A typical multiview postcard showcasing the sights of Freiberg . In the lower right corner is Freudenstein Castle . The current version of the castle was completed in 1577 and formed part of the town’s defensive system during the Thirty Years' War . During the Seven Years' War , the castle’s interior was heavily damaged. In 1784, the military took over the building and converted it into a magazine (an ammunition storage facility). In 1813, it was used as a hospital for 1,500 wounded soldiers. The town of Freiberg assumed ownership in 1957, and the castle served as a granary until 1979. In 1973, a youth club even operated in the basement. From 1980 to 1990, a heritage organization was based at the castle and worked to rest ore it to its 1577 appearance.

Michelle sends a beautiful card of a lake and mountains, but it doesn't indicate where it is. I can only speculate those are the Ore Mountains in the background.  I've written about Frieberg before so I had a look at the notable people that lived there and the name Kunz von Kaufungen stuck out for me. He was a German knight and military commander that lived from 1410 -1455. He fought for Frederick II, Elector of Saxon against Frederick's brother Duke William III during the Saxon Fratricidal War He is known for kidnapping Frederick's two sons, Ernest and Albert, from the castle in Altenburg and called Prinzenraub (the stealing of the princes). It was revenge for Frederick not repaying von Kaufungen for the damages or the ransom that wasn't paid to him from losses during the Saxon Fratricidal War. Frederick argued he was a hired soldier and he wasn't bound to make good on von Kaufungen's losses.  Prince Albert was rescued the same night of the kidnapping, and ...

Freiberg is a former mining town, best know now for being a university town. Freiberg annually hosts the Mining Town Festival (Bergstadfest) on the last weekend of June. The historic Miners' and Ironworkers' Guilds have a parade.  Eric's card has a quote from Joan of Arc: "I am not afraid...I was born to do this." She apparently uttered these words before her execution.

Michelle and her husband live in Freiberg, a university town and former mining town in Saxony. Mining and smelting dominated the economy for 800 years until 1969. The Technische Universität Bergakademie Freiberg  ( Freiberg University of Mining and Technology) is the oldest university of mining and metallurgy in the world. It was established by Prince Franz Xaver in 1765. The Ore Mountain Mining Region is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Today, Freiberg's economy has focused on high technology in the fields of semiconductor manufacturing and solar technology.