Köthen Castle

History of Köthen Castle
Köthen Castle, located north of the old town, follows an early German castle complex, located on an island on the southern edge of the Ziethe lowlands. The Ascanian Counts of Ballenstedt had their own property here, which they defended against an Elbe-Slavic attack in 1115. The Lords of Köthen held the castle as vassals.In 1156 and 1160 the Ascanians exercised judicial and feudal rights in and near (Hohen-) Köthen. They were first documented at the castle in 1244 and more often around 1320. Köthen Castle became a permanent residence in the 15th century, until the fire in 1547, in which only the northern west wing remained. From 1606 to 1853 there was an independent principality or duchy of Anhalt-Köthen.The preserved Renaissance buildings from the late 16th and early 17th centuries are strongly influenced by Baroque, but above all Classicist, redesigns from 1821-1833.Today the castle is owned by the Cultural Foundation of Saxony-Anhalt (headquarters: Leitzkau). With the renovation of the riding hall as an event center, the castle has become the cultural center of the city and a center for baroque music. The castle is culturally and historically significant as the place where court music director Johann Sebastian Bach worked in the years 1717-1723.
Source koethen-anhalt.de/de/schloss.html