"Land Sachsen - Saxony" a Land Sachsen Travel Page by vtveen

After reading an article in a travellers magazine in the Netherlands about Land Sachsen, or more specific the "Elbsandstein Gebirge" (so called Saxon Switzerland), we decided to take a visit to this part of Germany.
Also a little bit curious about the former DDR and the changes that have taken place there.
Another reason was the flooding of the River Elbe one year before our visit.
During that time we did see lots of pictures in the newspapers and reportings on TV.

To be honest we visited just the part of Saxony around Dresden and the Saxon Switzerland.

Although we absolutely did not know what to expect, it was a great trip. With a lot of highlights, as well as cultural/historical as with a great scenery.

Fondest memory
We arrived on 2 October, just a day before a national holiday in Germany. And totally unexpected the lady from the Tourist Information Office in "Konigstein" told us all the accommodation was fully booked in town and for sure also in other towns. "Frau Tita" who happened to be in the office, heard this story and offered us staying at her home, although the guest room was not quite ready. While we were having dinner, she and her husband made the room ready and they succeeded very well. We had a wonderful time.
After a couple of days she mentioned her rates for the room; it was too cheap and we could not accept. So we had to decide about our own rates !!
(Familie Tita, Bielatalstr. 110, 01824 Konigstein, per-sven.tita@epost.de)

Almost every town or village in Saxony has its own palace or castle. And you will find a lot of interesting museums all over the country. Besides there are nice churches, among them we did admire some real gems in real small villages (see "off the beaten path tips").

Off course is Dresden a "must see activity", with a huge difference between the (restored) old part of the town and the more or less awful row of houses along wide roads. Typical DDR buildings.

In the towns along the Elbe you can see several marks (on buildings) of the 2002 flooding. It is hardly to believe the water was so high, sometimes metres above street level !!!

Saxon Switzerland has an amazing scenery, which stretches more or less along the River Elbe between the Czech border and Dresden.

Although not the highest mountains, it is very rugged with vast sandstone rock formations. Mostly they rise straight into the sky. An ideal place for hiking and climbing.