Every winter, Germans and Czechs rewatch "Drei Haselnüsse für Aschenbrödel" (Three Wishes for Cinderella)—and this is where the magic was filmed. The golden shoe on the east staircase, the horse chase on the garden ramp. But beyond the film legend lies a Baroque hunting palace where Augustus the Strong displayed his power over nature itself.
The "Canaletto View" Approach
Most visitors take Bus 477 to the main parking lot and miss the best angle entirely. The superior approach: park FREE at the Fasanenschlösschen lot, then walk 15 minutes toward the castle. This route offers the famous "Canaletto View"—the distant silhouette of the palace rising from its lake, the perspective that made it famous in 18th-century paintings.
Visitors arriving by bus or the main lot only see the castle close-up. Walking away to see it reflected in the water requires a deliberate detour. From the Fasanenschlösschen approach, the arrival becomes the experience.
Where Cinderella lost her shoe—the east staircase of Moritzburg Castle, film legend since 1973.
— On the cult film's legacyArchitecture: Hunting Palace on Water
Augustus the Strong transformed a modest Renaissance hunting lodge into this symmetrical Baroque vision. Four matching towers, ochre walls reflected in artificial lakes, a landscape engineered for royal hunts. The castle sits on an artificial island surrounded by carp ponds—the Friedewald pond system—that served both aesthetic and economic purposes.
The Leather Wallpaper
Rare gilded leather wall coverings survive from Augustus's era—one of the finest collections in Europe.
Feather Room
A bed created entirely from nearly one million feathers—a gift from Augustus's exotic bird collections.
Fasanenschlösschen
The "Little Pheasant Castle" 2.5km away—a Rococo jewel with a miniature lighthouse and harbor.
The Golden Shoe
Film fans find it on the east staircase—the exact spot where Cinderella's shoe was placed in 1973.
The Steam Train Trap
The Lößnitzgrundbahn—the steam railway from Radebeul—looks romantic but comes with two hidden costs. First, the €12 surcharge per person (even with a Deutschland-Ticket). Second, the 1.9km walk from the station to the castle—25 minutes of additional friction. The Bus 477 drops you at the gates; the train drops you in the countryside.
Quick Facts
Tips for Travelers
Navigating construction, surcharges, and the Cinderella crowds.
Bus 477 Disruptions (2025-2026)
Major construction on Großenhainer Straße is forcing Bus 477 into diversions. Add 15-20 min to travel times. Check the DVB app on the morning of your visit.
The Free Parking Hack
Skip the paid Schlossallee lot (fills by 10am during Cinderella season). Park FREE at Fasanenschlösschen (P2) and walk 15 min—you'll get the iconic Canaletto View.
Sachsen-Ticket = Steam Train Excluded
The Sachsen-Ticket covers Bus 477 but NOT the steam railway. Historical trains are explicitly excluded. A family of four on the Lößnitzgrundbahn owes €48 in surcharges.
No Dogs in the Park
Dogs are strictly banned from the inner gardens and castle—not just a leash rule but a "no entry" rule. Free dog kennels at the Orangerie if you must leave them.
The Cobblestone Track
The courtyard is rough cobblestone that destroys stroller wheels. Look for the smooth "Rolli-Spur"—a flattened track built specifically for wheelchairs and walkers.
Book Cinderella Exhibition
November to February, the winter Cinderella exhibition creates multi-hour waits. Pre-book online for timed entry or risk being turned away.