Saxon Switzerland National Park - 4 Things to Know Before Visiting

The Bastei is a rock formation in Saxon Switzerland, Germany. The place has been a tourist attraction for more than 150 years. The rock stands at 305 meters above sea level and the Bastei bridge offers spectacular views over the mountains and the Elbe river. Bastei is a major landmark of the Saxon Switzerland National Park, and can be visited at any time without any fee.

Festung Königstein is a fortress and it’s the largest intact fortress in Germany. The place is distinguished by its magnificent location as it sits on a hill surrounded by nature and overlooks the Elbe River, it has more than 50 buildings spread over 9.5 hectares, some buildings date back 400 years.

Pillnitz Castle was a summer residence for the electors and kings of Saxony, built in the Baroque style in 1720. The castle houses two museums and has three buildings enclosing a Baroque garden and surrounded by a large public park. The castle is located on the bank of the River Elbe, in Dresden, Germany.

Dresden Panometer is a venue inside a former gasometer, located in Dresden, Germany. It displays two panoramic paintings of the Austrian artist Yadegar Asisi, the paintings depict Dresden in 1756, and another picture of Dresden in 1945 after it got destroyed in World War II.

The Grand Garden of Dresden is the largest in Dresden, built in the Baroque style 1676, located in Dresden, Germany. In 1814 the garden was opened to become a public garden. The garden houses a Baroque Summer Palace, Dresden Zoo, and Dresden Botanical Garden.

Dresden Zoo is the oldest zoo in Dresden and the fourth oldest in Germany, it was opened in 1861. The zoo houses more than 2500 animals of almost 400 species. It has numerous ponds to make it a suitable place for birds and reptiles to live.