Trip to Leipzig with the Anglo-German Family History Society
May 2003 - Schloss Colditz

Saturday 10th May 2003

We left at 0844 for Colditz, driving past the gross memorial to the Battle of Leipzig & through several quite tidy villages. From the glance we managed to get, the centre of Colditz looked quite charming but the coach could not get very close to the castle because the Germans have only recently discovered that it is a tourist attraction. The castle is being renovated (it certainly needs it) but will not look so gloomy when it is finished. Consequently, it is only partially open but the guide was very good. She showed us the French tunnel under the chapel & we were staggered at the rock they managed to get through but it was discovered when the ceiling of their dorm fell in under the weight of stored rock! The museum had German uniforms that the prisoners had made for escapes that didn't come off, Red Cross food tins and excellent forged papers.

Approaching the ornate gateway	From the other side	The walls right of the gate
The Outer Courtyard The Kommendatur	Gate between the courtyards	The Inner (prisoners) Courtyard, restored
The French Tunnel	Bag used to move rocks	Chapel - tunnel underneath
	Left: The prisoners' view of Colditz village across the river Right: A Medieval painting of the castle, somewhat romanticised

Back to the ASL Index Page

To the Tourism Index Page

Leipzig Page

Dresden Page

Naumberg Page

Weimar Page

Anglo-German Family History Society Web Site