River Elbe - Czech republic
spring (source):
The river sources on Labska meadow in Giant Mountains, it mouths in North Sea in Germany.
flow length:
1154 km
Article
Germany, Saxon Switzerland: The World Famous Königstein Fortress
Published: 28.9.2023
Amazing compound on the rock, a bending of River Elbe, everlasting fame, travellers' lectures, educative travel games for children.
The article is brought to you:
The Fortress Lies at the Heart of Saxon Switzerland leží v srdci Saského Švýcarska
If you travel from Usti nad Labem it takes you about an hour and 50 kilometers. You mostry travel in beautiful landscape so it feels like it passes shortly. Dresden is only 25 kilometers from Königstein.
Königstein Is Larger than 13 Football Fields
Easy to see, impressive – these are the adjectives one can link to fortress Königstein. A bizzare rock compound rises 247 meters above the ground. Once this was an unconquerable stronghold. It offers an amazing vista over the Bohemian Switzerland park, the Elbe and Labske Sandstones protected landscape. The trail following the walls is about 2 kilometers long. The vistas you may see here are worth the trip. At the fortress, you may see the chapel, treasury, dungeon, the oldest barracks in Germany (1589–1590) or Saxony's deepest well.
Charles' Stone
The first documented evidence of Königstein fortress comes from the year 1233. The entire compound consisted of three buildings in the 14th century: Kaiserburg today known as Goergenburg. Then there was the burgrave residence (Kommandantenhaus plus there was a castle chapel (Garnisonskirche), a garrison chapel.
Aboluste Focus, 250 Meters above the Elbe, Adrenaline in the Air
Various events take place at the fortress including treasure hunts, concerts, exhibition, slackline, or highline 250 meters above the ground featuring vista over Lilienstein. Tree stumps are getting hit by Supertrail Show including Dustyn Alt with his BMX bike and great line of tricks. Also, there are permanent exhibitions which you can see throughout the year.
Bakery in Fortress: Baked Goods, Desserts, Cakes
Don't forget to visit the fortress bakery where you can smell traditional bread made according to the oldest recipes. Huge walls surround the entire compound and you can walk easily around it. There are many Czech tourists. Therefore, all information materials, leaflets, guide books and even an audio guide are all in Czech.
GPS: 50°55'07.1"N 14°03'25.4"E
Text: Šárka Vacková
Photos: Šárka Vacková, Wikimedia Commons: Fritz-Gerald Schröder
Related Articles
Published: 18.3.2014
On a high hill above the Labe soon before people started to call the longest Czech river Elbe, in German, there is Strekov Castle, the gem of industrial city of Usti nad Labem.
Published: 20.6.2019
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.
Published: 10.8.2020
A great way to spend a sunny summer weekend is a trip to the Lusatian Lakes (Lausitzer Seenland), located in Germany, about two hours by car from Prague.
Published: 27.7.2022
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.
Published: 20.7.2022
There are several table mountains in the Bohemian Switzerland. Pfaffenstein is one of the most visited, mainly due to the views and iconic Barbarine rock tower. Let's go up together now.
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.
Published: 30.6.2021
This time we will explore the southeast of Germany. Bavaria. We will visit remarkable towns, natural monuments and tourist attractions. So sit back comfortably and read the lines to follow.
Published: 3.8.2022
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.
Published: 24.8.2023
For a pleasant stroll along the coastal promenade and a touch of history do not look just for the Mediterranean sea. If you like a lighter climate, head to the Baltic Sea. One of the options is the city of Rostock. And today we take a walk in its downtown.
Published: 17.7.2018
This small village in the Decin region has always treated its visitors well. Jetrichovice belongs to one of the centers of the National Park Czech Switzerland Švýcarsko and the nearby Jetrichovice walls attract all types of visitors – families with small children or experienced climbers alike
Published: 10.7.2018
Near Decin there is the vast rocky area of Tiske Rocks, the westernmost area of the Labske Sandstones. Dozens of grandiose sandstone towers rise as high as 70 meters. If you happen to know the Chronicles of Narnia movies some scenes at the beginning of the Lion, Witch, and Cupboard movie were shot there.
Published: 3.7.2018
If you go on a trip to the Czech Switzerland National Park, you should definitely miss one of the most popular parts - the gorge of Kamenice River near Hrensko, where you can also enjoy riding on a boat and many great rock formations.
Published: 21.9.2022
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.
Published: 17.8.2022
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.
Published: 10.8.2022
Metal sound of carabiners, metal ladder, craps, sharp edges of the rock, unforgettable vista of Labe valley.
Published: 23.11.2015
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.
Published: 18.9.2014
The city of Usti nad Labem is here for bicyclers, touristsand their children to elevate and amuse them. Read further to learn how it does it. If you are native to Usti and you think that there is nothing more to surprise you in the city, read further. Probably you learn that even for you there are couple of novelties you have not known about yet.