The palaces, castles and gardens (SBG) in Saxony remain a magnet for visitors. Last year, a good two million guests flocked to the fee-paying facilities - around the same number as the year before, the state-owned company Schlösserland announced. With around 313,000 guests, Pillnitz Palace and Park was the destination with the most paying visitors, even though there were almost 94,000 fewer than in 2024. The reason given was not only the bad weather. The restricted operation of steamboats on the Elbe and the closure of the Museum of Decorative Arts also led to the decline.
Schlösserland with savings concept
Almost all locations introduced additional closing days. Nossen Castle was closed, the operating hours of the trick fountains were reduced, special exhibitions were dispensed with and some events were canceled. Nevertheless, despite the gloomy omens, 2025 turned out to be a very successful year, according to the SBG company. It attributes this primarily to successful exhibitions such as the Cinderella show in Moritzburg.
Energy costs could be reduced
Sinking energy costs also helped to reduce cost pressure. A photovoltaic system in operation in Altzella Monastery Park. The palm house in Pillnitz Palace Park was given a tailor-made "energy screen": the historic plant protection house, which is glazed on one side, is home to exotic plants that require constant temperatures and therefore have enormous energy requirements. Thanks to an additional protective layer, which is now extended at night in winter, savings of up to 30 percent are expected.
