Regional specialities in Saxony include potato soup made hearty with onions, bacon and sausages , Sauerbraten marinated pot roast and meatloaf known as Wiegebraten or falscher Hase. Another very important tradition in Saxony is coffee and cake. In fact, the story goes that the first coffee bar in the whole of Germany was opened in Leipzig in the 17th century, and that the Saxons were the first to discover the perfect pairing of coffee with cake - thus beginning a long tradition of so-called Kaffeehauskultur coffee house culture.
Dresden went ahead anyway. The fascinating Protestant Church at Hartenfels Castle was the first to be built in Europe, and was personally consecrated by Luther himself. We might be a long way from the sea, but Saxony has no shortage of beaches. Everyone likes a good old German castle. This impregnable hilltop fortress near Dresden covers a rock plateau the size of 13 football fields.
Impressive enough in itself, but the panoramic views across the Saxon Switzerland national park are simply spectacular.
Both the civil and state flags for Saxony feature a bicolour of white over green. The flag was formally abolished in under the reforms of the Third Reich. It was re-adopted in before being abolished once again under the GDR regime. What would German Christmas be without the traditional sweet bread called Dresdner Stollen or the wonderful woodcrafts from the mountainous area known as the Erzgebirge , the Ore Mountains?
With a population of over 4 million and the most vibrant economy among the former GDR states, Saxony has much to offer. The state owes much of its strong economy to the three major cities of Dresden, Leipzig and Chemnitz, which together once formed one of the most important industrial centers in Germany. The city has since reclaimed some of its former glory through reconstruction.
Like no other city in Germany, Chemnitz stands for engineering and innovation. At the end of the 19th century, Chemnitz registered about six times more patents than anywhere else in Germany. While much smaller in size than these three major Saxon urban centers, the city of Wittenberg can lay a claim to fame all its own. It was in Wittenberg in that Martin Luther single-handedly started the movement which went down in history as the Reformation.
Craftsmen from the region have exhibited their wooden products at the Leipzig trade fair for over years, going back as far as Skiing, Christmas tree ornaments, traditional wood carvings and castle-crowned hilltops sum up the essence of the Ore Mountains which run along the German-Czech border. Spectacular hikes, captivating museums and tranquil village make the Erzgebirge a year-round destination but the winter months, December, in particular, are the most magical.
The entire region is dipped beneath metres of snow while festivals, and Christmas markets are on the agenda. Wedged against the German-Polish border kilometres east of Dresden lies one of the most underrated towns in Germany.
The highlights of a trip to the Saxon Switzerland park are the Bastei bridge, Lilienstein table mountain and the jagged Schrammstein rocks. The complex encompasses more than 50 individual buildings which are encircled by massive sandstone walls soaring 42 metres high.
The structure was purposely designed to create a perfect circle when the bridge is reflected on the surface of the lake below. Pillnitz Castle served as the summer residence for previous noblemen and is composed of several Baroque-style buildings, surrounded by more than 23 hectares of parklands. While Meissen is first and foremost associated with the delicate tableware and figurines produced by the year-old Meissen porcelain manufactory, the city offers more than just high-end china.
The Frauenkirche church pictured here was destroyed at the end of the Second World War and remained a ruin for decades. After German unification it was rebuilt using as much original material as possible. When it reopened in , Dresden won back one of its famous landmarks. The opposite shore of the river Elbe offers a fabulous view of Dresden's historical Baroque center. The predominantly undeveloped meadows that stretch along the river for some 30 kilometers 18 miles are a good location for walking and, particularly in the summer, for picnics.
For art lovers there are open air film nights and concerts. Right near the Elbe river valley, a national park called Saxon Switzerland is just the right place for those wanting to hike or climb. The hilly climbing area of the Elbe Sandstone Mountains is known for its bizarre rock formations that can reach a height of meters 2, ft.
Leipzig celebrated recently its millennial anniversary. But the city is by no means old-fashioned. It's popular among younger people who regard it as the "better and less expensive Berlin.
This vibrancy and creativity in Leipzig is also reflected in its numerous bars and galleries. Founded as a trade city, Leipzig is today closely associated with Johann Sebastian Bach. Even though the famous composer was not born here, Leipzig is the place he spent most of his working life. He is buried in St Thomas' Church where was choir leader of the renowned Thomanerchor from to Depending on the season, you can hike or ski here while spending time in two different countries.
On the German side, on the Fichtelberg mountain is Oberwiesenthal: With an altitude of meters almost 3, ft , it is Germany's highest town. From there, a cable car takes visitors up to the top of the mountain. Germany's easternmost city survived the Second World War virtually undamaged.
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