“Reminiscent of the Swiss Jura” is what two artists said when they first laid eyes on the landscape before us. This is Saxon Switzerland. It is a hilly climbing area and national park. Saxon Switzerland sits in the Elbe Sandstone Mountains.
Two Swiss artists who worked at the Dresden Academy of Art in 1766 gave Saxon Switzerland its name. Adrian Zingg and Anton Graff thought the landscape looked like their homeland. Before this, the area was called the Meissner Highland. Wilhelm Lebrecht Götzinger later popularized the name Saxon Switzerland in his books.
Saxon Switzerland is on the German-Czech border. It is the northern part of the Elbe Sandstone Mountains. To the east are the Lusatian Highlands. To the west are the Ore Mountains. The highest point in Saxon Switzerland is the Großer Zschirnstein. It stands 562 meters above sea level.
Slavs settled this region in the early Middle Ages. It was part of the Kingdom of Bohemia. About 1,000 years ago, three Slavic tribes bordered this area. These were the Nisane, Milzane, and Dacine tribes. In the 15th century, Saxon Switzerland became part of the Margraviate of Meissen.
Tourism began here in the 19th century. The Biela Valley Trolleybus helped. It ran from 1901 to 1904. Romantic artists also drew inspiration from the area. Ludwig Richter and Carl Maria von Weber were among them. Weber set his opera “Der Freischütz” near Rathen.
The Nazis banned the name “Switzerland” for German areas. So, in 1938, Saxon Switzerland was replaced by Amtshauptmannschaft Pirna and later Kreis Pirna.
Germans settled here in the 13th century. They pushed out Bohemian influence. Military conflicts broke out around fortifications. These protected borders and trade routes. Local knights provided protection. The division of estates led to economic problems. Many castles became robber baron bases.
The Wettins captured many castles in the mid-16th century. This stabilized the area. Today, these castles and ruins are tourist spots. They include Hohnstein, Königstein, and Lilienstein.
In 1990, Saxon Switzerland became a national park. This protected its unique natural character. The park covers 93 square kilometers. It has two main regions. One is near Rathen. The other is the Saxon Switzerland Hinterland.
Saxon Switzerland has sandstone rocks. These attract rock climbers. There are about 14,000 climbing routes on over 1,100 rock pinnacles. The Saxon Rules for rock climbing began in the early 20th century. They are an origin of free climbing. Ropes are for safety only. Chalk is not allowed.
A “Baustelle” is a Saxon climbing oddity. Climbers scale a section by standing on each other’s shoulders. Jumping between rocks is also popular. Some steep paths have steps and ladders for hikers.
A “Boofe” is local slang for sleeping under a rock overhang. It is a long tradition here. It is now only allowed at designated sites.
Points of interest include the Bastei and Königstein Fortress. Also worth a visit are the Lilienstein and the Kirnitzschtal Tramway. Saxon Switzerland offers a unique landscape and rich history. From its dramatic rock formations to its captivating past, Saxon Switzerland truly earns its evocative name. It is a landscape that inspires awe and invites exploration.