction. The von Blankenau family gradually sold their land to the Benedictine monastery of Chemnitz. By 1378, the monastery acquired most of the Blankenau estate. Later, in 1548, after the Reformation, the area fell under the administration of the Chemnitz Office.
The von Gersdorf, Hartha and Blankenau families played a significant role in this region. They were connected to powerful families. They appeared as witnesses in important documents. The families of Crimmitschau and Schöönburg belonged to this leading upper class in the Pleissenland.
Interestingly, the von Gersdorf and von Blankenau families shared a similar coat of arms. Historians believe that Albert, Friedrich, and Hermann von Blankenau were sons of Otto von Gersdorf. The frequent use of the name Albert and possessions near Gersdorf support this theory.
By 1318, the von Blankenau family disappears from historical records in Saxony. They sold their possessions. These included Altchemnitz and the abandoned village of Streitdorf.
Around 1307, the Heinersdorf/Blankenau area suffered devastation. A letter from Chemnitz to Zwickau mentions the impending invasion. Markgraf Friedrich of Meißen was headed to the Blankenauer Grund.
In 1338, Kaiser Ludwig granted the monastery Chemnitz five villages “uff Blanckenawe”. Glösa, Furth, Borna, Draisdorf and Heinersdorf belonged to it. By 1378, the monastery completed its acquisitions. It bought a third of the court “uf Blankenau”.
Over time, the burg’s purpose faded. Its remains slowly vanished from sight. In 1874, the owner of the land leveled the remaining structures. By 1924, even the ditches and ramparts disappeared.
The river Chemnitz was straightened. The construction of the autobahn further altered the landscape.
Today, the Wasserburg Blankenau is a meadow. It is not farmed to protect it. Aerial laserscans reveal three concentric wall rings. They are barely visible on the ground.
If you look at old maps, you could imagine how the river Chemnitz protected the southwest side of the castle. The Heinersdorfer Bach protected the northern side.
The few finds that were made on the castle site, namely shards and a large Gothic key, are finds, because excavations have never taken place so far. The finds are in the Schlossbergmuseum Chemnitz.
Although little remains visible to the naked eye, Wasserburg Blankenau holds secrets. It serves as a reminder of the lords, battles, and shifts in power.