Saxon Switzerland National Park (German: Nationalpark Sächsische Schweiz) is a national park located in the German state of Saxony, near the city of Dresden. It covers an area of 93.5 square kilometers (36.1 square miles) in the central part of the Elbe Sandstone Mountains, a region commonly known as Saxon Switzerland (German: Sächsische Schweiz).
The park is next to Bohemian Switzerland National Park (Czech: České Švýcarsko) in the Czech Republic.
Geography
The National Park is located in the center of a natural area covering about 710 square kilometers (270 square miles). This area, known as Saxon Switzerland, has many places where humans have farmed or built homes. Small towns and villages, such as Bad Schandau and Königstein in the Sächsische Schweiz district, are part of this region.
About 40% of the National Park is covered by forests. The National Park status, which gives the highest level of natural protection in Germany, was granted in 1990. The park is located in two separate areas within the Sächsische Schweiz-Osterzgebirge district.
Saxon Switzerland has deep canyons and rocky cliffs. The highest point in the National Park, called Großer Winterberg, reaches 556 meters (1,824 feet) above sea level. It is near the Elbe River valley, which is about 110 to 120 meters (360 to 390 feet) lower. The steep slopes and cliffs create different habitats and small climate areas. Some forests in the park have not been disturbed by humans, which is rare in Europe. These types of forests, such as mountain and gorge forests, are at risk of disappearing in Europe. The sandy soil and cracks in the rock make some areas drier than typical for this climate.
This region includes areas like the Bastei, Lilienstein, and Polenz valley. To the west, it is bordered by Wehlen and Lohmen. To the north, it is bordered by Lohmen and Hohnstein. To the east, it is bordered by Hohnstein and Goßdorf. To the south, it is bordered by Porschdorf, Rathen, and Wehlen. The town of Waitzdorf is completely inside the western part of the region. Important hills include Lilienstein (415 meters), Bastei (305 meters), Hockstein, and Brand (317 meters). The Grünbach river and the lake Amselsee, along with the Polenz river, are the main water sources in this area.
The eastern part of the park includes areas like the Schrammsteine rocks, Großer Winterberg mountain, Großer Zschand valley, and the hinterland of Saxon Switzerland (Hinterer Sächsischen Schweiz). To the west, it is bordered by Bad Schandau and Altendorf. To the north, it is bordered by Altendorf, Ottendorf, and Hinterhermsdorf. To the east and south, it is bordered by the Bohemian Switzerland National Park. The Elbe River forms the southern edge of this region from Schmilka to Bad Schandau. Important hills include Großer Winterberg (556 meters), Kuhstall (337 meters), and Raumberg (459 meters). The Kirnitzsch river is the main water source in this area.
Tourism and recreation
A national park is sometimes in conflict with activities like tourism and recreation. One goal is to increase the protected area to 75%, which means limiting areas where people can hike or climb.
The paths in today’s national parks were developed in the first half of the 19th century and finished at the start of the 20th century. Historical guides, such as Meinhold’s route guide, describe these paths in detail. The first rules about hiking were introduced in the 1980s, such as restrictions on the Thorwalder Wände ridge path. Today, the national park has 400 km of marked hiking trails, many mountain restaurants, and about 50 km of cycling trails. Visitors must use marked trails in the national park. While all paths outside the core area are open to visitors, only marked trails are allowed inside the core area.
The 'Painters’ Trail' (Malersweg in German) is a 116 km hiking trail that begins in Pirna and follows the Elbe River eastward to Schmilka. From there, it crosses the river and returns to Pirna. This trail covers only a small part of the park, but many visitors choose it because of its beauty and well-developed path. The Bastei bridge is the first sight of the valley for many visitors and is often photographed and recorded.
The unique sandstone cliffs in Saxon Switzerland National Park attract many climbers each year. However, because the cliffs are made of sandstone, visitors must be careful when climbing.
Rules introduced at the start of the 20th century help protect the sandstone in the national park:
- Climbing is not allowed when the rock is wet or broken.
- Ropes can only be used for safety and abseiling.
- Metal safety equipment, such as chock-stones and solid rings, is not permitted.
- Visitors cannot use chemical aids like magnesia.
- The rock surface must not be changed, except for attaching retaining rings during first ascents.
Information posts
- National Park Headquarters, National Park Centre, and National Park Office in Bad Schandau
- Information posts at Schweizerhaus on the Bastei, Amselfall mountain hut, log cabin on the Brand, Eishaus on the Großer Winterberg, armoury in the Großer Zschand, and Haus Beize and Waldhusche in Hinterhermsdorf