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Saxony

Placed where northern plains abut mountain ranges and German efficiency meets Slavic flamboyance, packed with elegant hilltop castles and lavish baroque palaces, Saxony is the definition of Central Europe. It was also at the centre of events during the most decisive points in European history, such as the Reformation, Napoleonic Wars, and velvet revolutions that dismantled Communist regimes in the late 1980s.

It's likely you've seen some of Saxony's most striking sights on classical paintings, be it Canaletto's views of Dresden's captivating baroque cityscape or Friedrich's depictions of Saxon Switzerland, a breathtakingly beautiful passage cut through the mountains by the Elbe River. You've most definitely heard musical masterpieces written in Leipzig by Johann Sebastian Bach and Richard Wagner.

But there is more to discover – from quaint baroque towns to centuries-old industrial heritage. Halfway between Berlin and Prague, Saxony is a perfect introduction to what awaits you east of Germany.

Top attractions

These are our favorite local haunts, touristy spots, and hidden gems throughout Saxony.

Palace
Zwinger
A collaboration between the architect Matthäus Pöppelmann and the sculptor Balthasar Permoser, the Zwinger was built between 1710 and 1728 on the orders of Augustus the Strong, who, having returned from seeing Louis XIV's palace at Versailles, wanted something similar for himself. Primarily a party palace for royals, the Zwinger has ornate portals that lead into the vast fountain-studded courtyard, which is framed by buildings lavishly adorned with evocative sculpture. Today it houses three superb museums within its baroque walls.
Fortress
Festung Königstein
Festung Königstein is the largest intact fortress in Germany, and so imposing and formidable that noone in history has ever even bothered to attack it, let alone conquered it. Begun in the 13th century, it was repeatedly enlarged and is now a veritable textbook of military architecture, with 30 buildings spread across 9.5 hectares.
Palace
Residenzschloss
Dresden's extraordinary Renaissance city palace, home to its Saxon rulers from 1485 to 1918, now shelters multiple precious collections – including the unmissable Grünes Gewölbe (Green Vault), a real-life Aladdin’s Cave spilling over with precious objects wrought from gold, ivory, silver, diamonds and jewels. The palace itself was bombed out in 1945, and though reconstruction began in the 1960s, it wasn't completed until 2013. The entire building, including its unique murals and baroque towers, is quite simply spectacular.
Church
Frauenkirche
The domed Frauenkirche – Dresden’s most beloved symbol – has literally risen from the city's ashes. The original church graced the skyline for two centuries before collapsing after the February 1945 bombing, and was rebuilt from a pile of rubble between 1994 and 2005. A spitting image of the original, today's structure may not bear the gravitas of age but that only slightly detracts from its beauty, inside and out. The altar, reassembled from nearly 2000 fragments, is especially striking.
Museum
Erlebniswelt Haus Meissen
Next to the historic porcelain factory south of the Altstadt, this museum is the place to witness the astonishing artistry and artisanship that makes Meissen porcelain unique. Visits start with a 30-minute group tour (with English audioguide) of four studios, where artists demonstrate vase throwing, plate painting, figure moulding and glazing. This gives you a better appreciation for the ensuing collections of historic and contemporary porcelain, which can be enjoyed at your own speed.
Palace
Schloss Weesenstein
A magnificent sight on a rocky crag high above the Müglitz River, Schloss Weesenstein is an amazing alchemy of styles, blending medieval roots with Renaissance and baroque embellishments. This has resulted in an architectural curiosity where the banquet halls ended up beneath the roof, the horse stables on the 5th floor, and the residential quarters in the cellar.
Palace
Schloss Moritzburg
An impossibly romantic vision in yellow and white surrounded by an enormous moat-like lake and a park that is at turns wild and formal, baroque Schloss Moritzburg was the preferred hunting palace of the Saxon rulers – and the site of some lavish post-hunting parties under August the Strong. It's no surprise then that antlers are the main decorative feature in these halls sheathed in rich leather wall covering, some painted with mythological scenes.
Palace
Schloss & Park Pillnitz
Baroque has gone exotic at Schloss Pillnitz, a delightful pleasure palace, festooned with fanciful Chinese flourishes. This is where the Saxon rulers once lived it up during long hot Dresden summers. Explore the wonderful gardens, then study the history of the palace and life at court in the Schlossmuseum. Two other buildings, the Wasserpalais and the Bergpalais, house the Kunstgewerbemuseum, which is filled with fancy furniture and knick-knacks from the Saxon court, including Augustus the Strong’s throne.
Castle
Albrechtsburg
Lording it over Meissen, the 15th-century Albrechtsburg was the first German castle constructed for residential purposes, but is more famous as the birthplace of European porcelain. An exhibit on the 2nd floor chronicles how it all began; a nifty touch terminal even lets you 'invent' your own porcelain.