When?  Due to yet still unexplained reasons the purpose of the castle can be postulated to have been as a Border fortress in 930 under Heinrich I.  In the 13th Century the castle belonged to the Dohnins which can be substantiated in the title deed of 1286 in which Otto von Dohna and his cousin Otto von Crafenstein swapped Liebstadt for wineyards in Kötschenbroda and farming land in Potschappel.  After the Dohnaschen era 1402, Meißner Markgraf Friedrich der Jüngere appointed the brothers Günther and Heinrich von Bünau as lords of the town and castle.

Why?  Already in the early middle ages there existed three passes through the Elbtal (Valley) over the heights of the Osterzgebirges (mountain valley) which led into the Teplitzer Kessel.  The middle pass (road) passed through Liebstadt.
Security and safety against attacks from knights and robbers was expected from the fortress Liebstadt.  In the 15th Century the castle along with Lauenstein, Weesenstein and Bärenstein formed a bulwark against attacks from the Hussiten.

How Large?  In comparison with other Saxon castles Kuckuckstein is small.  The total width is 41.5m.  The tower reaches a height of 29.5m, the main building (Tafelhaus) - from the townside - is 26.5m in height.  However the tower is an additional 13m above this.  From this differential it becomes evident that the castle is not built on a Plateau but on a natural slope of the mountain.  Impressive since the strength of the walls vary from 2.50m to 3.50m in the cellars and on average are 1.5m in the different buildings.

Who?  After the already mentioned Lords von Dohna and the Bünaus followed irrelevant owners like Wedelbusch, Birkholz, Berisch, Hanisch, Francke, untill 1774 when Hans Carl August von Carlowitz took possession.  Under his family’s ownership the castle experienced its greatest period.  Neogothic extensions were added.  1800 saw the building of the Freimaurerloge.
Carl Adolph, son of Hans Carl August made a name for himself as a patriot and antagonist of Napoleon.  Friendship and common interests with Freiherrn von Stein, Novalis and Kleist ensured a progressive stance for the family.

During 1931 due to total insolvency the castle came under a mortgagee sale including furnishings and the collection of art.  The Industrialist von Mayenburg from Dresden bought the property who in turn sold it to General von Leoben who held it until 1945 when it was nationalised.

The Crest
The Liebstädter town crest - seven lillies on a red background - has its origins with the Bünaus.  The red background reflects the danger of war, the lillies hospitality to all pilgrims who passed through Liebstadt on their pilgrimage to Bohemian Monasteries..  The crest (Kleeblattwappen) - the identity of the castle has been seen in the town since 1774 when the Family von Carlowitz took up residence.  This crest from the wide flung family is still today evident in many districts of Saxony.

What Style?  Besides the tomen foundations/walls and altars one can find in the yard and tower gothic elements in the form of windows and doors.  The influence of Arnold von Westfalens (Albrechts castle Meißen - Vorhangbogenstil) is unmistakable.
The additions and changes are neogothic, sentimentalgothic, and romantic old German, so that the entire complex gives an impression of a complete entity.

Who was Geissler?
1790 - the ideas generated by the French Revolution were taking shape in Germany.  Christian Benjamin Geissler formulated his “Pro Memoria”, and eight point thesis on the improvement of conditions of ordinary men.
Geissler organised a peasant protest march to Dresden Pillnitz which initially met success.  However, he was arrested and the protest was crushed.  After 15 years of incarceration at Torgau and an adventurous escape and a new arrest he came under the protection of Carl Adolph von Carlowitz which he enjoyed until his death.  A plaque has been erected at the old Geissler house at Pirnaer Straße 10.

What Changes?
After the Castle was nationalised the rooms and cellars were used for storage.  In 1952 the castle went to the city.
In 1962 restoration began under the Institute of Historical Restoration.

What else?

Weiße Marter
First of all, the “Weiße Marter” near the “Roten Vorwerk” on the road Berthelsdorf-Seitenhain, first mentioned in the 17th Century.
Previously equipped with a figure of Christ made of stone, this pillar of prayer served as a rest area for the pilgrims travelling to Bõhmen.
Stone Crosses
The Crosses of sin; from the seven Crosses of Liebstadt, five were washed away by the great floods of 1804.  Two were preserved.  A third was found during Mason work.  All three stand by the Glashütter road.

930 / 40     -  Possible date of the castles founding by Heinrich I
until 1286     Burggrafen von Dohna

1410  -  For military exploits the castle is transfered from Markgraf von Meißen to Günther and Heinrich von Bünau

1655  -  new owner of castle becomes Detlef von Wedelbusch

1691  -  bequeathed to Cuno Christoph von Birkholz

1743  -  sold for 60 500 Taler to the shipping and mercentile magnate Hanisch

1751  -  sold for 75 000 Taler to the Kommerzienrat Francke

1774  -  Mortgagee sale to Hans Carl August von Carlowitz for 40 407 Taler

1931  -  Mortgagee sale to Heinsius von Mayenburg for 244 000 RM

1932  -  Managed through General Major Eckhart von Loeben

1945  -  Nationalised - becomes the property of the Ministry for Land and Forestry for the state of Saxony

1952  -  Property of the City Council of Liebstadt