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Germany, Pirna – Gateway to Saxon Switzerland – VIDEO
Published: 13.7.2022
On the way from Děčín to Dresden, you will not miss the town of Pirna with a populatio nof about 40,000 inhabitants, which serves not only as an ideal gateway to the Saxon Switzerland, but thanks to its beautiful historical center, it is itself a popular cruise destination.
The history of the town dates back to prehistoric times. Part of the Middle Ages, even Pirna, belonged to the lands of the Czech Crown. Due to its location on one of the most important trade routes in Europe, the city has experienced a lot of hard times, serving as a vast fortress for a long time. You can find a lot of interesting information from the history from the information materials in his streets.
The most important monuments include the Baroque Churchof the Virgin Mary, the Renaissance Town Hall with the Baroque Tower, the castle and chateau Sonnestein, the Church of St. Henry and the Elbe promenade. In the streets of the historic center you will see a lot of beautiful historic houses, which over the last 30 years have managed to repair almost all of them and return to their lives.
The Church of Our Lady was built in the first half of the 16th century and fortunately he managed to survive all the pitfalls and struggles for the city without any harm. Typical for him is a massive stone tower, and a rich net vault inside.
Church of St Henry was no longer so lucky. It was created as part of the local Dominican monastery and, after the Lutheran Reformation, was abolished together with the monastery to function as a warehouse for a long time. Fortunately, however, in the 20th century it was gradually restored and today it serves its purpose again.
Even Sonnenstein Castle is interesting for its history. Thanks to its strategic position on the rock above Labem, it has long served as a fortress and guarded the trade route from the Czech lands to Saxony. He came to the official status of the fortress in 1746. In 1811 the castle was transformed into the first German mental health institution. Unfortunately, around 14,000 people, mostly mentally ill, lost their lives during World War II. This cruel part of history today is part of the chateau resembling a museum.
From Pirna you can continue along the Elbe River to Dresden or the other side to the Saxon Switzerland. Königstein Rock Fortress, table mountains such as Pfaffenstein, and of course the world-famous Bastei Bridge are nearby.
Today we will visit the third largest federal state in the south-west of Germany, namely Baden-Württemberg, whose capital is Stuttgart, but our goal will be the university city of Tübingen, which is located around the Neckar river.
When visiting, just avoid weekends and German public holidays, we recommend to go off-season or at least for one whole day. Otherwise, get ready for a big rush.
Dresden is the most popular advent when we go to famous markets and also shop for Primark. But it would be a shame not to look through the historic city center, it is a beautiful and uplifting walk that will definitely be longer than you plan. In many places you will not be able to enjoy enough.
In the second half of the 19th century, King Ludwig II ruled Bavaria. After his rule, our western neighbors were left with an unfinished mansion, designed as a copy of French Versailles, remained on Chiemsee island. It doesn't matter that it's just a torso of the original plans. The perfect blend of beautiful natural habitat, opulent castle and gardens with the exciting story of an eccentric monarch attracts right attention.
If you want to take a trip abroad to see the gems of Czech-made architecture Czech s, you do not have to travel far. Only 1.7 km from the Czech borde, there is a romantic place in the German Saxony, which is historically linked to the Czech Republic.
Bad Schandau, a German town, is situated almost on the border. We set off from Mlada Boleslav and travel in the direction to Ceska Lipa and Decin. We cross the border at Schmilka border crossing which is mere 8 kilometers from our point of interest. Bad Schandau, as the name suggests, is a spa town. It is situated on banks of the Elbe River in the heart of Saxon Switzerland national park. Bad Schandau consists of nine districts – the old town of Schandau, Krippen, Porschdorf, Neuporschorf, Prossen, Schmilka, Postelwitz, Waltersdorf and Ostrau. As Bad Schandau is really a small town, there are several places to visit.
Right behind Decin the gates of Saxon Switzerland open. The origin of its name come from the times of two Swiss young men studying in Dresden who said the area reminds them of home.
Are you looking for a Via Ferrata where you can try all possible traps? There is rock called the Nun on the Czech-German border. A rope is winded around it as well as cramps, ladders, a bridge, overhangs, gorges, and abysses.
The beauty of the rocks lays in their grey color, variety, uniqueness, and silence with which they stand in nature. The stone is inanimate but the rock breathes and beats like your heart once you are on the top. We set of to Pfaffenstein mountain and Barbarine rock pinnacle. Both of the localities are along Saxon Switzerland’s most beautiful trail.
In the first article on the Free State of Saxony, we showed you the beautiful and fascinating history of Dresden, Leipzig and Pirna. We will continue in today's article, where we introduce you, although smaller, but more beautiful city or town that tourists sought the frontier region full of breathtaking nature, kind-hearted and hospitable people and excellent cuisine.
In the third part of our series of fascinating Saxon we introduce you town of Zwickau, well-known thanks for composer Robert Schumann, we take you to the town of miners Annaberg - Buchholz or try to entice you to visit the city "semi-precious stones and silver" to Freiberg.
In the last part of our series of fascinated history and nature of the country called Saxony, the city will introduce an important representative of Enlightenment Lessing, we stop in the town of Bautzen tower and finish our journey in Zittau.
Saxony is an area with rich history, beautiful cities, precious collections in museums, or famous cultural enterprises. The cultural wealth of the Free State of Saxony, one of Germany's 16 federal states, holds the status of leader in the field of tourism.
Information and warnings on travelling abroad is to be found HERE.
