15 years Women's Places
The state-wide women’s history project “FrauenOrte Sachsen-Anhalt” (Women’s Places Saxony-Anhalt) is funded by the state of Saxony-Anhalt and was launched nationwide for the first time in spring 2000. On 24 September 2008, the Luisium became the fourth Dessau place of remembrance to join the circle of Women’s Places and was marked with the striking grey and white information board. Fifteen years later, the birthday of Princess Louise Henriette Wilhelmine of Anhalt-Dessau, née von Brandenburg-Schwedt (1750-1811) is once again an occasion to recall the exciting female history of the Anhalt dynasty.
“Initially intended only for summer stays, the palace was modified from 1792 for year-round living. Since then, the princess, who had separated from the prince from 1786 onwards, lived alternately here and in her “Grey House” in Wörlitz. In the Luisium, Princess Louise received her contemporaries in a seclusion of her own choosing, free from the obligations of the court, including the writers Elisa von der Recke and Friederike Brun, who were friends of hers. She gave the house a personal touch through a collection of paintings featuring works by artists she supported.
These lines are now clearly legible again on the FrauenOrte information board. The board could be renewed thanks to the fundraising during a FrauenOrte guided tour by tour guide Dr. Monika Kaiser and with funds from the city’s Equal Opportunities Department.
The Saxony-Anhalt Women’s Places Coordination Office, the Dessau-Wörlitz Cultural Foundation and the Equal Opportunities Officer of the City of Dessau-Roßlau invite you to attend:
on Sunday, 24.09.2023 from 11:00 a.m. to the 15th FrauenOrte birthday in the church of St. Bartholomäi in Waldersee and in the Luisium in the Garden Kingdom of Dessau-Wörlitz!
On 24 September 1774, Prince Franz gave his wife Louise the plot of land on which the small castle and the idyllic landscape park are located today as a birthday present. Later, the castle became a private retreat for the princess. From the south portal of the castle, a long visual axis leads to the church of Waldersee, under whose tower Franz and Louise of Anhalt-Dessau found their final resting place.
On the occasion of the 15th FrauenOrte birthday, those interested will have the opportunity to visit the church of St. Bartholomäi in Waldersee and the burial place of the princess and her husband at 11.00 a.m.. Afterwards, it will also be possible to climb the tower. Donations for the church tour are requested.
Meeting point: 11.00 a.m. in front of the church, Goltewitzer Straße 23 in 06844 Dessau-Roßlau OT Waldersee.
Afterwards we will walk together to the Luisium Park to attend the ceremonial unveiling of the renewed Women’s Places plaque at the east gate of the Luisium.
The castle’s castellan Corinna Meyer invites you to a special guided tour “From the cellar to the roof” through the private retreat of the princess (€ 5 p. p.). Not only the representative rooms of Luisium Palace will be shown, but also the mezzanine floor with an exhibition about the restoration work of the house as well as the attic. The tour ends in the Belvedere, from where you can enjoy a magnificent view over the landscape.