Things to Do in Saxony

Prague day-trippers and German border-hoppers all flock to the northwestern edge of the Czech Republic to explore one of the country’s favorite nature escapes. Called Bohemian Switzerland National Park, it is blanketed in lush green landscapes, steep navigable river gorges, and, most famously Pravcicka Brana. Noted as Europe’s largest natural rock arch, Pravicka Brana reaches 16 meters high and 3 meters wide, and stands as the park’s most proud symbol.

While on your visit to the park, check out the sweet riverside town of Hřensko before or after trekking up to see the Pravicka Brana, which can be spied from various viewpoints (several of which have a fee, so bring currency). Then — during your return on the circular route — travel by boat down the calm waters of the river-cut Edward’s Gorge. 

This all-glass automobile production plant, owned by Volkswagen, is a must-see for car enthusiasts who are visiting Dresden. Because the entire building is made of glass, you can view nearly the entire process of automobile assembly during a tour of the factory. The Transparent Factory was built in the middle of town on the Elbe River, just a ten-minute walk from the historic city center, as an intentional pairing of technology and culture. More than a million visitors have passed through the factory doors since they opened in 2002, watching VW Phaetons and Bentleys getting assembled at ‘Die Gläserne Manufaktur.’

For people who like cars, architecture, and/or engineering, this is a great way to see top-notch automobile manufacturing in action. The ultra-modern facility builds cars with the most up-to-date methods, including robots that deliver the parts. Before taking the educational tour, visitors can check out multiple video displays in the building’s upper lobby.

The St. Nikolai Church in Hamburg was mostly destroyed during air raids in World War II. Approximately 35,000 people were killed during the air raids. The ruins of the church now serve as a memorial to the victims of the war. The church's tower was used to help allied pilots navigate, and it still stands today, almost undamaged.

The memorial at St. Nikolai Church includes a permanent exhibition in the crypt of the ruins that depicts the causes and consequences of the aerial war in Europe. Black and white photos show images of the war and the destruction that came with it. The memorial also serves as a cultural meeting place. Concerts, films, and lectures link events, social issues, and conflicts of the present. Events deal with the German culture of remembrance and lectures on current international politics. Germany's largest glockenspiel was installed here in 1993, and it is sounded at concerts to remember the victims of the war.

Standing at 147.3 meters (483 feet) it is the highest church tower in the city and the fifth highest church in the world. Visitors can take the glass elevator to the observation deck at 76 meters (249 feet) for a panoramic view of Hamburg.

Speicherstadt is Hamburg's warehouse district and the largest warehouse complex in the world. Hamburg's harbor has been an important influence on the city for centuries, and in the late 1800s, the warehouse complex was built. Since so many goods were shipped in and out of Hamburg, it made sense to have someplace to store them. Shortly after, the area received free port status so that goods could be transferred without paying customs. The area consists of several blocks interspersed with canals that lead to the port itself.

Today several of the buildings now hold museums and other tourist attractions. Spicy's Spice Museum tells of the history of the spice trade and Hamburg's part in it. The Hamburg Dungeon shows 600 years of Hamburg's dark history through scary yet funny performances and rides. Miniatur Wunderland has the largest model railway in the world, which runs through several miniature versions of cities, countries, and even a fully functioning airport. At the Speicherstadt Museum, you can learn about the history of the warehouse district.

It is also possible to take a tour of the Speicherstadt with a canal tour on a historic barge. Most tours start from the Landungsbrücken, the docks by the river in the St. Pauli district.

With its dramatic topography of tumbling canyons, table mountains, and untamed forests—spliced down the middle by the mighty Elbe River—Saxon Switzerland National Park (Nationalpark Sächsische Schweiz) is a wild playground for adventurers. Straddling the Germany–Czech Republic border, the vast park offers hiking and cycling trails and hundreds of rock climbing locations.

Most travelers explore Saxon Switzerland on a day trip from Dresden or Prague. Many tours include a visit to both Saxon Switzerland on the German side and Bohemian Switzerland National Park (Národní park České Švýcarsko) on the Czech side, with stops at notable points of interest such as the Bastei Bridge (Basteibrücke) and Pravčická Gate (Pravčická brána). Often itineraries also include a cruise through the Kamenice Gorge.

Located about 19 miles (30 kilometers) southeast of Dresden, Saxon Switzerland is about an hour’s drive from the city. Regional trains depart Dresden for the park frequently throughout the day. 

Saxon Switzerland National Park is open throughout the year and tends to be busiest during the summer months. For the best balance of good weather and sparser crowds, plan to visit during the spring or autumn, and plan to arrive first thing in the morning.

An old-fashioned tram passing through the park’s Kirnitzsch Valley from Bad Schandau and Lichtenhain, the Kirnitzsch Valley Tram (Kirnitzschtalbahn) is the only one of its kind in the world operating in a national park. In operation since 1898, the tram continues to take passengers along the 5-mile (8-kilometer) route with seven stops along the way. Today, the tram runs on 40 percent solar energy.

The Frauenkirche in Dresden was built between 1726 and 1743. Its dome collapsed on Feb. 15, 1945, during the bombings of World War II. After the war, the ruins of the church were left as a war memorial. Once Dresden and the rest of East Germany were reunified with West Germany, reconstruction on the church began and was completed by 2005. As much as possible, the reconstruction of the church followed the original plans and methods and used the original materials. The church now serves as a symbol of reconciliation.

The reconstruction of the church was supported by donations from people all around the world. In order to honor those who donated, the church set up an exhibition area, which explains what was left after the destruction and what was was needed to start the rebuilding process. The exhibit includes original documents and finds from the archaeological site. Photographs and sketches outline the process from when the reconstruction idea was made public until the consecration of the church in 2005. There is also a computer to search for names of supporters.

A variety of guided tours of the church are available, and visitors can also climb the tower for views of the city.

The Dresden Royal Palace is a Renaissance castle that was home to Saxony's kings and electors starting in the late 1400s. It was built with defense in mind and has limited gates and massive walls. The palace burned towards the end of World War II, and reconstruction began in the 1980s. Today it houses the Dresden State Art Collections. The museums here include the Coin Cabinet and the Collection of Prints, Drawings, and Photographs, the first two collections to return to the museum after reconstruction began. Other museums include the New Green Vault, the Historic Green Vault, the Turkish Chamber, the Armory, the art library, and several other collections and galleries.

Visitors can explore the artwork, antiques, and other unique items found in the different sections of the palace to get an idea of what royal live was like during the renaissance period and other times throughout history. There are two courtyards attached to the palace, which have been enclosed in recent years for more practical use as part of a museum.

The harbor and the warehouse district played a big part in shaping Hamburg as a city, and a visit here will give you a glimpse at the city's history. Along this road, you will find many restaurants and pubs. The Johannes Brahms Museum is located at number 39, which is the composer's former home. The Telemann Museum, a great place for music lovers, is also located in this area. Around the corner at Peterstrasse 35-39 is a replica of the Beylingstift complex, a baroque building built in 1751.

Standing at the intersection of two historically important trade roads, Via Regia and Via Imperii, St. Nicholas Church in Leipzig dates to 1165. The oldest church in the city, it was originally built in a Romanesque style, but was enlarged and converted into a Gothic hall church in the 16th century. An octagonal central tower was added at that time as well. Martin Luther is said to have preached at the church, which has been Protestant since 1539. The interior of the church is notable for the pillars in the nave that end in palm-like flourishes. Johann Sebastian Bach once served as the music director for the church and several of his works debuted in the church in the 18th century.

The church gained national prominence in 1989 due to peaceful demonstrations outside the church protesting communist rule in Germany. Today, it remains one of the largest churches in the Saxony region of Germany, holding up to 1400.