Purschenstein Castle in Neuhausen/Erzgebirge was built in the late 12th century, around 1200, probably by Boresch I (Borso). The toll and escort castle protected a salt road running from Central Germany to Bohemia. This long-distance trading route, also called the Old Bohemian Track (Alter Böhmischer Steig), ran from Leipzig past present-day Neuhausen and over the Deutscheinsiedler Saddle towards Prague.
After numerous changes of ownership, Schloss Purschenstein was owned by the von Schönberg family for more than 500 years - whose princes and counts found their last resting place in the family crypt in the castle park.
In GDR times, the castle was used as a children's home and cultural center. After the castle burned down to a large extent on April 3rd 1989, it was partially renovated between 1990 and 2001.
In 2005, the castle was bought by a Dutch businessman. Since then it has been renovated and houses a hotel, the Schlosshotel Purschenstein.
References:Towering 52 meters above the sea, Bengtskär lighthouse is the tallest one in Scandinavia. The building started in in 1905 after the shipwreck of S/S Helsingfors and was completed in 1906. The lighthouse was designed by architect Florentin Granholm. On December a special petrol lantern, designed and built in Paris, was brought to Bengtskär and installed atop the tower.
German fleet bombarded Bengstkär in the First World War in 1914. Since the Gulf of Finland was heavily mined, it was not until 1919 that the surrounding seas were declared safe for shipping, that the light was lit again.
After the war the military value of Bengtskär increased as part of the defence system of independent Finland. In Second World War (1941) Soviet Union made a suprise attack to island. After a bloody battle, the small Finnish garrison emerged victorious. Intermittent repairs to the facility continued during the post-war period.