Over the mountains - Saxon Switzerland

On the first day we had to confirm a statement or a cliche. I am Swiss and yes I love hiking!

So we got up early and headed to the trainstation. Sandwiches and water were the only items in our backpacks. From Leipzig to Bad Schandau the centre of Saxon Switzerland it takes less then two hours by train. We got off the train and startet our hike towards Rathen probably the most popular town in the National Parc of Saxon Switzerland. We did not have any clue how long it is going to take nor how hard it will be. We are Swiss we can do this ;-) No, come on its holidays I just did no researching.
We followed the river Elbe towards Dresden. After some time we realised that we took the right path. The one that goes up the hill. (Yes hill, I did not see any mountains there. Just rocks and hills.) It was steep and took us about one hour to get on the top of this hill called Lilienstein. I was definitifely worth going up there.

view from Lilienstein - Elbe and Rathen

There is a parking lot in the middle of the route. From there some hundreds steps lead you to the top. A small but cosy restaurant serves cold drinks and snacks. We did not have time as my friend is a camera man he took some pictures. (Sorry no videoclip this time).

Lilienstein and one obelisk 

The descent to Rathen took us little more than one hour and was much more beautiful than the way we came. In Rathen there is a cable ferry that crosses the river to get to the trainstation. The famous Bastei Cliffs are located in Rathen. As we allready hiked for more than four hours we did not go up there. I am affraid you have to google the cliffs. 

We did not see too many other hikers along this way. The paths were in a good condition and the sings helped to find the way. 

With breaks todays hike took us about 6 hours. Costs: 1.50 Euros for the ferry and 5 Euros for a beer and a coke. 

Trains Dresden - Bad Schandau and back run every hour. Rathen - Dresden twice an hour. 

You can make it as well, dear reader!

Saxony - secret love

Ever since he heard the special dialect the first time he was not only amused he wanted to hear it all day long. As I love travelling so much I decided to help him out. So I booked the flights and called our good friends. I did not make any plan for this trip. As you know it has been a long time since my last journey. (Well I did one trip but it was not worth writing about I am sorry.) I just wanted to go away from home.

Saxony is a federal state of Germany and lies north of Bavaria and on the boarder to the Czech Republic. Yes one of the states of former German Democratic Republic. But it is not everything related to history or politics in my life. I wanted to see Dresden, Leipzig and the Saxon Switzerland.
No it is no part of Switzerland I am still talking about Germany ;-) A beautiful landscape opens on the way from Dresden to Prague with mountains, rivers and large forests  caleld the Saxon Switzerland.
A fully packed plan for only four days. Two friends, four days and not much of an idea....

Südfriedhof Leipzig