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Saxony, Germany

Make the most of your time in Saxony, use the information provided on this web site by clicking on the links to plan your visit.

For centuries Saxony has been a battleground between East and West, creating a unique cultural landscape in the very heart of Europe. From the architectural glory of Dresden, to the musical flair of Leizig and the snow-capped peaks of the Lusatian and Ore Mountains, Saxony is an undiscovered gem.

Saxony has one of the longest and most fascinating histories of any Germany state. Throughout its 1,000 year history Saxony has been a duchy, an electorate of the Holy Roman Empire and a kingdom. The monarchy was overthrown following the end of the First World War and became a state of the Weimar Republic, the predecessor to Hitler’s Third Reich. Much of Saxony was heavily bombed during World War II, particularly Dresden, where the scars of the war can be seen to this day. The state was abolished when it became part of East Germany, but was later re-established during the reunification of East and West Germany in 1990.

This long and fascinating history has created a truly unique, typically Saxon culture. By and large Saxony has been untouched by international tourism, meaning that the state’s traditions and culture remain at the heart of Saxon life. This is particularly so outside the major cities in the smaller towns such as Meißen, Freiberg, Pirna, Bautzen and Görlitz. These historic little towns are something of a time capsule, with an ambience borne of an earlier age.

However, the major cities of Dresden and Leipzig tend to be the focus of a trip to Saxony, offering visitors a wealth of history and culture to explore. Dresden is affectionately known as  ‘Florence on the Elbe’ by virtue of its almost unrivalled elegance, culture and beauty. Defined by domed cathedrals, historic palaces and baroque architecture, the city is home to many of the world’s finest art galleries, museums, theatres and opera houses. Leipzig enjoys a similarly esteemed reputation. The city is known as a ‘little Paris’, a moniker drawn from Goethe’s Faust in which Frosch likens Leipzig to the French capital. Over the centuries musical giants such as Bach, Mendelssohn and Wagner made Leipzig their home and like Dresden, is home to leading galleries and museums such as the Schiller House, the Museum of Fine Arts, and the Gallery of Contemporary Art, underlining Leipzig’s standing in artistic circles.

And with some of Germany’s most stunning scenery, from the snowy peaks of the Lusatian and Ore Mountains, to the hills and valleys of the Vogtland, Saxony is a joy to explore.


 

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