National park saxon switzerland temperature in november. Bohemian Switzerland, or Lost in the Lost World. Pirna - a cozy resort town

On Saturday, February 18, responding to the offer to go to day hike in Saxon Switzerland (not to be confused with real Switzerland), I spent one of the most interesting days In my life.

For a long time I was not impressed by the landscapes, moreover, they were right next to me, only 2.5 hours from Prague. Saxon Switzerland(German Sächsische Schweiz) - the German part of the Elbe Sandstone Mountains. She is on upstream Elbe river near Dresden. Bastei (German Bastei - bastion; height 305 m above sea level), in turn, is a formation of sandy rocks with an observation deck between the Rathen resort and the city of Velen.

The rocks rise above the Elbe to a height of 194 meters. The Bastei is the most visited tourist attraction in Saxon Switzerland. Part of a natural park that includes both Saxon Switzerland and Bohemian Switzerland (in the Czech Republic). It is a very popular place for active rest– walking and cycling excursions, as well as rock climbing.

To a traveler who has seen the views, asking himself another question where to go and what to see in Germany, I can safely recommend Bastei as one of the unique and unusually beautiful places in Europe.
Combining desires for wanderings, the Prague and Dresden Russian diasporas met in Saxony to make this fascinating journey together, to which I invite you, friends ...

Our route

The route ahead of us is one of the easiest offered by the Dresden tourist club "IGW". Only 15 kilometers on foot through the mountains, and you are guaranteed a great appetite, and since the best ribs in Prague were waiting for us in the evening, the mood throughout the day was super positive.

"Green" ferry, operates without any fuel. It is attached to the right bank with a long cable and makes pendulum movements between the banks due to the flow of the river and correctly set rudders (at a high water level in the Elbe, it is replaced with an ordinary one).

A round-trip ticket costs 1.5 euros.

Meeting with my cat's cousin James.

The sculptural composition, consisting of images of people and animals, are symbols of nearby rocks.

Gaining altitude...

The first peak of Gamrig is taken!

Photo for memory with my Hanover-Brest-Salihorsk friend, the famous joker and traveler Seryozha Kondobarov.

View from the plateau to the mountains and Rathen resort.

View of the rock Lokomotieve, which means locomotive, or our train.

Little climber.

Centuries-old pine trees make an impression, they are just very tall, next to you you feel completely insignificant 🙂

A group of 25 people easily stretches for hundreds of meters, you can’t crowd in the mountains, and everyone has a different one. In order not to lose onlookers, in any professional trip there is a leader and a trailer.

people in winter time practically non-existent in the resort. That's why we actually ended up there 🙂

If you want to test a person, go with him to the mountains, no one has canceled this folk wisdom. We had a positive team, everyone helped each other, by the way, most of the participants in the campaign, if you noticed, were women, for which they have great respect.

Everyone's favorite is the Siberian brown-eyed husky.

Collective photo for memory.

In such places, willy-nilly, you think about the eternal. How many people have walked these paths over hundreds of years, and the trees are still standing and growing.

During difficult descents, I sometimes had to remove the camera from my shoulder in my backpack. The danger of damage to equipment exists even in such a simple walk through the mountains. By the way, I fell out of the blue, but the technique and I remained intact. The effect of fogging the lens can also be used as an artistic technique, right?)))

The Elbe is well frozen in these places, but checking for the sake of just checking the thickness of the ice is very Russian ...

Mountain resorts in Europe attract even more tourists in summer than winter ones. Hiking, horse riding, cycling and other types of tourism are very popular. This is facilitated by good infrastructure, most of tourist paths, for example, stone or asphalt.

Almost all restaurants and hotels are closed - out of season.

You walk along such paths and you feel like in a real fairy tale.

The power of water is infinite, but it is frost and frost in Saxony. A huge block of ice is a frozen waterfall.

Uuuuuuuhhh, but this is Bastei! When a cliff a good hundred meters high is under you, this is a very strong feeling, a feeling of freedom, at least.

View of the Elbe

The German resort of Rathen from the Bastei height.

It is unacceptable not to take a picture in such a valid place, especially on a wedding day 🙂

Hike leader Grigory Tsypin, candidate master of sports, championship winner Soviet Union By sports tourism and just a good person.

The most recognizable place of Bastei is Bastei a stone bridge(Basteibrücke), which is over 200 years old.

Bastei is literally surrounded by viewing platforms. Even in 1800, the place was very popular among tourists, attracting artists and writers. The famous Felsenschlucht (Canyon) painting, painted
Caspar David Friedrich in this unusual place.

Oh, to shoot from such a unit!

Saxon beauty...

Going down the icy stairs is not the safest activity, but there are no insurmountable obstacles. And a little extreme is always fun.

The forest is beautiful at any time of the year, even in cold February. By the way, it is quite hot in the mountains, especially when you are not standing still. Experienced travelers took off their sweaters at the beginning of the trip.

Details of the German resort town of Rathen.

The whole walk took us about 7 hours. The mood for the whole week and sound sleep were guaranteed to us ...

Saxon Switzerland this is the German part of the Elbe Sandstone Mountains. It is located on the upper reaches of the Elbe River and begins not far from Dresden. The name Saxon Switzerland originated in the 18th century thanks to the Swiss artists Adrian Zingg and Anton Graf, who recalled the local landscape to their native land, the Swiss Jura. Prior to this, the Saxon part of the Elbe Sandstone Mountains was called the "Meissen Plateau". The new name became popular through the publications of Wilhelm Götzinger. In his books he described Saxon Switzerland and made the name known to the general public.
The pearl of Saxon Switzerland, for my taste, of course, is Bastei.

Bastei- these are sandy cliffs with an observation deck on the right bank of the Elbe River between the Rathen resort and the town of Velen and is located at an altitude of 305m above sea level. The rocks rise above the Elbe to a height of 194 meters. Bastei is one of the most visited tourist attractions Saxon Switzerland and popular place for climbing.

The name Bastei comes from the word bastion, which indicates that these steep cliffs were included in the defensive ring of the Neurathen rock castle.
Since about 1800, the rocks have been considered a tourist attraction, and many artists have walked along the so-called "artist's path" (Malerweg). Caspar David Friedrich painted his paintings here, the most famous of which is Felsenschlucht - Rocky Gorge.

With the increase in the number of tourists visiting the Bastei, two trading shops appeared in 1812. Two years later, a protective railing was erected on the observation deck. In 1926, the weather shelter was expanded and converted into a restaurant.

In 1924, under the name Basteibrcke, a wooden bridge appeared, which connects the Bastei with the Steinschleuder and Neurathener Felsentor rocks. In 1851, the wooden bridge was replaced by a sandstone bridge, which has a length of 76.5 m and covers with its 7 arches a deep 40 meter gorge called Mardertelle.

But with such stone cannonballs, the defenders of the fortification fired at the attackers.

Rathen- a commune in Germany, a resort located in the region of Saxon Switzerland. He looks very nice with Bastai.

Lichtenhain Falls located in the valley of the river Kirnich.
Initially, the natural small waterfall of the Lichnenhai village stream, located high on sandstone cliffs above the valley of the Kirnich River, did not arouse much interest from tourists. Therefore, it was decided to dam it in 1830 with a retractable dam. The dam was run by a villager who opened a small restaurant near the waterfall and opened the dam for money. The restaurant building was built in 1852.
Tourist guides and chair porters offered their services at this place in the 19th century. The historical price list with prices ranging from 2 to 5 gold marks - depending on the distance - still hangs in a wooden booth near the waterfall.
Lichtenhain Falls has become one of the main historical tourist attractions in Saxon Switzerland, since the opening of the narrow-gauge Kirnichtalbahn in 1898, it has been visited by hundreds of thousands of tourists.

Kirnichtalban- intercity and suburban tram in the Kirnich river valley in Saxon Switzerland.

The length of the track is 7.9 km (originally 8.3 km). The tram runs on a meter gauge and connects the resort of Bad Schandau with the Lichtenhain Falls. Opened in 1898, the line has always served primarily tourist purposes.
In 1994 the historic dam was restored. Since then, every half an hour, to the music of the "opener of the waterfall" for three minutes, the water is lowered down.

And this is how the border with the Czech Republic looks like, we stopped there to eat and refuel.

Fortress Königstein is located on the Rocky Plateau with an area of 9.5 hectares and rises 240 m above the Elbe River.

The first written mention of the fortress on Mount Königstein is in the charter of the Czech king Wenzel I back in 1233, in which he refers to information received from Burgrave Gebhard vom Stein. The medieval fortress belonged to the Bohemian kingdom. The full name Königstein first appears in the Upper Lusatian Boundary Charter of 1241, on which Wenzel I. stamped “in lapide regis” (Latin: on the king’s stone). On behalf of the king, the fortress was expanded, the king understood well what important strategic importance this fortress had over the Elbe. The Elbe at that time was the main trading artery.

On April 25, 1459, the Saxon-Bohemian border was finally determined by the Treaty of Eger. As a result, the fortress passed into the jurisdiction of the Margraviate of Meissen.

From 1500 to 1839, after the death of Albrecht the Bold, these lands were ruled by his third son Duke George the Bearded. He once studied theology, but soon left the clergy and married the daughter of the Polish king Casimir IV, Barbara. He was an ardent opponent of the Reformation, although he recognized the dark side of the Catholic clergy. Especially it was restored against the teachings of Luther by the Peasants' War and the Rebaptists. He considered it necessary to take strict measures in relation to heretical teaching and carried out visitation of churches in his state, to which even the University of Leipzig had to submit. This caused controversy on Luther's part, in the heat of which Luther called George "a Saxon murderer, a diabolical apostle and a stupid nobleman." However, all the efforts of George were in vain, as he did not try to eradicate church abuses, the Reformation continued to gain adherents, especially since his successor, brother Henry V, converted to Protestantism, and the attempt to deprive his brother of the throne failed.

George the Bearded was a knight of the Order of the Golden Fleece. And he got the nickname Bearded because after the death of his wife he stopped cutting his beard.
Georg the Bearded created in 1516 on Königstein a Celestine monastery, but the monastery lasted only until 1524 - after the death of the Duke of Saxony it became Protestant.

national park Saxon Switzerland located in German territory, in Saxony. It includes a geological region called Saxon Switzerland. The total area of the park is 93 km2. The first attempts to preserve the nature of Saxon Switzerland were made at the beginning of the 20th century.

The unique local landscape was under threat due to the construction of sand pits, as well as roads, which were actively built in the region. In 1850, part of these lands received the status of a protected area. This happened thanks to the initiative of numerous opponents of destruction. natural conditions Elbe valley. Various actions to protect the region continued for the next 60 years. The most serious of them occurred in 1880, 1896, 1902 and 1911.
Under the auspices of the public, in 1877 a ban was introduced on the development of sandstone deposits and the extraction of stone, if rock massifs, including the Bastei massif, were destroyed. However, this measure was not enough to fully protect the region from the destruction of natural resources.

In 1910 a society for the defense of Saxon Switzerland was founded. In 1912, the Polenz area received protected status, and in 1930 a proposal was made to assign protected status to the entire region. In 1938, the Bastei nature reserve was established, and in 1940, the Polenztal. Finally, in 1956, the Saxon Switzerland National Park was organized. At that time, its area was 370 km2.
One of the most important conditions for granting Saxon Switzerland the status of a national park was the efficient division and preservation of dynamic natural areas. In accordance with this requirement, Saxon Switzerland is divided into four such zones.

The root zone occupies 23% of the total area of the park and represents its main natural reserve. Natural zone A is open to visitors and covers 37% of the protected area. natural area B is 58% of the total area of the national park. This area is distinguished by a significant degree of protection of nature from human activity. Finally, the protection zone (38%) is regularly maintained by the national park staff.

Among the most important attractions of Saxon Switzerland is a huge rocky massif of stone - Bastei, which rises 198 meters above the Elbe. From many ledges there is a beautiful view of the Elbe and the mesas. In 1812, the first hotel was built on these lands. Therefore, the rock is popular among tourists not only because of the bizarre shape of its massif, but also because there are some memorable places. One of them is a stone bridge built at the end of the 19th century, as well as the famous Artists' Trail, which was visited by a large number of famous artists, including painters.

In the Saxon Switzerland National Park, you can see animals that are not found in the rest of Germany due to human activity. Many of these animals live on the east side of the park. It is not visited by tourists. Many representatives of the German fauna and avifauna are protected on this territory: martens, deer, wild boars, bats, snake, viper, kingfisher, black stork, woodpeckers, hawks, owls. Salmon and trout are found in local water bodies.

Route of the second day in Saxony.

Meissen - Pirna - Saxon Switzerland (near Lomen) - Bad Schandau - Czech Switzerland (near Hrensko) - Decin (overnight).

Pirna is a cozy resort town.

The first stop on our route was Pirna. The town is located 25 km southeast of Dresden on the banks of the Elbe River. On an excellent German road, we did not notice how we arrived in Pirna.

First of all, we are looking for where to park the car. I really liked the organization of parking in this city, as well as in Germany as a whole.

A lot of parking spaces in the center, close to the Old Town. There are open parking lots, but we chose the floor parking. Interestingly, instead of a restaurant or a hotel in Pirna, such a 4-storey parking lot was built, for about 80-100 cars.

Parking rates are available.

Everything is compact inside.

When we returned, we paid for parking at the cash machine at the entrance.

To pay for parking, a parking ticket was inserted into the slot, which was taken from the machine at the entrance (in the photo on the left). Paid at the cash machine in cash. As a result, we received a receipt for payment. (pictured right). When leaving, he was inserted into the slot of the parking machine.

Walk through the Old Town of Pirna took us about 1 hour. But this time was enough for us to fall in love with the town. I would love to stay here for a few days. Well, how can this not impress?! home Marktplaz.

Pirna- a surprisingly colorful ancient Saxon trading town. He is already about 8 centuries old. Viewers of the popular German TV channel MDR called Pirna the second most beautiful city in Saxony. In that resort town many tourists come. Pirna is called the gateway to Saxon Switzerland, a national park with many hiking, climbing and cycling trails. There are many ancient castles near the city. There is a Geibeltbad Pirna water park in Pirna with pools and saunas for relaxation after an active holiday.

Pirna is famous for its good wine. The Saxon Wine Route tourist route starts from this city, runs along the Elbe and ends in (the town we talked about in the last article).

Great choice in Pirna good hotels, apartments, guest houses, To find and book accommodation, just follow the direct links below:

Favorable special offers and promotions of Pirna hotels, see the form below:

Pirna is also known as a global supplier of sandstone. Many buildings and sculptures in the city are made from this stone. Sandstone for the first time in the world has become a material even for a modern local playground. Blocks of Saxon sandstone from Pirna were delivered to old times and now also in many countries of the world. Notable European imperial palaces were built from stone quarried in Pirna. For example, magnificent palaces, sculptures and churches of Dresden. The slogan of the modern city is “Pirna – Sandstein voller Leben”, which means “Pirna – sandstone filled with life”.

Along the shopping street we head from the parking lot to the Old Town of Pirna. The resort is just waking up. Some shops are still open.

Very original and cute gifts.

We go out to main square Old town (Altstadt). It's called Marktplatz which means "market place". Since ancient times, there were shopping arcades here. Interestingly, the Old Quarter was restored relatively recently - in the 1990s. Many buildings were damaged during the Allied bombing in 1945. Pirna was badly damaged by the floods of 2002 and 2013. But the city, after being flooded by the waters of the Elbe, was again put in order. Around -traditional German "ordnung". Everything is somehow “smartly gingerbread”, a very pleasant atmosphere.

There is an old well on the square, water flows from the tap. We don’t know if we can drink it, but you can refresh yourself on a hot summer day))

In the center of the square rises town hall. She is in the photo on the left. The building was built in 1396. For many centuries the Town Hall was a place for trade. There were shops of merchants, shoemakers, cloth makers, and bakers. Now it is a city administrative building.

Above the main entrance to the Town Hall - ancient sundial and coat of arms of the city of Pirna with red lions and golden pears on a tree.

On the other side of the Town Hall, a beautiful clock with a golden-black dial is clearly visible. They also have moon calendar, phases of the moon are shown. Under the clock is the coat of arms of the city of Pirna from 1549, and below is the old Saxon coat of arms from 1555. They are both made of the symbolic city stone - sandstone.

white building Canalettohaus with a pointed Gothic roof and windows, it was built on the square in 1520. The house was named after the medieval Venetian landscape painter, court painter of the Saxon elector Frederick Augustus III Bernardo Bellotto, known as Canaletto. He painted cityscapes. He liked Pirna so much that the artist dedicated 11 paintings to her in 1753-55. Some of these works are presented in the Dresden Gallery.

This picturesque house on Marktplatz now houses an exhibition of copies of paintings by Canaletto and tourist centre. In it we took free map the city, along which they built a further walking route along Pirna.

There is a very tragic and terrible moment in the history of Pirna. It is associated with the castle, which rises on a hill above the Old Town. It can be seen well from many streets and from central square. In the photo - high to the right behind the white house of Canaletto. We do not plan to climb to it, but we will tell about its tragedy.

This is Sonnentscheit Castle, its name in German is Sonnenstein, literally translated as “sun stone”. The castle was built on the hill in the 13th century. From 1811 to 1942 it housed a psychiatric hospital.

During the Second World War, Sonnenstein Castle became a testing ground where methods of mass destruction of people were developed. It all started in 1934 after the National Socialists, led by Hitler, came to power. At that time, the ideas of “racial purity” were embodied in the country. How unfit people were sterilized or killed, suffering from hereditary, mental, serious illnesses, disabled people. Officially, the process was called "euthanasia" or "death for good." This was done in several treatment centers and psychiatric hospitals in Germany. Among them was Sonnenstein. The methods were different: the patients were starved, they were given drugs in large doses, they were given lethal injections.

The Sonnenstein Psychiatric Hospital was one of the first in which they launched the “T-4 death program”, they began to massively destroy sick people in gas chambers. The crematorium furnaces were also built there. In two years, from 1940 to 1942, almost 15 thousand people were killed here, of which more than 1000 were prisoners of war. After such "tests" gas chambers for "racial purges" were installed in Auschwitz and other concentration camps. In 1947, the chief physician and orderlies of the Sonnenstein hospital were sentenced to death.

Since 1970, a rehabilitation center for the disabled has been operating in the castle. And since 2012, after reconstruction, individual halls and the garden of Sonnenstein Castle are open to visitors. In the photo - on the horizon at the end of the street you can see the castle on the hill.

From Markplatz we headed to the main St. Mary's City Church.This is a large beautiful Lutheran church, built in 1546. Its Gothic 60-meter tower is visible from afar.

Inside the church there are unique sights of the 16th century: an original 10-meter stone altar, a stone baptismal font with 26 miniature sculptures of children. They were created (like the entire temple) from local sandstone. Also in the church of St. Mary are kept paintings of 1544-1546 with scenes from the Bible and an old organ. The church hosts classical music concerts.

It can be seen that the resort town - wakes up late. We didn't manage to get into St. Mary's Cathedral. It turned out that it opens only at 11-00. The morning resort of Pirna, along with shops and cafes, is just waking up (and this is at 10! in the morning).

The main entrance to the city church of St. Mary.

Walking in the morning Pirna is very pleasant. Tourists are just waking up and you can enjoy the almost deserted streets and squares of the city. There are many old houses around. Each of them has its own history, keeps its secrets.

In the old building in the photo on the right, there is now a restaurant, and in the Middle Ages, since 1578, there was a Golden Lion pharmacy here.

Above the entrance to the house is a figure of a golden lion and a commemorative plaque. It is dedicated to the hero of Pirna, the city pharmacist Feofil Jakobaer. It reads: “Here lived T.H. Jakobaer - the savior of our city on September 25, 1659.” During the 30-year war, the Swedish troops captured Pirna - they robbed, destroyed, mocked the inhabitants. They planned to burn down the city. The pharmacist, having learned about this, went to Dresden and through the court appealed to the Saxon princess Magdalena, a friend of the Queen of Sweden, with a request to cancel the decision to destroy the city. Pirna was saved, and Theophilus Jakobaer became a hero and was rewarded with privileges in the pharmaceutical and brewing business.

The city library of Pirna is located in an old house of the 17th century. Above the entrance is a portal with a lion's head from 1770, carved from Saxon sandstone.

On many buildings in Pirna, you can see exquisite old balconies. They have been preserved since the 16th and 17th centuries.

And in this house, on the way to the Marienbad resort, the famous German poet Goethe stopped in April 1813. In 1925, the leader of the German Communists, Ernst Thalmann, delivered a speech.

This original monument was installed in Pirna recently. It is dedicated to the most prominent citizens of the city in its entire history: the burgomaster, the first bishop, a trumpeter, merchants, ordinary people who did their job every day.

The interesting Pirna City Museum is housed in ancient building Dominican monastery, founded here in 1300 (address - Klosterhof st. 2/3).

The Dominican monastery and the Church of St. Henry were restored and became active for parishioners in the 1990s.

A high stele was erected in Pirna by order of Elector Augustus the Strong in 1722. It bears the coat of arms of the royal family. By the way, she is depicted in the paintings of Canaletto. On this pillar are engraved the old names of different German cities and distances to them from Pirna in hours. 1 hour is approximately 4.5 km. For example, to the German town of Annaburg - 25 hours, or almost 112 km. To Meisen, where we came from today, 17 hours or 76 km. An interesting system for measuring distances))) Everything is logical, the most practical information at that time about the amount of travel time. Why in the 17th century these kilometers))

The Germans care about the environment, electric bicycles have been added to electric vehicles. Here is a free charger for such bikes.

Acquaintance with cozy resort town Pirna left warm impressions. And we are heading to the natural attractions of Saxony. We moved across the bridge. On the way, we consider the modern part of Pirna, already on the other side of the Elbe.

Saxon Switzerland. Bridge Bastei.

Saxon Switzerland is a national park with a stunningly picturesque mountain landscape, 30 km southeast of Dresden. It occupies an area of 9.5 thousand hectares on the border of Germany and the Czech Republic. Its neighbor is the Bohemian Switzerland National Park. Both parks are part of the Elbe Sandstone Mountains, which are part of the Eastern Ore Mountains.

Where does this name come from and what does “Switzerland” have to do with it. Until the 18th century, this area was called the “Meissen Plateau”. Swiss artists Anton Graf and Adrian Zing, who taught at the Dresden Academy of Arts, have chosen these places. The mountainous area above the Elbe with gorges, waterfalls and ancient castles reminded them of their native Switzerland and the Jura mountain range. Hence the name “Saxon Switzerland”.

We have come here for this beauty.

In the 1800s, Swiss artists traveled here themselves and invited other landscape painters for inspiration and beautiful views. Masters of brush and photography travel to Saxon Switzerland even today. Throughout the park, through all the main natural and architectural attractions, one of the most beautiful tourist routes of modern Germany stretches for 112 km Malerweg, which means “Path of Artists”. It offers the most breathtaking views of the surrounding landscape. It is interesting that in 2016 it entered the top three most popular routes in the world.

In the 18th century, tourists and climbers followed the artists here. Shops, a restaurant, a hotel were opened for them. In 1824, between the rocks built famous bridge Bastei. Today it is one of the most popular attractions in Saxony.

The most convenient way to get to the Bastei bridge is by car, it can also be done by S-Bann train to Raten or Wehlen, by bus from Pirna (No. 237, 238) and Bad Schandau (No. 253), or in summer by boat from Dresden. If you are traveling by car, it is easier and faster to get to the Saxon Switzerland park through the town of Lomen. Which is what we did.

We followed the signs to the parking lot near the main entrance to the park. The cost of parking is 3 euros. Entrance to the Saxon Switzerland park is free. The fee is taken only for a walk through the remains of the 13th century fortress Neurathen. These are bridges between the mountains further than the Bastei bridge. The price for 4 of us is 12 euros.

Helpful advice: for a walk in Saxon or Bohemian Switzerland, comfortable clothes, buried shoes, water are required, and in summer a headdress is desirable. Although it was hot, we all changed into sports sneakers. There are many rocky paths in the parks.

Next to the parking lot is the entrance to the Saxon Switzerland National Park. There are information stands with maps and information about the park in different languages.

We turned off the main road onto a side path. This is such a breathtaking panorama. Mountains of such an elongated shape with a flat top and steep edges are called table mountains. One hundred million years ago, during the Mesozoic era, this place was an ancient ocean. Sand settled to the bottom for hundreds of meters and in several layers. When the ocean waters left, the volcanoes split the sandy bottom into many pieces. Water and wind completed the formation of a unique landscape.

The main path led us to the hotel, souvenir shops and restaurants. In 1812, the first restaurant was built near the Bastei bridge, a little later, the Berghotel Bastei. This hotel has a rich history and an excellent reputation. Today the Berghotel Bastei is the winner of numerous awards. It is considered one of the best in Saxony.

Even for dogs there is a service)))

Behind the restaurant and the hotel, several rocky paths begin, they have many steps, all equipped with railings. Although you walk between the peaks of the mountains, you feel safe (this is information for those who are afraid of heights))). And you look down and around - it takes your breath away from the unreal beauty.

First of all, we went to observation deck with stunning postcard views. It is located on a high cliff, which rises 194 meters above the Elbe. This is what we wanted to see when we planned our trip!

The people on the court are like herring in a barrel. We made our way to the railing. A “dream photo” in the background and alone is a rare success here. And this is on a weekday. Where without a “pink blouse” in the background))).

In the distance, Mount Lilienstein is the largest table mountain in Saxon Switzerland. To its right, on a smaller mountain, rises the fortress of Königstein, a powerful fortification of the 12th century. At different times, it served as a defensive fortress, a monastery, a prison, a prisoner-of-war camp and a place for storing paintings of the Dresden Gallery during the Second World War. In Königshtat, the alchemist Johann Betherr, a prisoner of the fortress, imprisoned in it by order of Elector Augustus the Strong, invented the first European porcelain in 1709. From this began the production of the now famous Königstein Fortress - a popular tourist attraction in Saxony.

The picturesque bend of the Elbe. Seen below ferry crossing and two shores of the city - Rathen resort. This small ancient town climatic resort. Here the cleanest air, calm atmosphere, unique nature Saxon Switzerland with mountains, waterfalls, Amselsee lake, rhododendron park, near the ancient fortresses of Königstein, Stolpen and Lomen, waterfalls, Bastei Bridge, Miniature Railway attraction, summer Rathen theater among the rocks.

The ferry in Rathen is a unique, environmentally friendly mode of transport that still operates on a technology invented by the Dutch in the 17th century. It moves without a motor and without exhaust gases polluting the nature. This is a rope ferry. It is held on a long cable, which stretches several hundred meters upstream along the river and is fixed near the shore.

The ferry runs regularly from one side of the Rathen to the other. This is convenient for independent travelers who come here by train. by boat from Dresden or stopped at Rathen hotels. To get from Rathen to the Bastei Bridge, you need to cross the Elbe by ferry. A ferry ticket costs 1 euro (det. 0.50 euros) one way, in both directions - 1.8o euros (det. 0.80 euros). Further along the famous “Path of Artists” you need to climb to the Bastei Bridge. The climb up the steep path with numerous steps can take 30-60 minutes, depending on your fitness level.

And we continue to walk along the paths and steps of the park. Another bridge and a wonderful panorama of Saxon Switzerland.

Does the color of these mountains remind you of anything? The famous noble shade of palaces and churches! They were built from Saxon sandstone, which was mined in this area. The extraction of the stone proceeded at such a pace that the existence of Bastai and its environs was threatened. In the 18th century, people stood up to protect the unique mountains. Reserves were gradually created, and after the fall of the Berlin Wall and the unification of Germany, this territory was united into the huge Saxon Switzerland National Park, and in the neighboring state, the Bohemian Switzerland National Park. Now the original natural landscape is under the protection of the state, and sandstone mining is regulated by law.

The famous Bastei bridge rises 40 meters above the gorge. Its 7 arches organically fit into the mountain landscape. The length of the bridge is 76.5 m - such a long observation deck with magnificent views to the neighborhood! The first wooden bridge was built on this site in 1924. Over time, it fell into disrepair, it became dangerous to walk on the boards. Within two years, in 1854, a new stone bridge was built from local sandstone.

The Bastei Bridge is one of the most visited attractions in Saxony. There are always a lot of tourists here.

The original round observation deck on the bridge. Miraculously photographed without tourists in the background))

There are plaques on the rocks.

On the other side of the Bastei bridge, behind a wooden palisade, are the remains of the 13th-century Czech castle Neurathen. (Entrance here is paid - 3 euros). He guarded the borders of the Czech Republic and trade routes on the Elbe. It was one of the biggest impregnable fortresses that time. It occupied an area 700 meters long and 100 meters wide. Fortifications were built on the flat tops of the rocks, connected by log bridges. There was also a drawbridge here. The castle was destroyed by fire in 1469. Since 1485, it passed from the Czech Republic into the possession of the Saxon Margraviate of Meissen. Now almost nothing has survived from it: the remains of walls, an ancient water storage, a catapult and large stone cannonballs, which were once fired upon by enemies from the height of the fortress.

From the castle paths of the Neurathen fortress (pictured right), amazing views of the surroundings open up.

Beautiful pictures of the nature of Saxon Switzerland and from the Bastei bridge.

Saxon Switzerland is very popular among climbers. Can you see the climber?

And he is))

Although there are many tourists here, so sometimes there was a traffic jam on the paths, but the park is definitely worth a visit. Saxon Switzerland is very cozy, beautiful and unusual.

We are moving towards the next destination of today's itinerary - Czech Switzerland. The road passes through the resort town of Bad Schandau. It is known for excellent rehabilitation and health resorts, Wellness centers, healing thermal baths, good resort hotels. Interestingly, Bad Schandau is the most Small town in a world where trams run. Even in Bad Schandau (ul. Dresdner Str. 2 B) there is an information center of the Saxon Switzerland National Park. This is an interactive exhibition that tells about the flora and fauna, about the history and modernity of the park.

We drive into the city of Bad Schandau.

The road runs along the Elbe.

We stopped at a local supermarket, bought German beer and goodies good prices. For example, a 0.5 liter bottle of the famous Saxon beer Radeberg costs about 0.50 cents. For comparison, a bottle of Coca-Cola is twice as expensive))

Here is the view from the parking lot of the supermarket to Elba.

And here we are again in the Czech Republic. Former checkpoint on the border between Germany and the Czech Republic. Now the Elba is changing its name - it sounds in Czech “Labe”))) The road here is very picturesque: on the one hand, the waters of the Labe River, and on the other, the rocks of the Elbe canyon rise.

Bohemian Switzerland, or Lost in the Lost World.

On the border with Germany, there is an equally beautiful “neighbor” of Saxon Switzerland – the Bohemian Switzerland National Park. This is part of the Elbe sandstone mountains in the Czech Republic. Stunning nature, unique mountain landscape, deep gorges, caves, clean air, silence, many hiking and cycling routes, ancient castles and authentic houses, fabulous sculptures and local legends - that's what Bohemian Switzerland is rich in.

We arrived at Hřensko (Grzhensko, Czech Republic). It is called the gateway to the Bohemian Switzerland National Park. The town is located 55 km from Dresden, 130 km from Prague, 40 km from the Bastei Bridge in Saxon Switzerland and only 10 km from Decin, where we plan to stay for the night.

What is unique about Grzhensko: This is the lowest area in the Czech Republic. The city is located only 115 m above sea level, although thanks to the surrounding rocks, there is no such feeling. The nature and climate around Grzhensko are also unusual - they feel great in the lowlands mountain plants. Exotic adds that in this town there are more Chinese than local residents. What are the Chinese doing here? And they sell souvenirs and Chinese clothes.

Grzhensko consists of almost one street along the small river Kamenice, which flows into the Labe.

The architecture of the old houses of Grzhensko is very colorful. Next to the luxurious palaces - hotels of the XIX century, here, under the overhanging rocks, there are neat rural houses older age.

The town was founded here in the 15th century. The great Czech trade route ran along the Elbe. At first, there was a tavern on the site of Grzhensko, where merchants and tree rafters stopped by to rest and eat. Later, workers built huts near the grain and timber, salt and glass storages. From the 17th century, Grzhensko became a major trading city. In these places, they harvested and processed wood, ground grain in three large mills, mined sandstone, traded in mushrooms, salt, charcoal, and even traded in smuggling. In the summer of 1838, the first steamboats began to run along the Elbe.

On the left in the photo - ancient buildings Grzhnesko and the Church of St. John of Nepomuk, built in 1787

Only in the 19th century, the enterprising owner of the pandom, Prince Edmund Clari-Aldringen, realized how attractive his land was for tourists. He began to actively develop the tourism industry. In the 1830s, hotels and inns were built in Grzhensk. In 1862, a company appeared in the city that sold photographs and postcards with the sights of Grzhensko.

In 1879, the Bohemian Switzerland Mountain Society was created. Its members built and equipped with railings, steps, benches, bridges hiking trails and viewing platforms, also published popular magazines, and held meetings. In 1898, two gorges with boat crossings were opened to visitors. During World War II, a branch of the Nazi aircraft factory worked in the adits of Grzhensk. The town and park of Bohemian Switzerland was revived for tourists after 1964, when trails and gorges were reopened after reconstruction.

One of the famous attractions of the park - Pravchitsky Gate, or Pravcicka Brana, in Czech - Pravcicka brana. This is a huge sandstone arch, which was formed millions of years ago by natural "sculptors" - volcanoes, water, wind. Its maximum height is 21 m. An 8-meter arch bridge connects two sandy mountains. The trail to Pravcicka Brana has been open to tourists since the 1830s. Interestingly, the famous storyteller Hans Christian Andersen climbed here.

Near the castle "Falcon's Nest" 1881 Former summer residence Prince Edmund Clari-Aldringen, the founder of the tourist destination in the development of Bohemian Switzerland. The castle was erected in a year by Italian craftsmen on the site of a wooden pub. Now here on the second floor there is the Museum of the National Park, and on the first floor there is a restaurant in which the original wall painting has been preserved. From the Pravchitskaya bran, a wonderful view of the surroundings opens up.

Many sources claim that this is the largest "natural bridge" in Europe and the world, but we have seen more on. On about. Gozo has the Azure Window. The stone arch rises 28 m above the sea. The numbers sound dry, but nothing compares to the delight and surprise when you see such an incredibly powerful and majestic natural structure nearby.

Malta, about Gozo, Azure Window

Today we have already admired the mountain landscape from the Bastei Bridge in Saxon Switzerland, so for a change in the remaining half day we decided to take a walk along the bottom of the gorge Edmund And go boating on the river Kamenica.

Practical information about Czech Switzerland:

Mandatory - comfortable clothes, closed sports shoes, a hat in the summer, water with you.

Entrance to the Bohemian Switzerland Park is free. For boats and Bran, payment is accepted in kroons and euros.

Pravcická brana

Price walks along the paths and observation decks of Pravcicka Brana - 75 kroons (3 euros) - adult, 25 kroons (1 euro) - children's ticket.

Edmund's Gorge

Working hours: From April to September, boats operate from 9:00 to 18:00, in October - from 9:00 to 17:00 every day. The last boat in the direction of Grzhensko departs at 18:00, and towards Mezna at 17:30. (in October, respectively, an hour earlier)

Cost of skiing on the boat: 80 kroons (3 euros) - adult, 40 kroons (1.5 euros) - children's ticket.

Wild Gorge

Working hours: From April to September from 9:00 to 17:00, in October from 9:00 to 16:00 daily. The last boat in the direction of Grzhensko departs at 17:00, and towards Mezna Luka at 16:30 (in October, respectively, an hour earlier)

Boat price: 60 kroons (2.5 euros) - adult, 30 kroons (1 euro) - children's ticket.

How to get to Grzhensko public transport: Regular buses from Decin (on the way 15-20 minutes) and Bad Schandau go here almost every hour. They can also drive deep into the park, to the villages of Mezhna or Mezhni Luka, from which hiking trails begin in the park. You can also swim by boat from the city of Decin, from the German cities of Bad Schandau, Dresden and Meissen. These cities are easily accessible by train.

Buses run through the park, stops are marked on the map with a BUS sign.

Parkings: Grzhensko has 4 municipal car parks and several private ones. All of them are shown on the map. Parking fee: 30 kr (1 euro) per hour, 120 kr (4 euro) per day.

Hotels in Czech Switzerland: There are hotels and pensions in Grzhensko and the surrounding villages of the park. At the same time, you will stay in the heart of Bohemian Switzerland and be able to enjoy nature, tranquility, active hiking and cycling tourism. You can book accommodation through this link:

See also special offers with discounts of hotels in Czech Switzerland.

Here is the most difficult moment for those who travel to Czech Switzerland for the first time. And if everything is certain with Pravchitska Brana (except for travel time), then we “hit” with the gorges. We will show you all the best walking routes on the map. In the meantime, let's talk about our adventures in Czech Switzerland. We named them "Lost in the Lost World".

We put the car in the first parking lot. A pleasant woman, an usher, who understood Ukrainian perfectly, presented us with a plan-map of Czech Switzerland. We warned that we would park for 2 hours. (According to the map... Oh! Optimists.!))) She smiled and said that this was not enough, but you could pay extra for parking later.

Here is a map of Czech Switzerland that we received. It is in German and Czech.

When we were planning a route in Czech Switzerland, we read the reviews of other travelers. Many walked in a big circle: from point 1 - through all points - to point 6. Everyone wrote that the walk takes a lot of time, but no one specifically said anything, it looked something like this: "passed, looked." The only thing they wrote is that everything is done in a day. But since we arrived in the afternoon, and were in the mountains of Saxon Switzerland, we decided not to inspect point 2 (Brahma). We wanted to walk through the city of Gzhensko from point 6 (parking) and take a boat ride in the Edmund Gorge between points 5 and 4. And then return the same route or walk to a stop in the village. Mezhna and come to the parking lot by bus.

"Pitfalls" of thisarts .

It does not indicate where the ascent or descent is, which is inconvenient when planning a route.
Distances in km are shown only on roads, and ALL walking routes are measured in MINUTES, not meters or kilometers. Here is the "trick".

Practice has shown that it actually takes at least two to three times more time to walk along the route than it is written on the map. Also keep in mind that on the way it takes a little time to take photos - pauses, because there is amazing beauty around.

3. How does a person feel when expectations are disappointed? Unpleasant feelings of confusion, fatigue from expectation and irritation from the fact that in reality everything is not so. These are our feelings during the passage of the second half of our route, when the information on the map did not coincide with reality at all. Therefore we were "Lost in the Lost World".

And now everything is in order. Our example of what route not to take. “You don’t go there, you go there, you go there”)))

Grzhensko is an interesting town. With pleasure we walked along its only street, looking at the houses and funny garden figurines that are sold along the road.

We are looking forward to it. Behind the bridge and the Pension Soutěsky hotel (on the right in the photo), a beautiful path to the gorge begins. The car could have been parked here, but this way we had a better look at Grzhensko.

At the beginning of the trail there is an information stand with a map, distances, timetables for the boats and their last departure, so that the tourist does not walk in vain. Everything is written optimistically))) Here you can see that the first yellow section 1 km long takes 20 minutes. In city mode, we walk faster. But here something went wrong. We walked it to the gorge and the boats in 50 minutes (this is true from the parking lot, from it - 1 km).

We crossed the bridge over the river Kamenice.

After it begins the forest path. It is equipped with railings, steps, benches.

Interestingly, until the 19th century, the mountainous area with gorges along the Kamenitsa River was called End of the world. When the trails ended, the locals were afraid to go further into the dense forest, full of secrets and legends. Well, why not a fabulous Lost World ?!

The surroundings are incredibly beautiful.

Here you want to sit down and just enjoy the tranquility, the murmur of water, the singing of birds, the greenery of the forest in the sun.

And the forest path along the stone gorge along the river does not end there.

Well, finally - you can see the place of landing on the boat. Further, the trail is interrupted and you can move along the route only on the water.

The history of these boats and the gorge of the Kamenitsa River began with a dispute. In 1877, five daredevils, after having a good drink in a Grzhensky tavern, made a bet that they would float on a stormy river on rafts. Three rafts confidently covered the distance. After that, the owner of local lands, Prince Edmund, hired Italian workers and built paths, bridges, tunnels, dams. In 1890, boating was opened for tourists along the first 500 m long gorge. At first it was Quiet, now it was named Edmund's Gorge in honor of the prince. A few years later, a second one was equipped - the Wild Gorge, the length of the route along it was 250 m. Then the tourists were taken on boats by ferrymen in beautiful uniforms of sailors.

Today we will sail through the first long Edmund's Gorge. Bought tickets at the box office. Tickets for our family cost 9 euros. The walk takes only 20 minutes.

We ask the cashier what we should do, how far and how long after the boat to point 4 - p. Mezhna? He says no, it's close. Indeed, a zigzag is drawn on the map on the green left route and 15 minutes is written. We had two options: 1. Go back by boat, again pay 9 euros and again walk 50 minutes to the parking lot. Or 2. - see more of Czech Switzerland. We chose the second option: after the boat, walk 15 minutes and 500 m (according to the map) to the village of Mezhna, take a bus there and return to the parking lot. (You could still go further along the yellow route, sail on a boat along the Wild Gorge and go to the village of Mezhni Luka and the bus, but it would have been much longer).

The boat trip was very nice and soulful. The boatman in three languages (eng.czech.rus.) told funny and funny stories about the gorge, mysterious legends.

Local fabulous inhabitants looked at us from the shores. Good and not so good

And where there were no sculptures, everyone unanimously turned on fantasy. After all, the outlines of rocks and stones are very similar to fairy-tale characters.

Do you see the snake?

The boatman pulled the rope and a waterfall poured from the walls of the gorge. Pulled a second time - no waterfall.

The walk turned out to be interesting. We arrived at the boat station. There is a restaurant on the pier. Here you can eat and relax.

Prices in Czech crowns.

On the way they washed and refreshed themselves in the river.

The path leads through the tunnels.

These tunnels were cut in the rock by workers specially invited from Italy. They were called Barabbas. They were famous craftsmen mining in the Alps. In the formation of tunnels, a special technology was used - in winter the rocks were heated, then cooled sharply with water. So the stone walls cracked and succumbed to processing.

This place reminded me of another stone gorge in Austria - Liechtenstein. Read about it here:

It turned out that we were waiting for the rise, remember the zigzag on the map? It was not an easy climb, but a very steep and long one. It feels like we've climbed a skyscraper. And we walked in a serpentine on such stairs.

Well, we think we'll be patient, we'll get on the bus soon. But when the stairs ended, the ascent continued along the forest paths anyway. 15 minutes have passed a long time ago, but the end is not visible)) We looked back, down there - the gorge of the Kamenitsa River.

And when we finally reached the village of Mezhna, to a restaurant, our strength finally left us. Time from boat station it took another 50 minutes to reach this finish line. They spent 30 difficult and long minutes on the ascent, and 15 were announced.

According to the map, there should be a bus stop here. But the restaurant waiter and a few people in it knew nothing about it. Strange! We nevertheless found a stop at 100 m. We sat, rested, waited. We saw the timetable and realized that buses run very rarely here and the nearest one is 3 hours. We decided to go to the village of Mezhni Luka - it's about 2 km. The asphalt road went through a flat, beautiful area.

When we arrived at another stop in the village. Mezhni Luka is next to the parking lot, read the schedule and realized that there would be no more buses today))) And it’s another 6 km to stomp to Grzhensko. There was no more strength to go, everyone was tired. They thought to include a “plan B”: I need to hitchhike to the parking lot and return for my own in our car. We went to the main road. And then another stop was found in front of the Mezní Louka hotel, and many tourists were waiting for the bus there. Hooray! We are saved! While waiting for the bus, the children had fun

We took the bus to our car. Our walk through Czech Switzerland took about 3.5 hours. Adventures we will never forget! Now we remember with laughter))) But only thanks to such a difficult walk, we will be able to help other travelers plan a route through the park. Organized tourists are not brought here, because it is impossible to collect them afterwards))) After all, it is easy to become “Lost in the Lost World”))) here. Of course, if you do not know how to optimally and correctly build a route.

Routes in Czech Switzerland.

There are many walking and cycling routes in the park. It is difficult to get lost - there are many signs everywhere. There are buses on the main roads marked in white on the map. Stops - icon BUS on the plan. You can combine a walking route with a bus ride. We will show on the map the routes to the main attractions of Bohemian Switzerland.

Route to Pravcicka Brana.

This route is for those who want to enjoy the mountain scenery of Bohemian Switzerland. On the map - point 2 And brown route. At the turn off the main road - a sign for Pravcicka brana. Near - paid parking and stop “Three Springs”. From here it is optimal to start the ascent. The length of the route from the turn to Bran is 3 km, on the map the duration is 45 minutes. In fact, expect the climb to take an average of 1 hour and 20 minutes with photo breaks along the way. The whole route together with a walk along Pravcicka Brana and returning the same way It may take approximately 3.5 - 4 hours. (If you go from Grzhensko - paragraph 1 or point 6- add distance and time to the calculation.)

From Pravchitska Brana there is a path to the village of Mezhni Luka, point 3. Length - 7 km, travel time about 2.5 - 3 hours. It will be overcome by physically prepared travelers.

Route to the Gorges.

It is suitable for those who want to see the “Lost World” of the Kamenitsa River and go boating in the gorges. But you will also have to walk a lot)) We will divide it into three options: 1. Easy option Edmund's Gorge (+ optionally Wild Gorge), 2. Edmund's Gorge, 3. Wild Gorge + Edmund's Gorge.

Option 1 - Easy and simple route through the gorges with boating.

A) The path that we did at the beginning, but with the return of the same road back. Will go for a walk average 2.5 hours without taking into account the time for rest in the restaurant. yellow route on the map: from Grzhensk points 6, 1 and 5on the map follow the forest path to the boat station in Edmund's Gorge point 4-B. Travel time is approximately 50 minutes. You sail on a boat for 20 minutes one way, relax in a restaurant (optional), return by boat - another 20 minutes. Walk back to Grzensko - about 50 minutes.

B) You can supplement your walk with a boat ride in the second - Wild Gorge point 4-A.In this case, expect that for the entire walk through the two gorges you need about 4 hours, excluding rest in the restaurant. From the station in Edmund's Gorge to the boats of the Wild Gorge, go 30 minutes there and 30 minutes back. The boat ride takes 15 minutes there and 15 minutes back.

*** When planning a route, carefully read the boat schedule and find out the time of the last departure of the boats in the direction of Grzhensko.

Option 2 - Edmund's Gorge route.

This short route- our path is the other way around)). On the map - white +yellow route: point 3 With. Mezhni Luka - point 4 With. Mezhni - paragraph 4 - B point 5 about 3 hours.

By bus you reach the village. Mezhni Luka - point 3(and if you are lucky with the bus, then to the village of Mezhni point 4). If you are by car, it is better to park it at the Grzhensko parking lots ( paragraph 1 And point 6) and before the start of the route in with. Mezhni Luka go by bus. From s. Mezhni Luka ( point 3) go 2 km to the village. Mezhni ( point 4). There will be an easy ascent on an asphalt road. Travel time is about 40 minutes. Further behind the restaurant, following the signs to “Soutěska” (which means “gorges”), go down for about 20 minutes along the path down to point 4-B.

Behind the bridge over the river there is a fork with signs to two gorges. You turn right towards Edmundova soutěska. It takes about 15 minutes to get to the boat station and the restaurant. Relax and buy tickets. The boat sails along the Edmund Gorge for 20 minutes.

***

point 5, 1, 6

Option 3 - Route Wild Gorge + Edmund's Gorge.

More long route, compared to the first option, includes boating through two picturesque gorges of Bohemian Switzerland. On the map - blue +yellow route: point 3 With. Mezhni Luka - point 4-A Wild gorge and boat station - paragraph 4 - B Edmund's Gorge and Boat Station - point 5 Grzhensko. Total travel time - about 4 hours.

From s. Mezhni Luka ( point 3) follow the signs to Divoka soutěska. The descent by road will take approximately 30 minutes. Then turn right onto the path along the river to the Wild Gorge. Follow the signs for another 30 minutes. Buy tickets at the boat station. The boat sails along the Wild Gorge for 15 minutes.

*** Be sure to note that in the summer the last boat in the direction of Grzhensko departs from here at 17-00, in October - at 16-30, in October an hour earlier. If you do not have time, you will have to climb back to the village. Mezhni Luka, because further along the gorge you can only move by boat, there are no paths along the coast!!!

It takes about 30 minutes to walk to the next boat station in Edmund's Gorge and a restaurant. Buy tickets and relax. The boat sails along the Edmund Gorge for 20 minutes.

*** Be sure to note that in the summer the last boat in the direction of Grzhensko departs from here at 18-00, in October - at 17-00. If you do not have time, you will have to climb back to the village. Mezhni, because further along the gorge you can only move by boat, there are no paths along the coast !!!

After the boat, follow the forest path to Grzhensko ( point 5, 1, 6). Travel time with photo breaks is about 50 minutes.

Tourists in excellent!!! physical fitness really pass the entire route in Czech Switzerland from paragraph 1 And up to point 5 in a day, visiting Pravcicka Brana and the gorges. But it's better to break the path into 2 days))

Decin. Czech Republic.

We stopped in the ancient Czech town of Děčín. It is only 15 km from Grzensko and Bohemian Switzerland. The city was founded in 993 by the princes Přemyslids - the first kings of the Czech Republic. We wrote about them in this article about Prague:

By the way, information for tourists without a car, the Prague-Dresden railway line passes through Decin. And from here it is convenient to get to Czech Switzerland by bus or boat.

Decchin was examined from the car window. Very cute old town.

We are approaching the central squares of the old town.

And this Decin Castle, erected in the XIII century over the river Labe. This is the main attraction of the town. Since the 19th century, the castle has been the cultural center of the region. It was owned by representatives of the influential family of Tuns. Many eminent writers, artists, composers were received here, among them Walter Scott and Frederic Chopin, who wrote the Decin Waltz. Guests were impressed by the huge orchid garden. It was considered one of the largest in Europe. Now on the alleys of the castle you can see a beautiful rose garden - Decinsky rose garden.

We booked these apartments near the Decin Castle - Czech Switzerland Castle Apartments.

Studio apartment in an old house on the 3rd floor, with a kitchen and free parking in the yard. There is an elevator to the floor. The apartment we booked has a balcony. In the photo - on the right. On it are light green chairs.

We were met by the owner - a pleasant cheerful guy David, showed us the accommodation and talked about the most interesting sights of the city and its environs. I liked the apartment very much. Everything is clean and tidy, original interior.

On the ground floor there is a cozy cafe with sweets and drinks. Babies are splashing happily in the fountain. Across the road is a small lake. View from our balcony.

We view the Decin Castle from the balcony of the apartment. I didn’t have the strength to visit him at all))) It’s a pity that we underestimated the tourist potential of Decin and stayed here for just one night. The city also has a zoo, a water park, ancient buildings, ancient bridges, 15 km from the most big mountain Czech Switzerland - Decinsky Snezhnik. David has a lot of brochures in his apartment describing the routes and sights of Decin.

I only had enough strength to go to the supermarket to replenish food supplies for the next day and buy something for dinner and breakfast. But even on the way to the supermarket and back, we managed to go around the lake.

On the opposite bank from the apartment, they found the Fabrika restaurant, which David recommended.

But we have other plans for this family evening: Czech dumplings, cold German Radeberg beer and a gorgeous view from the balcony.

The next day we are waiting for the road to Budapest with a stop for 3-4 hours in the capital of Slovakia, Bratislava.

How to get to Saxon Switzerland

The Saxon Switzerland National Park is located on the border of Germany and the Czech Republic on the German side and is a mountain forest massif of the Elbe sandstone mountains. The colors of the mountains are given by their bizarre shape, formed under the influence of the "blowing effect", in addition, there are numerous historical monuments, including the most ancient and picturesque - the Bastei Bridge and the Königstein Fortress. The national park is very popular among all lovers of natural attractions and is one of the most visited parks in Germany.

Saxon Switzerland National Park is located 125 km from Prague and 30 km from Dresden, so most of the tourists come to the park from these major cities. Often group tours are organized from Prague or Dresden excursion tours to Saxon Switzerland, but you can get to the park on your own. The infrastructure of the park itself is highly developed, it is convenient for people with various abilities to move around here, and climbing the mountains along specially designed routes will not be tiring.

Petr Meissner/Winterberg, Saxon Switzerland

How to get to Saxon Switzerland from Prague

The most convenient way to get from Prague to Saxon Switzerland is by rented car. Travel time will take no more than 1 hour 20 minutes, and along the way you can see picturesque natural places. Prague and the park are connected by highway No. E55. At Please note that you will have to cross the state border to enter the National Park, so check with the rental office if this requires an additional permit for the rental car.

You can also get to the park from Prague by public transport. The closest settlements to Prague are considered to be resort villages Rathen and Bad Schandau. By the way, if you wish, you can stay here longer, because the resorts offer climate and mineral therapy. Trains run from Prague to the Rathen resort and the town of Bad Schandau, although not direct, at least one change is required. Travel time with transfers will take about 3 hours. You can check the train schedule and buy tickets online on the website . From Rathen you can start your hiking trip to Saxon Switzerland, while from Bad Schandau you will have to use the local bus.

In addition, you can take a ready-made bus tour from Prague to the park. Bus and walking tours are in Russian and last a total of approximately 10 hours. Thanks to the tour, you will be able to see all the most beautiful places in the natural park, including the observation deck on the Elbe River, without the need for transfers, as is the case with public transport. The tour can be found on site or booked in advance at specialized services, such as and others similar.

How to get to Saxon Switzerland from Dresden

Getting to Saxon Switzerland is even easier from Dresden. Direct trains run between Dresden and the Rathen resort, the travel time is only half an hour. Trains run every hour throughout the day. You can check the train schedule and buy tickets online on the website . Next, from the Rathen resort station, you need to go to the pier, buy tickets for the local ferry across the Elbe (travel time is about 5 minutes).

Once on the other side of the Elbe, you will see the picturesque Elbe Mountains right in front of you, the hiking routes of which will lead you to their summit. In the park, you should move around, focusing on the signs, they are placed almost everywhere, and it is difficult to get lost here. In addition, almost at any time of the year there are a lot of tourists in the park (in winter period during snowfalls the park may be closed).

Thomas Quine/Panorama of the Elbe River

Where to stay in Saxon Switzerland

The National Park "Saxon Switzerland" is quite extensive, there are many hiking trails that are enough for more than one day. If you plan to stay here longer, then it will be most convenient to stay in one of the nearest settlements so as not to return to Dresden or Prague. The nearest towns to the park are the resorts of Rathen (closer, within walking distance) and Bad Schandau (further, you need to get there by bus or train). Both resorts are quite intimate, traditional half-timbered architecture is presented here and there is all the infrastructure necessary for recreation.

So, for example, you can stay in the Rathen resort in hotels Elbiente 4* , Elbschlosschen 4* , Amselgrundschlossen 3*. The advantage of hotels is their location - in the center of the resort, as well as the presence of restaurants and indoor pools on site. You can stay in rooms of various sizes. As a rule, Wi-Fi in the hotels of the resort is provided free of charge, there are no problems in finding free parking if you are traveling by car.

In Bad Schandau, you can find an even larger list of accommodations, since the town is considered a thermal spa. Several thermal complexes specializing in the treatment and restoration of various diseases are located here at once. Bad Schandau is a year-round resort and is in stable demand among tourists. You can stay in Bad Schandau in hotels Steiger Ban Schandau 4* , Parkhotel Bad Schandau 4* , Elbhotel Bad Schandau 3*and others. Full list accommodation options in Bad Schandau can be found on the website Booking.com.

Torsten Maue/Bad Schandau

What to see in Saxon Switzerland

The Saxon Switzerland National Park is extremely rich in sights. They are based on Elbe sandstone mountains, having a peculiar shape, which, in turn, was created by nature itself over many millennia by blowing and erosion. The landscape of the National Park is very diverse. On specially laid routes, you can see not only the mountain range, but also fabulous forests overgrown with boxwood, waterfalls, as well as some historical sights, such as Königstein fortress And old bastei bridge, which connects the mountain peaks of the same name, the highest in the park.

Allan Grey/Resort Rathen

Inside the park, there are many hiking trails designed for different levels of training and different time. The most popular route is the ascent to Mount Bastei with an inspection of the bridge of the same name, as well as a route to Fortress Königstein. Both places are extremely picturesque, as they are located on the edge of rocky cliffs. Both the bridge and the fortress offer panoramic views of the mountains, the Elbe River and Rathen.

In addition to the Bastei mountain itself with an ancient bridge and the Königstein fortress, you can also see other sights on the territory of Saxon Switzerland. In particular, they include valleys, waterfalls, forests, canyons and caves. If you want to get away from popular routes, then the attention of travelers also deserves Lichtenhain Falls, Stolpen fortress, Kushtal rock gate, and "path of artists" with the most picturesque viewpoints.

superscheeli/Bad Schandau

It is worth noting that the entrance to the Saxon Switzerland National Park is free. Only ferry services across the Elbe and entrance tickets to the Königstein fortress are paid (8-10 euros depending on the time of year).

In general, we can say that the Saxon Switzerland National Park is a great alternative for a day trip from Prague or Dresden. It is here that you can “change” urban landscapes for natural ones and enjoy some of the most amazing views in Europe. In addition, there are all the opportunities to stay in the scenery of nature for as long as possible - in the immediate vicinity there are resorts Rathen and , which also offer many opportunities for leisure.

Saxon Switzerland and Dresden are frequent tourist routes one day from Prague, both destinations are popular with travelers. About,, On a note :

Going on a trip to Europe, do not forget to take out a travel insurance policy, which is mandatory already at the stage of registration tourist visa. You can take out insurance on your own without leaving your home. For this, there are special services, such as tripinsurance, and others. You can buy a policy online and then print it on a regular printer.

Photo at the beginning of the article: Bernd Thaller