In Saxony, where castles meet Romanticism

Dresden is the ideal starting point for exploring the most elegant part of Saxony – the region of castles, gardens and princely residences that stretch along the River Elbe. A late-summer holiday in the heart of this region could begin at the Residential Palace, in the heart of the city, which has returned to the limelight following a lengthy restoration programme: from this year, its elegant rooms are also hosting the new exhibition ‘Masks and Crowns’, dedicated to the festive culture of the Saxon Baroque. From here, the journey can continue to Moritzburg Castle, surrounded by parks and lakes, or to the three princely residences of Albrechtsberg, Lingnerschloss and Eckberg, overlooking the Elbe and set amidst lush greenery. For those wishing to turn their visit into a true historical tour, the Schloesserland-PASS grants access to the region’s main residences: Saxony boasts over 50 castles, fortresses and historic palaces. But Saxony is also the place where art and nature came together to give rise to German Romanticism. In the Saxon Switzerland National Park, the Malerweg, or Painters’ Trail, follows in the footsteps of artists, writers and musicians along a 116-kilometre route, passing through gorges, forests and spectacular sandstone formations. This year, the trail celebrates the 20th anniversary of its modern reopening, and its ideal complement is the Caspar David Friedrich Weg, a 15–20-kilometre route between Krippen and Schöna featuring twelve panels reproducing the painter’s original drawings: the most evocative stop is the Kaiserkrone, the spot from which Friedrich drew his inspiration for the famous ‘Wanderer above the Sea of Fog’. Back in Dresden, the unmissable event for lovers of Renaissance painting, running until 3 January 2027, is at the Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister, which is hosting the first major international retrospective dedicated to Correggio outside Italia.

https://www.sassoniaturismo.it/

https://www.schloesserland-sachsen.de/en/home/

https://www.saechsische-schweiz.de/malerweg