In Germany, the nameMeissen is the legally registeredtrade name of theporcelain manufactory, whileMeißen refers specifically to the city and municipality.
The origins of Meissen as a political stronghold reach back to 965, when EmperorOtto I founded theMargraviate as afrontier march of theHoly Roman Empire, with Meissen as its capital. By the year 1000, it had grown into amarket town of strategic importance. In 1002,Bolesław I the Brave of Poland briefly seized Meissen, though EmperorHenry II reclaimed it within months. The fortress was again tested in 1015, when the Poles under the future KingMieszko II laid siege, though without success. In 1089, the margraviate passed into the hands of theHouse of Wettin, whose dynasty would rule Meissen and laterSaxony for centuries, making the stronghold a cornerstone of their power.
In 1241, the town was attacked during theMongol raid on Meissen. A small force underOrda Khan overcame the defenders, and much of the settlement was destroyed. The Mongols withdrew from Germany following the death ofÖgedei Khan, sparing the region from further devastation.
Meissen was at the forefront of theOstsiedlung — the intensive German settlement of the rural Slavic lands east of the Elbe — and its reception oftown rights dates to 1332. Construction ofMeissen Cathedral commenced in 1260 on the same hill as theAlbrechtsburg castle. The limited space resulted in one of the smallestcathedrals inEurope, yet it remains celebrated as one of the purest examples ofGothic architecture.
Meissen is renowned for itsmanufacture of porcelain, drawing upon extensive local deposits of china clay (kaolin) and potter'sclay. Meissen porcelain was the first high‑quality porcelain to be produced outsidethe Orient.
The first European porcelain was manufactured in Meissen in 1710, when, by decree of KingAugustus II the Strong, the Royal-Polish and Electoral-Saxon Porcelain Factory (Königlich-Polnische und Kurfürstlich-Sächsische Porzellan-Manufaktur) was established in the Albrechtsburg.[5] In 1861, production was transferred to theTriebisch river valley of Meissen, where the porcelain manufactory remains to this day. Alongside porcelain, other ceramics continue to be produced in the town. Within the streets of the old town, numerous porcelain shops have been established, many specialising in antique Meissen porcelain and occasionally offering repair services for damaged pieces. In Meissen and its surrounding area, several former painters from the manufactory have founded porcelain‑painting workshops and galleries, presenting their own works of porcelain art.
CathedralHohlweg from the bridge to Meissen Castle
The Albrechtsburg, former residence of theHouse of Wettin, is regarded as the first castle to be used as a royal residence in the German‑speaking world.[6] Built between 1472 and 1525, it is a fine example of the late Gothic style. In the 19th century it was redecorated with a series of murals depicting Saxon history, and today the castle functions as a museum. Nearby stands the 13th‑century Gothic Meissen Cathedral (Meißner Dom), whose chapel is among the most notable burial places of the Wettin family. The hill on which the castle and cathedral rise affords views over the roofs of the old town.
Meissen’s historical district lies chiefly around the market square at the foot of the castle hill and contains many buildings ofRenaissance architecture. Equally striking is the view from the 57‑metre tower of the Frauenkirche (Church of Our Lady), situated in the old market‑place. This church, not to be confused with theDresden Frauenkirche, was first mentioned in a deed of 1205 issued by Bishop Dietrich II, and after a blaze around 1450 was rebuilt in the late Gothic style as ahall church. Its tower houses the world’s first porcelain carillon, manufactured in 1929 to mark the town’s millennial jubilee. Another major attraction is the world‑famous Meissen porcelain manufactory.
From spring to autumn, several festivals are held in Meissen, including thepottery market and the Weinfest, which celebrates thewine harvest. Meissen wine is produced in thevineyards of the Elbe valley (Elbtal) surrounding the town, part of theSaxonian wine region — one of the northernmost in Europe.
Meissen is home to the Saxon public elite college, theSächsisches Landesgymnasium Sankt Afra zu Meißen. In addition, the town hosts the Saxon Civil Servants Academy and the Academy of the Evangelical Church of Saxony.
^Bachrach, David (1 August 2013). "Henry I of Germany's 929 military campaign in archaeological perspective".Early Medieval Europe.21 (3). Oxford: Wiley Blackwell: 327.doi:10.1111/emed.12020.S2CID161201353.
