The Site

The Erzgebirge/Krušnohoří Mining Region (Ore Mountains) is a UNESCO World Heritage site located in the south-eastern part of Germany's Saxony region and the north-western part of Czechia. This transboundary region is renowned for its significant mining history and cultural landscape shaped by centuries of mining activities. The Ore Mountains were a vital source of various metals, and the mining industry played a crucial role in the development and prosperity of the region.

The cultural landscape of the Erzgebirge/Krušnohoří encompasses not only the mines themselves but also the mining towns and settlements that emerged alongside them. These towns, with their unique urban layouts and architectural styles, reflect their historical importance as administrative, economic, educational, and cultural centres. The region's wealth during the 15th and 16th centuries, particularly from silver mining, left a lasting impact on the landscape and shaped the towns' distinct identities.

Among the notable landmarks within the Erzgebirge/Krušnohoří is Lauenstein Castle, a gem of Saxon Renaissance architecture. With over 700 years of history, Lauenstein Castle, situated in close proximity to the Czech border, is an iconic example of Saxony’s rich cultural heritage. The castle, originally built in the late 12th century, sits majestically atop a rocky outcrop overlooking the Müglitz River. Throughout its existence, Lauenstein Castle underwent transformations and renovations. From the 16th century onwards, it was extensively reconstructed into an official administrative residence by Hans Münzer, a prominent mine owner and councillor from Freiberg.

The main building of Lauenstein Castle showcases exceptional Renaissance architecture. Noteworthy features include a magnificent two-bay, cross-vaulted armorial hall adorned with a stunning stucco ceiling from around 1600. The castle is also distinguished by 23 intricately carved sandstone console stones, resembling human heads, which are unique examples of craftsmanship from the same period. These elements contribute to the castle's rich interior design.

Lauenstein Castle holds not only architectural significance but also cultural importance. Over the centuries, it served as a prominent administrative centre and played a pivotal role in the economic and cultural development of the Ore Mountains region. Today, the castle is owned by the Altenberg Municipality and houses the Eastern Ore Mountains Museum, where visitors can explore the fascinating history and heritage of the area.

In 2019, Lauenstein Castle, together with the nearby church of St. Mary and Laurent, became recognised as components of the UNESCO World Heritage Site Erzgebirge/Krušnohoří Mining Region. This prestigious designation highlights the outstanding value of Lauenstein Castle as a historical and architectural treasure connected to the mining heritage of the Ore Mountains.

 

The Training Course

The 2025 European Heritage Training Course at Lauenstein Castle will focus on the conservation and restoration of wall paintings and stucco decorations, building upon the successes of the training courses during previous years. The participants will engage in conservation and restoration activities across historically significant areas within the castle ensemble, each presenting unique challenges and learning opportunities.

The upper level of the castle bears valuable wall paintings from Renaissance period featuring ornate geometric motifs, elaborate ornamental designs, and a striking hunting scene which had been one of the focuses of the European Heritage Training Courses in 2023 and 2024. There, the works will be continued expecting their completion during this year’s training course. The interventions will focus on further uncovering the painted layers, stabilising deteriorated plaster, and applying conservation treatments to reinforce their structural integrity.

Conservation interventions will also continue in an area of the former economic part of the ensemble containing 19th-century wall paintings. There, beneath several layers of limewash, wall paintings with motifs related to agricultural themes as animals, and beekeeping imagery are present. Due to the building's later use as a stable, the area exhibits a range of issues, including alterations from later interventions, manual damage, humidity, and salinisation. During the training course, overlying layers will be carefully removed, revealing the original decorative scheme and stabilising any disassociated plaster layers. Given the mechanical damage and salt pollution affecting the surface, the conservation process will include fixation, desalination, and targeted conservation treatments.

The conservation interventions will be extended to the staircase connected to the area where during the 2024 European Heritage Training Course beneath the 19th century decorations older wall layers from Baroque period had been found. Here, aside from lower salinisation, the conditions are similar to those in the previously mentioned area, making the required measures largely comparable.

A new focus for the 2025 training course will be the conservation of the painted layers of the stucco decorations in the Bünau Hall, one of Lauenstein Castle’s most visually remarkable interiors. This space features extraordinary rich stucco decorations, which belongs to the outstanding examples of Renaissance decorations in Europe north of the Alps. Despite retaining much of its decorative splendour, Bünau Hall has suffered surface contamination, structural weakening, and partial material loss over time. Here, participants will work on cleaning, removing recent layers of limewash, and material consolidation.

Throughout the training course, participants will be guided by an experienced conservator-restorer with extensive knowledge of Lauenstein Castle’s conservation history, who will be assisted by a young conservator-restorer from the European Heritage Volunteers Network.

The European Heritage Training Course at Lauenstein Castle provides a comprehensive learning experience that integrates practical conservation work with gaining theoretical knowledge. Participants will gain hands-on experience in the conservation and restoration of historic surfaces, expanding their practical skills while developing a better understanding of the cultural and historical significance of decorative schemes. Through the training course they will actively contribute to the preservation of an outstanding heritage site ensuring that Lauenstein Castle’s interiors remain safeguarded for future generations. The collaborative environment of the training course encourages knowledge exchange and dialogue between emerging heritage professionals and experienced conservators-restorers, reinforcing the importance of cooperation in heritage conservation at a European level.

The educational programme will complement the hands-on conservation work with theoretical sessions, guided visits, and expert-led discussions. The programme will also include a visit to the restoration atelier of the Saxon State Office for the Conservation of Monuments, where the participants will have the opportunity to observe ongoing restoration projects and conservation techniques applied to wall paintings and sculptures. Additionally, excursions to relevant heritage sites in the region will provide further context for the historical and architectural significance of the site and its conservation needs.

One essential element of the educational programme will be the participants’ presentations, where participants will prepare and deliver presentations on heritage conservation interventions at wall paintings at heritage sites in their home countries. This part of the programme is designed to facilitate intercultural exchange and professional dialogue on conservation methodologies, allowing participants to compare conservation and restoration philosophies and reflect on different approaches to preserving wall paintings across diverse historical and cultural contexts.

 

The training course will take place from July 20th to August 2nd, 2025, and is organised by European Heritage Volunteers in collaboration with the Eastern Ore Mountains Museum Schloss Lauenstein, and the Saxon State Office for the Conservation of Monuments.

The training course is part of the World Heritage Volunteers campaign for 2025, a worldwide initiative taking place yearly within the framework of the World Heritage Education Programme at the UNESCO World Heritage Centre.