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:House of the Blackheads (Melngalvju nams) is a building situated in the old town of Riga. The original building was erected during the first third of the 14th century for the Brotherhood of Blackheads, a guild for unmarried German merchants in Riga. Major works were done in the years 1580 and 1886, adding most of the ornaments.
The structure was bombed to a ruin by the Germans June 28, 1941 and the remains demolished by the Soviets in 1948. The current reconstruction was erected from 1995 to 1999. Today the House of Blackheads serves as a museum and sometimes concert hall.