Silver town Freiberg: Journey into the late Middle Ages
UNESCO World Heritage under the sign of silver
Wherever you look in Freiberg in Saxony, there are traces of the city’s ‘silver’ times. Around 850 years ago, Freiberg was one of the richest towns in Saxony thanks to its large silver deposits. Today, the old town with its numerous listed buildings still tells the story of the late Middle Ages. One of the city’s absolute highlights is the magnificent Renaissance Freudenstein Castle. Here you can visit the ‘Terra Mineralia’ during your short holiday in Saxony. An impressive mineral exhibition awaits you there, with more than 3,500 gemstones, meteorites and minerals. And if you want to find out more about the history of the Freiberg silver mine, you can take a trip underground. One of the city’s most popular sights is undoubtedly Freiberg’s St Mary’s Cathedral. You can admire art treasures in the impressive cultural monument. These include the famous Golden Gate, the Silbermann organ and the tulip and miner’s pulpit.
Extra tip
With the Silver Card, admission to museums is free and you receive further attractive discounts. If you are looking for cultural events in Freiberg, the tourist information centre is the right place to go. Here you can find out about all upcoming events. These include concerts in the St. Nicholas Church. There are also performances in the oldest municipal theatre in the world. Freiberg Zoo is an absolute must for families with children. Here you can discover over 170 animals – from mouflons, raccoons and red foxes to donkeys, horses and geese. Family fun guaranteed!
Welcome to the porcelain city of Meissen
Saxony Tourism: Experience 300 years of porcelain history
High above the city, Albrechtsburg Castle welcomes you as the oldest castle in Germany. The late Gothic building is considered the landmark of Meissen and was once the centre of power of the former royal seat on the Elbe. Today, you can relive the castle’s eventful history in five exciting adventure worlds. Meissen Cathedral is also enthroned on the castle hill. The interior of the Gothic sacred building is particularly worth seeing. The richly decorated St John’s bell and the large statues of founders and patrons are particularly noteworthy. If you fancy some exercise after these two Meissen sights, you can hike along the ‘Upper Promenade Path’ on the castle hill. At the foot of the hill is the picturesque old town with its winding alleyways, beautiful courtyards and town houses. Close to the late Gothic town hall is the Meissen Church of Our Lady with the world’s first tuneable porcelain bell. After a detour to the Meissen Elbe embankment, you can take a break in one of the cosy wine taverns. The town of Meissen is best known for its ‘white gold’, the world-famous Meissen porcelain. A visit to the oldest porcelain manufactory in Europe is therefore no longer one of Meissen’s insider tips. Nevertheless, you should not miss this experience. Here you can experience 300 years of craftsmanship in a show workshop as well as in various exhibitions and events.
Pirna: Gateway to the Saxon Switzerland National Park
Saxony short holiday in the Elbe Sandstone Mountains
When you stroll through Pirna‘s old town centre for the first time, you feel like you’ve been transported back in time. The historic town centre is almost completely preserved in its original state. Pirna is best known for the so-called ‘Canaletto View’, named after an Italian painter. He painted numerous pictures of the old town centre. The most famous motif of Pirna’s market square is recreated every year as the ‘Living Canaletto Picture’ with extras. A great experience! Pirna Town Hall is also located on the market square. With its Baroque and Renaissance elements, the building is a real eye-catcher. Other popular sights are the Canaletto House and Sunstone Castle, which towers over the town. In addition to sightseeing in Pirna’s old town, excursions into the surrounding area are also a must. Saxon Switzerland is a popular tourist destination with beautiful hiking trails and spectacular sights, such as the Königsstein Fortress. A real visitor magnet in the Elbe Sandstone Mountains and one of the most famous excursion destinations in Germany is the Bastei. Here, surrounded by majestic rock formations, you can enjoy the unique Bastei view of the Elbe valley. The Bastei Bridge is no less famous. A souvenir photo of the impressive structure is a must on a trip to Saxon Switzerland. If you like cycling, the Elbe cycle path is a great experience. Here you can cycle along the river from Hamburg to the source of the Elbe in the Czech Republic. If you are also looking for beautiful cities nearby, you should definitely plan a visit to the time-honoured city of Dresden.
Experience holidays in Saxony and Bautzen
Towers & churches in the footsteps of the Sorbs
If you are planning a trip to Bautzen, you should bring some time for the numerous Bautzen sights. The history of the city is characterised by the coexistence of Germans and Sorbs. This can be felt in many places in Bautzen’s old town centre, such as the city’s memorial. As well as the many defence towers, you should not miss Bautzen Cathedral St. Petri on a tour. This impressive building has been destroyed several times over the centuries. Like most of the towers, it is atmospherically illuminated at night. One of the most famous defence towers is the Bautzen Wendisch Tower. This impressive building housed the debtors’ prison in the 17th century. Unlike the Bautzen Imperial Tower, this tower is not open to the public. The Reichenturm also had to be rebuilt several times after being damaged by fires and wars. In the process, it became slightly tilted, which is why it is now known as the ‘Leaning Tower of Bautzen’. The climb to the viewing platform is rewarded with a unique view of the old town. The Old Waterworks is also worth a visit. In earlier times, this historic building served both to supply the city with water and for its defence. Today, Bautzen’s landmark houses a technical museum with a viewing platform at a height of 47 metres. The late Gothic-style St Michael’s Church in Bautzen is also worth a detour. Not far away is Bautzen Town Hall in the centre of the town’s market square. Although this striking building is no longer one of Bautzen’s insider tips, it makes for a wonderful photo opportunity. Another great view of the old town is from the Bautzen Peace Bridge. One of the largest stone arch bridges in Saxony, it runs over the popular Spree cycle path.
Extra tip for families with children: A visit to the Bautzen Dinosaur Park is a great day out for young and old alike. Here you can marvel at over 200 dinosaurs, climb a climbing jungle or dig for dinosaur teeth.
European City of Görlitz on the Neisse
Old town with a fascinating architectural history
The historic centre of Görlitz is an impressive testimony to Central European architectural history. In the lavishly restored buildings, for example on Görlitz Upper Market, you can recognise numerous architectural styles from around 500 years ago. One of the most famous sights in Görlitz is the Parish Church of St Peter and Paul Görlitz. Picturesquely situated on a hill above the Neisse, the imposing sacred building is a landmark of the city. The historic sun organ with its unique sound is something very special. Even further outside the city lies the Görlitz Landeskrone. Görlitz’s local mountain offers a fantastic view of the city. From here you can see the Königshain Mountains and Lake Berzdorf, making it a popular destination for excursions. You can either take a circular route around the mountain or climb straight up to the viewing tower. Back in the medieval old town, you will find another highlight of the city on Görlitz Lower Market: Görlitz Town Hall. What is impressive about this building is the combination of old and new. The Old Town Hall in Görlitz dates back to the 14th century. The magnificent interior, the Renaissance-style staircase and the town hall tower with its two special clocks are particularly impressive. The climb to the tower’s visitor platform is well worth it! The extension to the building, Görlitz New Town Hall, dates back to 1903 and the beautifully decorated façade is a real eye-catcher. You can enjoy a no less spectacular view from the Görlitz Nikolai Tower. The 45 metre high tower used to be part of the city fortifications and was used for exhibitions for a long time. Görliwood is definitely a must for film fans. Here you can discover the most famous film locations of the film city of Görlitz along the ‘Walk of Görliwood’. To round off your trip to Görlitz, don’t miss out on another famous sight in Germany – the Görlitz Whispering Arc. The late Gothic portal at Untermarkt 22 is famous for its special acoustics. If you whisper something at one end of the arch, passers-by at the other end of the passageway can hear you clearly. It’s worth trying it out!
Enthusiastic about our tips for the most beautiful cities in Saxony
Get more creative travel ideas straight to your inbox! Subscribe to our newsletter and discover new, inspiring places in Germany every month.
