Back قلعة كولديتز Arabic Colditz (hrad) Czech Colditz slot Danish Schloss Colditz German Κάστρο του Κόλντιτς Greek Castillo de Colditz Spanish قلعه کلدیتز Persian Colditzin linna Finnish Château de Colditz French Caisleán Colditz Irish
 | This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (May 2011) |
| Colditz Castle | |
|---|---|
Schloss Colditz | |
 Castle Colditz in 2011 | |
  | |
| General information | |
| Architectural style | Renaissance |
| Town or city | Colditz |
| Country | Germany |
| Coordinates | 51°07′52″N 12°48′27″E / 51.1310°N 12.8074°E |
| Client | Augustus of Saxony |
| Owner | State Palaces, Castles and Gardens of Saxony |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect(s) | Hans Irmisch Peter Kummer |
Colditz Castle (or Schloss Colditz in German) is a Renaissance castle in the town of Colditz near Leipzig, Dresden and Chemnitz in the state of Saxony in Germany. The castle is between the towns of Hartha and Grimma on a hill spur over the river Zwickauer Mulde, a tributary of the River Elbe. It had the first wildlife park in Germany when, during 1523, the castle park was converted into one of the largest menageries in Europe.
The castle gained international fame as the site of Oflag IV-C, a prisoner-of-war camp during World War II for "incorrigible" Allied officers who had repeatedly attempted to escape from other camps.