DRESDEN
THE one and only! Capital of the German state of Saxony since 1647 and a “baroque jewel box” nicknamed “Florence on the Elbe River”
SCHLOSS PILLNITZ
Pillnitz Palace: historic summer palace of the Saxon Royal family and adjoining botanical park with Baroque Flower Garden, 18th Century English Garden, Conifer Garden, Orangery, and renowned 250-year-old Camellia tree (one of Europe’s oldest!) with its own mobile greenhouse
SCHLOSS MORITZBURG
Moritzburg Palace: grandiose 16th Century hunting palace, with original furnishings, built by Duke Moritz (later Elector) of Saxony - complete with separate (pink) party palace and (pink) decorative lighthouse!
BASTEI & SÄCHSISCHE SCHWEIZ
The Bastei and Saxon Switzerland: a miniature Grand Canyon, remnants of a prehistoric sea, with spectacular views and a long-forgotten civilization perched high above the river Elbe
MEISSEN
City of Meissen: incredibly picturesque home to the Albrechtsburg, Germany’s oldest residential castle, and the world famous Meissen porcelain manufacturer - Europe’s first porcelain!
FESTUNG KÖNIGSTEIN
Königstein Fortress: first mentioned in 1233 in a deed by King Wenceslas I of Bohemia, this King’s stone has served as a fortress, a monastery and a prison, among other things, and boasts the second deepest water well in Europe.
PIRNA
The town of Pirna: Dresden’s story-book neighbor to the east is situated on one of the oldest known settlements in the region. Archaeological digs have brought to light flint tools dating from the last ice age, ca. 12,000 BCE
