On the foundation walls of the former Weißenfels castle, the residence of the Weißenfels dukes, "Schloss Neu-Augustusburg", was built in the form of a monumental three-wing complex between 1660 and 1694. The castle served as the residence of the Saxon branch of Saxony-Weissenfels until 1746 and quickly developed into a cultural stronghold.
Johann Beer acted as ducal concertmaster at the Weißenfelser Hof, while Johann Phillip Krieger held the position of court conductor. Personal physician to Duke Johann Adolf I from Weißenfels was a certain Georg Handel, who one day took his seven-year-old son with him to Weißenfels. Little George Frideric Handel played the castle church organ in the presence of the Duke so impressively that he convinced his father to provide musical training for his son.
Thus Weißenfels is considered to be the place of discovery by Georg Friedrich Handel. Another world-class artist is also associated with Weißenfels Castle: Johann Sebastian Bach was the court conductor here.
Opposite the Komödiensaal, in the north wing, is the impressive castle church of St. Trinitatis, which is still preserved today and is one of the most beautiful early baroque churches in Central Germany. Equipped with frescoes and splendid stucco work by Italian masters as well as a Förner organ, the church has another treasure ready in the basement: the princely crypt with lavishly decorated tin and wooden sarcophagi of the dukes of Saxony-Weißenfels.
The museum in Neu-Augustusburg Castle now houses an exhibition on the Duchy of Saxony-Weißenfels and the history of the city. There is also the largest shoe museum in the new federal states with shoes from all over the world and from prominent personalities. The castle church and constantly changing special exhibitions can be viewed during opening hours.