Dresden to Konigstein

Dresden

We stayed in a small town called Heidenau for a few days, just outside of Dresden. Dresden itself was completely obliterated by firebombing towards the end of WWII and its quite amazing to see the city rebuilt as it is today. We have been impressed by the amount of care and attention many German cities have taken to build themselves back as they were before the war rather than constructing ugly modern buildings of the time. The old and new town of Dresden is separated by the Elbe River and the city houses many palaces, churches and stately buildings.
















Week 9 – 30th July to 5th August

Saxon Switzerland

A little way south of Dresden is Saxon Switzerland. Though its peeks are a long way from those in Switzerland, many artists came in the 18th century for the romantic scenery of pinnacles and craggy cliffs and it apparently got its name from some Swiss landscape artists who felt it resembled their homeland.
Bastei
Bastei is a lovely little place full of fluted pinnacles and panoramic views of the surrounding countryside, including tabletop mountains and the River Elbe.
















We took a hike through the Bastei area that was pretty nice, but, given all of Germanys efficiency, what is it with their signs? One minute you’re happily following a signed circular route then it just disappears and crosses with some other route. I would accept we just got lost if this was the first time but it isn’t and we honestly didn’t go the wrong way! Perhaps it’s a sneaky plan to simply get you to hike many more KMs that you intended to in the first place!

Konigstein

We spent a couple of days in Konigstein, in Saxon Switzerland and found a nice little campsite next to the river Elbe. One day was spent visiting the Festung Konigstein; a very impressive citadel perched on top of a tabletop mountain. It is the largest intact fortress in Germany and was so imposing that it was never attacked. It is a huge place with much to see and very impressive the way it is built right into the mountain.




The views are amazing too






We actually took an audio tour, which, admittedly, I have knocked severely in the past, but in fact it turned out to be a great way to see the place and made it a much more meaningful experience than if we had simply wandered around without knowing what was what.
You have to admit, Andrew does the American tourist impression admirably (no offence to any Americans!)