Endless curves with castles guaranteed
Route »Endless curves with castles guaranteed«
Over rugged mountains and through narrow valleys
To the southeast of Dresden, you can have a lot of fun with your motorbike on curvy streets with many inclines and descends. By this way, you can tour the impressive landscapes of the Sächsische Schweiz (Saxon Switzerland) and the Erzgebirge (Ore Mountains). And the best part about it all is that in between you can always make a stop and visit many beautiful mansions and gardens along the way.
Distance approx. 230 km
The magic of the Müglitz Valley
The new motorway in the direction of Prague is the quickest way to travel from Dresden to Heidenau, where you turn off to the romantic Müglitztal (Müglitz Valley). Before doing so, a short side trip to the Gross-Sedlitz Baroque Garden is worthwhile.
One way or the other, you will pass Dohna and reach Weesenstein Castle with its priceless furnishings and its beautiful park. From there, we continue through the landscape that once captured the emotions of King John of Saxony. Close along the route, there is Maxen Castle, where once famous artists gathered. Since 2003 regular events have been taking place on Maxen’s open-air stage, the former royal Saxon marble quarry. Marble from Maxen was used amongst others in the constructing of the Dresden Catholic Court Church.
Saxon precision
The town of Glashütte became world-famous starting in 1845 when Ferdinand Adolph Lange founded the first watch factory in Germany. Today, a tour through the watch museum and a visit to the transparent factory of Glashütte Original gives visitors a good insight into the exclusive art of watch making. This craft came to new vitality after the reunification of Germany. Bärenstein’s castle is now in private ownership. Don’t miss the railway museum in the former train station, the market surrounded by bourgeois quarters and the oldest original posting milestone of Saxony. An exhibit pertaining to Saxony’s posting milestones can be visited in Lauenstein Castle, which still today dominates the same-named medieval town. The town church is beautifully furnished in the style of Mannerism.
Remnants of mining
In and around Altenberg you cannot only view remnants of the 800-year history of mining in the Ore Mountains; it is also an excellent area for winter sports. A visit to the bob run is always worthwhile. Tagging along in a bobsleigh is especially popular. On the way back into the Saxon Switzerland, you will pass Bad Gottleuba, which used to be Saxony’s largest sanatorium. With the re-opening of the old mine “Marie Louise Stolln” in the form of a mining museum and as a health mine, the health resort has regained some of its importance.
High rocks and deep Valleys
The upper Bielatal (Biela Valley) is especially rich in bizarrely formed rock formations. The Barbarine is the landmark of Saxon Switzerland. Before you go too deep into Saxon Switzerland National Park, a stop at Königstein Fortress is highly recommended. The health resort Bad Schandau on the other side of the Elbe River is the entrance to the Kirnitzschtal (Kirnitzsch Valley). The Kirnitzschtalbahn, a historical tram, travels from Bad Schandau up to the Lichtenhain waterfall. On the foot paths along the Kirnitzsch creek, you can experience breathtaking views of the Elbe Sandstone Mountains.
More than 150 years ago, silk flower production started in Sebnitz. Still today, you can visit the house “Deutsche Kunstblume Sebnitz” with its workshop viewing area and experience the production of silk flowers. The museum belonging to the company Tillig presents over 100 years of model railway history. Passing various small villages you will then reach Hohnstein. Hohnstein Castle is home to several museums and a hostel. When leaving the town you will come across a former raceway, upon which the Hohnsteiner Bergrennen (Hohnstein Hill Climb) took place in the 1920s.
On the trails of the painters
Lohmen Castle rises high above the town, situated upon a large sandstone rock, once called the “Pearl of the Wesenitz Valley” and today home to a tourist information center. For many painters of the romantic period, such as Caspar David Friedrich and Ludwig Richter, Lohmen Castle was often the first striking impression on their hikes through Saxon Switzerland. Immediately nearby, there is the church of Lohmen, one of the most beautiful village churches in Saxony. When riding in the direction of Stolpen, castle ruins can be seen from afar, which are the landmark of the city and which are over 775 years old. The town had to be completely rebuilt after a fire in 1723. Due to this, it presents itself today in a uniform Baroque appearance. On the return trip to Dresden, you will pass Schönfeld Castle, which has made a name for itself as a “magical castle”. In any case, you will be enchanted.