Download Saxon Belles Map (PDF, 5421KB)
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
DRESDEN MEISSEN Cultural treasures by the river WHERE SAXONY ONCE BEGAN ore than thousand years of town history – manufacture for 153 years. From this favourite project welcome to Meissen! The Elbe town was of elector Augustus the Strong emerged the MEISSEN® founded by Henry I who ordered the con- brand, its “white gold” with the logo of the blue swords Mstruction of a castle high above the river in the year 929. still being famous and in high demand all over the Today, Albrechtsburg Castle shapes the horizon around world today. Meissen and is deemed to be Germany’s oldest castle. Meissen’s historic town stretches along the foot of SAXON BELLES ith the Church of Our Lady, Zwinger, Sem- rasse in the town centre is just the place to take a stroll al programme, i.e. at the State Operetta or at the tjg. the river with the “Elberadweg” cycle route is an ideal Meissen was closely connected to the history of Saxon the castle hill, a medieval beauty with cobble-stone al- per Opera and the Royal Palace, Dresden has and enjoy the view of the river with its historic paddle theater junge generation. starting point for the perfect cycling tour to castles and electors and became the residential town in 1423. That leys and beautifully reconstructed town houses from the ENCHANTING CITIES AND TOWNS been at the top of the most popular German steamers. The young generation love to celebrate in the parks around town. Even the first vineyards are not far is why it is known as the cradle of the free state. Even Renaissance period. Romantic courtyards, craft shops, Wtourist destinations for years. The most intriguing facet Culture enthusiasts can enjoy six new theatres in “Outer New Town”, the lively, trendy district in the away: The domestic wine can be tasted in the urban the mighty Gothic cathedral on the castle hill tells of rustic wine bars and the impressive Church of Our Lady is, of course, the ensemble of historic buildings in the town – ranging from the modern concert hall of the historism quarters. It surprises its visitors with an ever area at the slopes of the Elbe valley – e.g. in the shadow these times. surround the late-Gothic guildhall. And sure enough, historic town centre: full of stories, unique art treasures, Dresden Philharmonic Orchestra at the Kulturpalast changing combination of bars, cafés, restaurants, clubs, of the three Elbe castles with a view of the famous “Blue But Albrechtsburg Castle did not only serve as there’s always a nice spot to enjoy a glass of Meissen’s and sporting a flair of “dolce vita”, which gave the town to the Kraftwerk Mitte. That is where Dresden – in galleries, and small theatres. And nature is close by Wonder” Loschwitz Bridge. electoral residence. Starting in 1710, large parts of the wine that ripens on the steep hills surrounding the town. its byname “Florence of the Elbe”. The Brühlsche Ter- accordance with its history – offers a gripping cultur- as well: The Dresden Heath is just a hike away, and www.dresden.de/tourismus castle became the craft rooms of Europe’s first porcelain www.touristinfo-meissen.de RADEBEUL PIRNA KAMENZ TOWN OF WINE & KARL MAY SANDSTONE FULL OF LIFE TOWN OF POETS WITH SACRAL TREASURES any consider Radebeul to be the heart of cosy evening and fine wine, the historic village green etween Dresden and Saxon Switzerland the decorative house façades, arcade courtyards, oriels, ga- is “Nathan the Wise” is a literary classic, the The city’s history dates back almost 800 years to the the Saxon wine route, stretching from Pirna of Altkötzschenbroda is just the place. Only a stone’s Elbe valley presents its picturesque side: green bles and portals with seating alcoves. Especially worth “ring parable” made him immortal: Gotthold year 1346 when the town became part of the Upper Lu- and Diesbar-Seusslitz through the Elbe val- throw from the Elbe cycle route lies Radebeul, a wel- hills, light sandstone – and in the midst of it seeing: the guildhall, the Canaletto house and the St. Ephraim Lessing. Born in 1729 in Kamenz, satian league of 6 towns in order to strengthen its position Mley. Big and small vineyard estates shape the rolling hills come stopover for cyclists – especially during the au- Ball lies Pirna. First mentioned in 1233, the historic old Marien parish church that bursts with architectural Hthe preacher’s son spent his childhood in the Saxon at the historic trading road Via Regia. The exceptional on each side of the river. Aside from famous names like tumn and wine festival. On the last weekend in Septem- town with its lavishly decorated town houses still tells treasures. A special eye-catcher is the baptismal font. small town, where much still reminds of him and his ensemble of late-Gothic carved altars from the 15th and Schloss Wackerbarth Castle or Hoflössnitz, numerous ber the town celebrates a festival of joie de vivre with of wealthy times. Pirna’s world-famous market square Even Goethe was amazed by its fine sandstone works. life. The time travel begins at his place of birth in the 16th century tells of this particularly rich epoch. The most small vineyard estates await the gourmet guests with de- wine, theatre and treats. dates back to that era and was captured on canvas by The colourful vaults of the church nave that were de- “Lessinggässchen” street, then leads on to his baptistery beautiful examples of these masterpieces are presented licious delights. While enjoying fine wines they take in Aside from its wine tradition, Radebeul preserves the Venetian painter Bernardo Bellotto – a.k.a. Cana- signed by the master builder Peter Ulrich are also worth St. Marien, where his father used to preach. One can at the museum of sacred art of the St. Annen convent the unique landscape with beautifully restored vintner the memory of Karl May, whose life and work are close- letto – back in the day. The painting is so fantastic that a peek. Today, his dwelling house at the market square also trace Lessing’s way to school through the monas- church. The prominent guildhall forms the architectural houses in the midst of the typical, steep vineyards of ly connected with the town. The heroes of his novels, hundreds of Pirna townspeople meet once a year to re- is a lovingly restored theatre that preserves the Saxon tery gate to the monastery church, where the “Rats- centre of Kamenz, surrounded by further listed buildings the Elbe valley. A stroll along the Saxon wine hiking Winnetou and Old Shatterhand, were “born” here and enact the setting of those days. vernacular. By the way: The Malerweg route, one of lateinschule” (town’s Latin school) used to be. Only a from several centuries. The nearby suburban area entices route or a trip with the more than 130-year-old Löss- live on at the Karl May Museum until today. But the city’s charm doesn’t end at the market Germany’s most beautiful hiking routes, leads right stone’s throw away lies the Lessing Museum. Here, the with the Hutberg mountain with its botanical treasures nitz steam train are perfect ways to explore the town’s square. The whole city centre with its shops, cafés and through Pirna. life and work of the poet during the times of enlighten- and a marvellous view of the Lessing tower. surroundings. If you would like to end the day with a www.radebeul.de restaurants becomes a gorgeous setting for a stroll past www.pirna.de ment have been presented since 1931. www.kamenz.de/tourismus SAXON TOWNS ARE DREssING UP BAUTZEN GÖRLITZ ZITTAU he wealth of the “Saxon Belles” has many fac- joy a stroll through Annaberg-Buchholz, Bautzen and ets: The arts in their various shapes are just as Freiberg. Romantic cobble-stone alleys and astonishing much part of that as architecture, history and markets await the guests in Görlitz, Zittau and Zwick- A MILLENNIUM WITH BRIGHT PROSPECTS HISTORIC MOVIE MATERIAL IN THE REALM OF THE CLOTHIERS Tlots of joie de vivre. This brochure endeavours to show au, whilst other perspectives of Saxon cultural history the most beautiful sides of this variety in the free state – reveal themselves in Grimma, Kamenz, Radebeul, and surprising, ravishingly beautiful and always full of dis- Torgau. coveries to be made. Get ready to be inspired during your journey At “history’s favourite spots” visitors can experience through the “Saxon Belles”! Search for the extraordinary their own stories – and not just in the big Saxon cities in a thousand-year-old cultural landscape! Discover eve- like Dresden, Leipzig and Chemnitz. In Meissen, Pirna rything that makes Saxony Germany’s number one cul- and Plauen they will find rich cultural treasures, or en- tural destination! – this date stands for the first docu- league of 6 towns, Bautzen has been among the most pproximately 4,000 restored historic monu- proves that Görlitz was a rich town – with influential, here Germany encounters Poland and the tourist route Via Sacra. As of late, culture enthusiasts mented mention of “Budusin” or important cities of the region since the 14th century. ments from the Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque self-confident townspeople. They demonstrated their Czech Republic, there lies the historic small can admire another Zittau treasure: a unique collection Budyšin, the town’s name in the Ortenburg castle, today the venue of the castle theatre, and Art Nouveau line the streets of Görlitz. wealth with their unique aisled houses, the driveways town of Zittau, in the midst of Upper Lusatia of epitaphs from several centuries that are displayed at 1002language of the Sorbian minority.