Page 184 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Germany

182  EASTERN GERM AN Y SA X ON Y  183

e Sächsische Schweiz 2 Festung Königstein
This powerful fortress was built in the second
Saxon Switzerland, the wonderfully wild region around the half of the 16th century on the site of a
gorge cut into the Lusatian mountains by the River Elbe, medieval castle, and altered in subsequent
centuries. Spectacular views have made it a
features stunningly bizarre rock formations and several popular tourist destination.
formidable castles. The best way to explore the area is on foot
as many places are inaccessible to cars. Alternatively you can 3 Lilienstein
admire the spectacular scenery from a boat, on the Elbe. This tall rock, which has to
be climbed on foot, rewards
the visitor with splendid
1 Großsedlitz This vast Bautzen views of Festung Königstein.
Baroque park, established after Bischofswerda
1719 to a design by Johann
Christoph Knöffel, continues
to delight visitors to this day
Market square with Renaissance Rathaus with its flower beds and
(town hall) in Pirna numerous sculptures. Gr. Röder
w Pirna
Road map F4. * 38,000. £ @
n Am Markt 7 (03501-55 64 47).
_ Stadtfest (Jun). ∑ pirna.de
In the old town, on the banks
of the River Elbe, Pirna has
preserved an amazingly regular,
chequerboard pattern of streets. 4 Burg Hohnstein
Time has been kind to the many The castle, which holds
historic buildings in this town. DürröhrsdorfDürröhrsdorf within its walls a
Its greatest attraction is the Polenz medieval building, is
Marienkirche, a late-Gothic now a museum and one
hall-church with fanciful of Germany’s largest
vaulting designed by Peter youth hostels.
Ulrich von Pirna and painted E L B S A N D S T E I N
E L B S A N D S T E I N - -
by Jobst Dorndorff, in 1545–6.
Inside, an original late-Gothic G E B I R G E
font and a Renaissance main Heidenau
altar can be seen. Dürröhrsdorf
Other interesting buildings Pirna Elba Rathen
Elba
are the mid-16th century 7 Stolpen The 35-year-old
Rat haus (town hall) with its Countess Cosel, one of
Gothic portals, the beautiful Augustus II the Strong’s Weißig
houses in the town square mistresses, was imprisoned
and the ex-Dominican, Gothic in this castle, built on rock. JJ
church of St Heinrich. Schloß Elba 5 Bad Schandau A small spa that is
Sonnenstein, extended during popular as a base for walking tours
the 17th and 18th centuries, Gottleuba into the surrounding mountains. A
towers above the old town. small railway, the Kirnitzschtalbahn,
JJ Schmilka takes visitors to a scenic waterfall, the
Environs Lichtenhainer Wasserfall.
10 km (6 miles) southwest of
Pirna is the picturesque Schloß
S A C H S I S C H E S C H W E I Z
Weesenstein, much altered S A C H S I S C H E S C H W E I Z
from its Gothic origins until the Tips for Visitors
19th century. It houses a small 6 Bastei The Length of tour: 41 km (25 miles).
museum with an interesting “bastion” comprises Teplice Stopping places: inns and
collection of wallpapers. so-called inselbergs – Key restaurants in every town.
bizarre, tall rock Tour route Suggestions: walk from the
+ Museum Schloß Weesenstein formations that rise railway at the Lichtenhainer
Müglitztal, Am Schloßberg 1. abruptly. Connected 0 km 4 Road Waterfalls to the Kuhstall (cow
Tel (035027) 6260. Open Apr–Oct: by foot-bridges, they Scenic route stable) and Barbarine needle rocks.
9am–6pm; Nov–Mar: 10am–5pm offer splendid views. 0 miles 4
Tue–Sun.
For hotels and restaurants in this area see p494 and pp514–16 For map symbols see back flap

182-183_EW_Germany.indd 182 09/10/17 12:49 pm 182-183_EW_Germany.indd 183 09/10/17 12:49 pm