Saxon Switzerland

Bastei bridge

Sächsische Schweiz means Saxon Switzerland in English. It is a mountainous climbing area and national park near Dresden in Saxony, Germany. Part of the area is in the Czech Republic. It is called the Bohemian Switzerland in the Czech Republic.

Sächsische Schweiz has some 1,000 climbing peaks, as well as several hollows. The area is popular with Dresden locals and international climbers.

The administrative district for the area is Sächsische Schweiz Rural District.

History

Sächsische Schweiz area has a number of fortresses built to protect trade routes; remaining fortresses include Festung Königstein and Castle Hohnstein. Hardly anything is left of other castles and fortresses.

The area became popular with tourists during the 19th century. Romantic artists were inspired by the beauty of wilderness, like the painter Ludwig Richter or the composer Carl Maria von Weber, who set his famous opera Der Freischütz with its Wolfsschlucht ("wolf's gorge") scene near the city of Rathen.

Rock Climbing

Saxon Switzerland is characterized by its sandstone rocks which draw many rock climbers. At the beginning of the 20th century the 'Saxon Rules' for rock climbing were made, the first ever of their kind worldwide.

Saxon Switzerland Media

Sunset in Saxon Switzerland from the top of the Papststein. The three large hills are Gohrisch (l), the Königstein Fortress (c) and the Lilienstein (r).
The Barbarine at Pfaffenstein
Physical map of Saxon Switzerland
The Lilienstein at dusk
View from Carolafelsen into the Elbe Sandstone Mountains
The Bastei ca. 1900
View from the Winterberg ca. 1850
View of the Elbe near Rathen
Une partie des bâtiments d'entrée de la forteresse de Königstein occupant un promontoire (butte témoin) de 9,5 hectares qui domine la courbe de l'Elbe et le bourg de Königstein à 30 kilomètres au sud-est de Dresde en Saxe (Allemagne).

Other websites

Saxony Switzerland (en)
Sächsische Schweiz (in German)
Official portal of the destination Saxon Switzerland Archived 2012-11-20 at the Wayback Machine (in English)
Saxon Switzerland Archived 2011-06-16 at the Wayback Machine