Wechselburg Porphyry Bridge

Here, in 1543, Duke Moritz of Saxony and the Lords of Schönburg exchanged the Zschillen seat for land in Saxon Switzerland. Since then, Zschillen has been called Wechselburg.

Porphyry tuff (petrified lava ash) from Rochlitzer Berg was used to build the bridge.There are parking lots for hikers on both sides. The Benedictine monastery is enthroned on the mountain behind the bridge ⛪️

Two larger-than-life figures greet visitors at the Mulde Bridge, right at the entrance to Wechselburg. They each hold a castle in their hands and symbolize the exchange of castles and territories between Saxony's Duke Moritz and the Counts of Schönburg in 1543. This exchange gave Wechselburg its current place name, which before the exchange was "Zschillen" (= bee village). The picturesque Muldenbrücke itself was built from Rochlitz porphyry between 1844 and 1846 as a replacement for an old wooden bridge. In April 1945 a bridge yoke was blown up. In 1995 a thorough reconstruction took place.