I’ve seen much beauty of this type on my earlier travels through southern Germany, Switzerland, Salzburg and Silesia, but I have never come across fabulous rock landscapes such as these.  Carl Merkel, German philosopher, 1826. 

Tucked away by the Czech border, just an hour from Dresden, is Saxon Switzerland; one of Germany’s most unique and beautiful landscapes. It is a mountain range – also known as the Elbe Sandstone Mountains – full of bizarre rock formations, wild gorges, sheer cliffs and intriguing forests.  To call it a mountain range is a bit misleading as the highest peak there, the Große Zschirnstein, is only 556 metres / 1,814 feet, but it gives a indication of the diversity of this wonderfully rugged hiking country.

For decades the area was isolated in a remote corner of eastern Germany but  it is now a haven for outdoor enthusiasts. It offers 1,200 km / 720 miles of waymarked paths and trails, hundreds of miles of cycling routes, the mighty River Elbe, and a wealth of flora and fauna, although a large part of it is protected as the Saxon Switzerland National Park.   

Take your walking boots and uncover some of the most picturesque landscapes in Europe, dotted with romantic fortresses, pretty villages, old mills and historical inns - all handcrafted with endless devotion and detail, and which, only now, seem to be awakening from a long slumber. 

Millions of years ago, Saxon Switzerland (Sächsische Schweiz, in German), also known as the Elbe Sandstone Mountains (Elbsandsteingebirge, in German), was carved into labyrinths of stone after volcanic eruptions forced up the bed of a prehistoric lake. The River Elbe and its tributaries cut the ensuing chalky sandstone bed into a bizarre assembly of soaring pinnacles, mesas and rock buttresses - creating a very attractive and varied walking experience, full of enchanting trails, rock castles, lookout points, caves, rock steps and even some Via Ferrata-like iron ladders. 

The peculiar German tendency to name hilly areas after Switzerland* began at the beginning of the 19th century, in the period of the Romantic movement. However, the landscape, far from looking Swiss, is unique in Central Europe, with deep, narrow valleys and dense forests interrupted by outcrops of rock welded into truly fantastic shapes.      

The Elbe Sandstone Mountains stretch across the border between the state of Saxony in eastern Germany and the Czech Republic. They seamlessly blend into Bohemian Switzerland on the Czech side, which claims the largest natural stone bridge on the European continent - Pravcická Brána.  Both countries have declared their individual part of the Elbe Sandstone Mountains a national park.

(*) Schweiz is the German language name of Switzerland. In Germany we have a Fränkische Schweiz, a Märkische Schweiz, a Mecklenburgische Schweiz, a Holsteinische Schweiz, a Ruppiner Schweiz - and the Sächsische Schweiz. 

Bad Schandau is a small town with lots of character, nestling in the Elbe river valley and conveniently adjoining the national park.  It is well-known for its healing waters, and its spa has been attracting visitors since 1730.  So, if you don’t feel like walking you can go for a swim in the Toskana Therme instead; it is a modern indoor thermal pool that combines lights, sound and video over and under the water. Or walk along the Elbe promenade and then take the unique iron passenger lift, which was originally built in 1904, up to a fabulous viewing spot and a good place to start easy walks and rambles.   

Where you’ll stay…

Combining all the elements for a relaxing and wonderful holiday, this charming family-run 3* hotel is located in a central but quiet location, right at the pretty town park.  It has been welcoming guests for more than 100 years and offers 40 spacious ensuite bedrooms, all equipped with satellite TV, telephone and a mini bar. The hotel’s restaurant earns consistently high praise for its mouth-watering dishes and attentive service. There is a small guest car park adjacent to the hotel and further parking is provided at the sister hotel, two minutes walk away.

Hotel availability: in case our partner hotel is booked out will propose alternative dates or the most suitable alternative hotel if one is available.  The alternative will be offered to you at a similar cost via email and you will have 48 hours from the time you made the booking request to accept this alternative, once accepted your credit card will be charged.  If you do not choose the alternative offered your booking request will automatically be cancelled without payment. 

Hotel details: it is not our policy to provide the hotel’s contact details before full payment has been received.  The hotel’s name, telephone number and address will be sent to you as part of your tour pack 3-4 weeks prior to the start of your walking holiday.

History seeps from the very stones of Swiss Saxony, from prehistoric to the medieval ages and to the stirring times of the more recent past.  The span of the centuries is tangible in the scenic setting of fortresses, medieval castles and palaces such as Feste Königsstein (1241), Hohnstein (1200), or the splendid Baroque Palace Rammenau (1717).  Incredibly, the state of Saxony boasts more than 1,000 castles, historic gardens and manor houses! 

Throughout its history, the size and borders of Saxony have undergone frequent changes.  For example, the Kingdom of Saxony, as one of Napoleon’s former allies, had to give up two thirds of its territory and one third of its population to Prussia after the Vienna Congress in 1815. 

Another significant milestone was the forced dissolution of the state in 1952, its change into the German Democratic Republic (GDR) and the communist regime of the Soviet Union.  However, upon German reunification in 1990, the Free State of Saxony was re-established. 

The Elbe Sandstone Mountains “work” in a unique way.  In contrast to the microclimate of an actual mountain range, the gorges and valley floors have a cool, moist climate, whilst the weather is warmer and dryer at higher altitudes.  This literally turns the flora and fauna system upside down, and several plants and animals you would normally find in valley floors live on the higher plateaus – and vice versa. 

The shaded valleys and gorges provide a home for a wealth of ferns, mosses and lichen, e.g. the vividly yellow Chrysothrix chlorina lichen at the base of the rocks.  Creatures such as dippers, fire salamanders, otters and brown trout rely on pristine rivers such as the Kirnitzsch.  Heathlands and soft pinewoods are a characteristic feature of this landscape and provide an ideal habitat for the Eurasian Pygmy-owl (Glaucidium passerinum). The Eurasian Pygmy-owl is the smallest owl in Europe. Starling-sized, it nests in old woodpecker holes; often those of the great spotted woodpecker.  It preys on birds, some nearly as large as itself, and also on small mammals such as voles or the garden dormouse.

If you are lucky you might even come across the extremely shy black stork.  This is a large bird, nearly 1 metre / 3.5 feet tall, with a 1.8 metres / 5.9 feet wingspan.  It is black all over, except for its white belly and axillaries, and its red bill and legs.  It builds a stick nest high in trees and feeds mainly on fish and also amphibians and insects.    

If you are a softy for nostalgia then we recommend a trip on the Kirnitzschtalbahn, a jangling narrow-gauge tram from 1898.  It creaks along the River Kirnitzsch, past romantic stone bridges and the occasional ancient mill, from Bad Schandau up to the Lichtenhainer Wasserfall.  The fall is a sprinkle of mountain water that tumbles down next to the Gasthof Lichtenhainer Wasserfall, a historical inn from 1852, where visitors can order a traditional meal of freshly fried trout or venison, if in season, and drink Radeberger beer; the most popular Saxon brand. 

One place you should definitely visit is the pretty village of Rathen. High above the village, and a 30-minute steep walk away, is Swiss Saxony’s most ubiquitous tourist icon - the Bastei. The Bastei is a natural belvedere of bizarrely-shaped rocks, a breathtaking stone bridge, and the ruins of Felsenburg Neurathen, which is a 13th century rebel stronghold ingeniously set amongst the rocks.  As an added bonus there are the most amazing views and a mountain restaurant offering excellent food.          

Explore Saxony’s capital city of Dresden. One of the most spectacular buildings in the city is the Frauenkirche (Church of our Lady) in the heart of the old city centre.  During World War II the church was almost completely destroyed but has now been restored to its former glory.    

Nearest Airport(s):  Your holiday resort can easily be reached via Dresden, Altenburg or Berlin. The approximate journey times, in good conditions, from the airports to your destination are as follows:

• Germany, Dresden – 1 to 1 ½ hours
• Germany, Altenburg (near Leipzig) – 1 ½ to 2 hours
• Germany, Berlin – 2 ½ to 3 hours

When to go: this great self-guided walking holiday is available from arrival date 1 April to 1 November. Saxony has a variable climate with frequent weather changes from day to day.  Summers are moderately warm with much sunshine, but also be prepared for some thundery summer showers.  Spring and autumn are both, in their individual ways, wonderful for walking.

For more information and prices please refer to the relevant page on this website.

We are always happy to answer any queries about our walking holidays, so if you need any help deciding whether a holiday is right for you, please contact one of our friendly team on
telephone +49 8161 549795 or email us at touchingnature@email.de