Groundbreaking Ceremony for the Science and Conference Center on Grillenburg Castle Island

A New Beginning: Modern scientific buildings to pave the way for a new future of the abandoned site.

In the presence of Michael Kretschmer, Minister President of the Free State of Saxony, Prof. Ursula M. Staudinger, Rector of TUD Dresden University of Technology, and Jan Gerken, Chancellor of TUD, as well as Tharandt’s Mayor Silvio Ziesemer, the groundbreaking ceremony for a modern science and conference center on Grillenburg Castle Island was held on September 9, 2026, designed according to sustainability criteria. 

With funding from the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media and the Free State of Saxony (EUR 18 million each) as well as TUD (EUR five million), new hotel buildings will also be constructed on the long-abandoned site in the coming years.

Michael Döring, Head of the Central Affairs Department at the Saxon State Ministry for Science, Culture and Tourism (SMWK); Prof. Karina Sopp, Vice Rector for Sustainability and Entrepreneurship at TU Bergakademie Freiberg; and representatives of the construction consortium “ARGE 3B Architekten und Ingenieure Schlossinsel Grillenburg GmbH” were also present at the festive groundbreaking ceremony.

The existing castle building will be used for conferences in the future. The newly constructed modular wooden buildings will provide accommodation for overnight guests. The lobby and a restaurant will be built in the former “Chauffeur’s House,” while the hotel administration will move into the former “Garden House”. A sustainable energy concept featuring heat pumps will be implemented across all buildings. In principle, the island is to remain car-free.

“In this transformation, we will preserve large parts of the historic ensemble, some of which is listed as a historic monument. However, new and modern structures will also be created that are designed to meet the high standards of sustainability, hospitality, and visitor experience,” emphasizes TUD Chancellor Jan Gerken. He heads TUD’s Unit Construction Measures managed by TU Dresden, which is coordinating the work on  Grillenburg Castle Island. “With today’s groundbreaking ceremony, we are now taking the next steps toward building a state-of-the-art and urgently needed science and conference center for TU Dresden and its partners. I would like to thank the federal government, the state, and the local municipality, as well as all those involved who are making this ambitious project possible”, emphasizes Gerken.

“The new Science and Conference Center will offer our university — as well as the partner institutions of the DRESDEN-concept research alliance (DDc) and, in the future, other key partners — excellent conference and networking opportunities combined with a high quality of stay. In the geographic heart of Saxony, we are creating a special place to come together and stimulate scientific collaboration and innovation,” says TUD Rector and DDc Chairwoman Prof. Ursula M. Staudinger. The consortium comprises a total of 47 partner institutions, including TUD Dresden University of Technology. They have joined forces to leverage synergies in research and teaching, as well as in research infrastructure and administration.

Saxony’s Minister President Michael Kretschmer underlines: “With the new Science and Conference Center at TUD Dresden University of Technology, we are creating a special place for research and interaction. Science belongs at the heart of our society. It must be visible, accessible, and engaged in dialogue with the people. At the same time, we are giving the long-neglected castle complex a new future. The Free State of Saxony is investing approximately EUR 18 million in this important project. This is a clear commitment to Saxony as a science hub.”

“The future of Grillenburg Castle Island is the result of a long journey,” explains Silvio Ziesemer, mayor of the town of Tharandt. “Over many years, we have had to repeatedly overcome setbacks and find new solutions. Thanks to the people who have worked to preserve this special place, a concrete vision has now emerged.  The collaboration between our city’s residents, dedicated individuals, political supporters, and TUD Dresden University of Technology shows that when people come together, a lot is possible.”

What happens next

Following the groundbreaking ceremony, work will begin in the coming weeks on constructing the access road, as well as renovating the Pöppelmann Bridge, which serves as the main entrance to the site. Likewise, the so-called “Damm 3” will be renovated to serve as the future access road to the Science and Conference Center. This will be followed by the demolition of outbuildings that are no longer needed, and the site will be cleared. In spring 2027, work will begin on the castle and the other historic buildings. At the same time, construction will begin on the new Modular Buildings for the lodging facility. The complex is scheduled to open in 2029.

The transformation process on Grillenburg Castle Island is being documented by the renowned architectural photographer Ivan Němec.  Once the New Hunter's House, which is part of the complex, has been completed, his photographs will be displayed for the first time in the exhibition spaces to be created there.

Background: Grillenburg Castle Island

Grillenburg Castle Island is located in the town of Tharandt, halfway between Dresden and Freiberg, and is set amid the idyllic natural surroundings and recreational use of the Tharandt Forest in the district of Saxon Switzerland-Eastern Ore Mountains, just outside Dresden. The “Grillenburg Hunting Castle complex” is listed as a cultural monument of the Free State of Saxony. It consists of the castle (built in 1655), the New Hunter's House (built in 1938) with the remains of a Romanesque cellar, four other buildings, three sculptures, an enclosure, and an arched bridge (attributed to the architect Pöppelmann) and a castle gate from the 12^th century. The castle building has ties to the Wettin dynasty, as it was first mentioned as the hunting lodge of Margrave Dietrich von Meißen. The complex was last extended in 1938/39 as a country and hunting residence with the New Hunter's House in Heimatstil, reflecting historicist influences.

Background: Development of the Grillenburg Castle Island Science and Conference Center

As early as 2025, emergency preservation work was carried out on the “New Hunter's House” using funds specifically allocated for historic preservation. The building permit application for the science and conference complex was submitted in January 2026, and the application for the “New Hunter's House” in May 2026. 

Starting in mid-September 2026, pre-construction activities will begin, including the construction of an access road, demolition work, site clearance, the removal of additional trees, and earthwork.  In the first phase, from November 2026 through April 2027, the access routes will be renovated and improved: the historic Pöppelmann Bridge (a stone arch bridge dating from 1730) and Damm 3 (built in 1937).

Renovation work and new construction on the castle island will begin in the spring of 2027, while renovation of the “New Hunter's House” will start in the summer of 2027. A call for bids for the lease of the science and conference complex will be issued in early 2027.

Construction is scheduled to be completed in early 2029. Then, a scientific and conference complex consisting of the castle and a new wing for meeting and conference rooms with approximately 1,150 square meters of gross floor area (GFA) will be available. In addition, there will be the Chauffeur’s House, along with a new extension for the lobby, dining areas, kitchen, and staff areas, with approximately 670 square meters of gross floor area (GFA); the Gardener’s House for administration (approximately 350 square meters of GFA); and three newly built guesthouses with 91 guest rooms and 160 guest beds (approximately 3,360 square meters of GFA).

The New Hunter's House will feature exhibition spaces and project rooms totaling approximately 1,800 square meters of gross floor area for museum use.  The restoration of the outdoor facilities in accordance with historic garden conservation principles, with a design suited to the site and its intended use, will also be completed by then. 

Funding

© BKM und Freistaat Sachsen

This project is funded by the Free State of Saxony. These funds are made available based on the budget approved by the Saxon State Parliament.

Media inquiries:

TUD Dresden University of Technology
Konrad Kästner
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