Imagine being a member of the Ehrlich merchant family in Dresden. It is the year 1771. You decide to build a Berghaus. This Berghaus is the Mätressenschlösschen.
The Mätressenschlösschen, also called Himmelsschlösschen or Friedsteinburg, was erected between 1771 and 1772. It served as a mountain house. The Dresdner Kaufmannsfamilie Ehrlich commissioned it. Rudolph Schenk bought the small castle in 1888. In 1922, the community acquired it. It was then used as a residential building.
After the German reunification in 1993, the Mätressenschlösschen was sold to private owners. It was renovated between 1998 and 2000. A staircase once connected the Berghaus to the manor house. The Mätressenschlösschen is part of the Neufriedstein vineyard. This vineyard is a protected historical landmark. It lies in the Radebeuler Johannisberg vineyard. The Mätressenschlösschen is a landmark of Radebeul.
The Mätressenschlösschen is a solid mountain pavilion. It sits on the edge of a slope above the Schildberg vineyard. The building is also under historical preservation. Its address is Mohrenstraße 10. The Mätressenschlösschen is significant in terms of construction history. It also has artistic and local historical importance. The building sits at about 182 meters above sea level.
The Mätressenschlösschen has a substructure made of sandstone blocks. This substructure features blind arch structures. It also has a balustrade on top. Inside is a barrel vault. The main building is an octagonal structure with two rectangular wings. These wings have single-sided hipped tile roofs. The central building has a mansard roof. It also features a viewing platform. A Zahlendreher can be seen on the weather vane dating it to 1717.
In 1888, Maximilian Rudolpf Schenk sold the manor house. He kept the Mätressenschlösschen property. In 1922, the municipality of Niederlössnitz acquired it. Until its renovation in 1923, the salon featured wine-growing motifs. A Rococo fireplace remains today.
During the GDR era, the building was municipal property. It was partially leased as a residential building. In 1993, it was sold privately. From 2001 to 2006, Kurt Biedenkopf lived in a new house behind the Lusthaus. This house’s design reflects the Mätressenschlösschen.
The surrounding area became a park. Its design won an award for Saxon garden and landscaping in 2001. The Mätressenschlösschen resembles a smaller copy of the Haus in der Sonne.
In the art monuments of Dresden’s surroundings, the Lusthaus is described in detail. It was then called Friedsteinburg. The handbook also mentions the Weinbergshaus Friedstein. The Mätressenschlösschen stands as a testament to the blend of history. It also embodies art and nature in Radebeul. Its story spans centuries. It reflects changing ownership and architectural styles.