With the discovery of the Elbe Sandstone Mountains by the Swiss-born painters Adrian Zingg and Anton Graff in the middle of the 18th century, the name "Saxon Switzerland" was coined and the region attracted other painters to the romantic landscape. In addition to the Lohmen pastor Nicolai (author of the first travel guide), it was above all Wilhelm Lebrecht Götzinger who provided the foundations for the later development of tourism in the region.
With the first passenger steamship and the construction of the Dresden - Prague railroad line, the previously arduous trip to the region became easier. General interest in the Elbe Sandstone Mountains began to grow and as a result, Saxon Switzerland developed into a popular vacation region for visitors from Germany and abroad.
Below you will find some of our suggestions among the numerous excursion destinations in our beautiful Saxon Switzerland:
The Bastei – one of the oldest and the most famous tourist attractions in Saxon Switzerland. While the breathtaking panoramic view from the Bastei cliffs is the main attraction, the views from the Ferdinandstein Overlook, from the Bastei Bridge, from the circular path on the cliff-side castle Neurathen or from the viewpoint "Kanapee" below the castle on the Bastei Path are also spectacular.
www.saechsische-schweiz.de
Miniature Park „Small Saxon Switzerland"
Unique in Europe - the miniature landscape of Saxon-Bohemian Switzerland faithfully reproduced from Elbe sandstone.
www.kleine-saechsische-schweiz.de
Dinosaur Park in Kleinwelka – a journey through the time of the dinosaurs, from the underwater beginnings in the Permian Period to the world of the Jurassic Period and the extinction of the prehistoric giants at the end of the Cretaceous Period.
www.saurierpark.de
Thürmsdorfer Chocolate Factory – for all lovers of chocolate you can immerse yourself with all your senses in this world of sweets.
www.adoratio-schokoladenkunst.de
Are you interested in a Quarry Tour?
www.steinbruchfuehrungen.de
SteinReich Theme Park – Fairy tales, legends, and stories of Saxon-Bohemian Switzerland.
www.steinreich-sachsen.de
Altenberg Mine Museum
www.bergbaumuseum-altenberg.de
Excursions on the Water
While relaxing on the sundecks of the cruise ships on the Elbe you can bask in the passing landscape and the impressive panoramic views of the majestic cliffs of the Elbe Sandstone Mountains from the water. An Elbe tour through Saxon Switzerland is an experience of a lifetime.
Saxon Steamship Cruises – Castle cruises, a Dresden city tour by water, tours through the Elbe Locks, the Saxon Wine Route, and much more.
www.saechsische-dampfschiffahrt.de
Passenger Ships on the Upper-Elbe – Elbe trips through Saxon Switzerland.
http://elbeschiffahrt-frenzel.de/
Excursions on the Railroad
Are you more of a railroad fan and would like to explore Saxon Switzerland in a relaxed and leisurely way on the land? Then you're sure to discover your perfect tour here - with views just as breathtaking as on a cruise:
Kirnitzschtal Tramway – the smallest tramway line in Germany and the only tramway in the world that traverses a national park. Over a distance of about 8 km, the narrow-gauge tramway runs along the Kirnitzsch River, a tributary of the Elbe, through the alien rocks formations of the Elbe Sandstone Mountains from Bad Schandau to the Lichtenhain Waterfall. Hiking trails lead from all stations to fascinating views such as the Winterberg, the Schrammsteinen, the Affensteinen, or the Kuhstall.
www.kirnitzschtalbahn.de
Schwarzbach Railroad in Kohlmühle by Hohnstein – Experience the romance of a narrow-gauge railway.
www.schwarzbachbahn.de
STEAM LOCOMOTIVE ROUTE - Saxony – travel with narrow-gauge steam railroads through the steam railroad country of Saxony: from Leipzig to Zittau, from the Fichtelberg to the Lößnitzgrund or from Wermsdorf Castle to the Königstein Fortress.
www.dampfbahn-route.de
Weißeritztal Railroad– Germany's oldest operating public narrow-gauge railroad. The steam train takes you on a nostalgic journey amidst unspoiled nature. The route leads from Freital-Hainsberg near Dresden through the valley of the Rote Weißeritz to Kipsdorf in the Osterzgebirge mountains.
www.weisseritztalbahn.com
Lößnitzgrund Railroad – The narrow gauge railroad of Radebeul-East - Radeburg with historic locomotives and cars from the early days of the Saxon narrow gauge railroads. The Lößnitzgrund Railway, including the tracks, is a registered cultural monument.
www.loessnitzgrundbahn.de
You can find more information about excursions with the Saxon railroad here:
www.saechsische-schweiz.de
And finally, the hearts of model railroad lovers should beat even faster here:
Eisenbahnwelten "Railroad World" in the spa town of Rathen you will find the world's largest garden railway on about 7,300 m² of land.
www.eisenbahnwelten-rathen.de
Narrow-Gauge Railway Museum Herrenleite in Lohmen – narrow-gauge industrial railroads as they were used in the past.
www.feldbahnmuseum-herrenleite.de
Just take a moment of peace, to transport yourself back to the age of the romantics and look for the true beauty of life through the eyes of those artists of yore.
