STEADFAST, PIOUS AND HARD-DRINKING

500 Years of World History

The exhibition takes visitors through the historic rooms of the Electoral Chambers, the Bottle Tower and up to the Electoral Gallery in the Castle Chapel. It offers insights into everyday life at the Electoral Saxon court. How did the Electoral couple live? What did they eat? Who lived in the ladies’ chambers and where did they pray?

The view from the Electoral gallery into the Castle Chapel still demonstrates / reflects the Elector’s perspective on the Reformation: Torgau is presented as a centre of power, and Elector Johann Friedrich as a political head of the Protestant movement.

The construction history and use of the castle from the 1530s to the present day is brought to life. A dedicated room on ‘Torgau Fortress’ explores its military use in the 19th century. A gigantic ball track and an ‘information cannon’ provides a striking insight into living conditions at the Torgau garrison and fortress.
 

Authentic rooms – staged through multimedia

Traces of the past are visible in many ways within the historic building fabric. Modern methods of museum education in the authentic chambers have replaced the lost interior features from the Renaissance era.

Guests are welcomed personally by Elector Johann Friedrich and his wife Sibylle, depicted as animated avatars.

A particular highlight is the museum display in the dining room inside the so-called bottle-tower, where two historical periods – the opulent Renaissance and the austere Prussian fortress era – come together in a single room. The reconstruction of the vaulted ceiling brings the splendour of the historic dining room back to life, without concealing the military alterations made to the room.