History

Middle of the 14th century
Pillnitz is first mentioned as the manor of "Ludewicus de Belennewitz" (1335)

1694
The Elector Johann Georg IV. received the Pillnitz estate in exchange for the palace and office of Lichtenwalde.  Following the death of the Elector shortly after, Pillnitz passed to his brother Friedrich August, later known as "The Strong".

1706
August the Strong left the estate to his mistress Anna Constantia von Cosel, and she made it her permanent residence from 1713 to 1715.

1712 – 1713
Construction of the hedge area (Charmille)

1719
Pillnitz was one of the venues for the festivities to celebrate the wedding of the Elector Friedrich August and Maria Josepha, the daughter of Emperor Joseph I.

1720 – 1724
Construction of the water and mountain palace (according to the designs of Daniel Pöppelmann) as well as the temple of Venus, the palace church "Zum Heiligen Geist" was built in the nearby vineyards (to the designs of Matthäus Daniel Pöppelmann, dedication: November 1725)

1725
Construction of the jousting building, with a carousel mechanism inside with wooden horses and carts from which the ladies tried to spear hoops. Construction of the large open air staircase to the water palace (architect: Zacharias Longuelune).

1738 and 1747
Pillnitz hosted the wedding celebrations for the marriage of Princess Maria Amalia of Saxony with King Charles III. of Sicily (1738) and of Princess Maria Anna of Saxony with the Elector Maximilian III. Joseph of Bavaria (1747)

1788 – 1791
Construction of the residential wings on either side of the water and mountain palace (architect: Christian Traugott Weinlig)

1790 and 1804
Construction of the Chinese Gardens and the Chinese Pavilion (Pavilion by Christian Friedrich Schuricht)

1818
The old palace and Venus temple fall victim to a fire on the 1st May 1818

1818 – 1830
Construction of the new palace with kitchen and chapel wings

1859 – 1861
Construction of the palm house, which was at that time the largest cast-iron conservatory in Germany

1864
Construction of the gate houses on Aha-Graben

1866
Planting of the lilac courtyard

1874
Planting of the conifer grove

1879 – 1880
Race building converted to the orangerie

1946 – 1956
Saxony's main museum with items from Dresden's art gallery.

1963
The Arts and Crafts museum moves to Pillnitz

1990 – 1995
Restoration of the vineyard church

1991 – 1994
External maintenance to the wings of the water palace, the kitchen and chapel wings of the new palace and the glazing of the palm house

1992 – 1996
Restoration of the Chinese and English pavilion, the mountain palace including its wings Restoration of the old sentry post and the pheasant house in addition to the construction of the Camellia house

1993
The palace management company Staatliche Schlösser und Gärten Dresden is constituted as part of the Saxon palace management

1998 – 2002
Restoration of the water palace

August 2002
Hundred year floods

2003
Reconstruction of the royal court kitchen

2006
The palace museum opened in the New Palace on the 22nd June. For the first time Pillnitz had a museum in which visitors can enjoy vivid, realistic portrayals of the history of the palace complex and the courtly life of its inhabitants, the vogue for chinoiserie, the baroque celebration and entertainment culture, and the religious life in the palace.