Königstein 

View of a town with colourful houses and a church, surrounded by green hills and clouds.
View towards Königstein Fortress
Aerial view of a castle on a hill, surrounded by trees and countryside.
Königstein Fortress from the air

At the foot of the legendary Königstein Fortress lies the town and its districts. It provides a picturesque starting point for excursions to the table mountains of Saxon Switzerland and the romantic valleys surrounding it.

The town of Königstein, with the districts of Pfaffendorf and Leupoldishain, is nestled in the picturesque landscape of Saxon Switzerland, on the banks of the Elbe.  The town owes its name to the former castle and subsequent fortress, which was first mentioned in historical records in 1241 and still offers visitors an insight into its history today. Königstein Fortress is therefore a unique testament to European fortress architecture.

Thanks to its central location, Königstein is also an ideal starting point for a wide variety of excursions in the surrounding area. A hike through the wildly romantic valleys nearby or to the table mountains is the perfect opportunity to admire the national park's stunning natural beauty.

From Lilienstein, Pfaffenstein or Königstein Fortress, visitors can enjoy magnificent views extending far across the Elbe Valley. The world's oldest paddle steamer fleet and the Elbe Cycle Route also offer a diverse range of options for an exploratory tour through Saxon and Bohemian Switzerland or as far as Dresden, the capital of Saxony.

Tip: Would you like to get to know the town of Königstein better? Would you like to immerse yourself in the town's history and stories on a guided walking tour, solving interesting and entertaining quizzes along the way? If so, a walking tour is sure to be just right for you! Whether you visit all 20 stops or make your own selection – both options are available free of charge with the "Actionbound" app!

The following districts belong to Königstein/Saxon Switzerland

Königstein/Saxon Switzerland | Leupoldishain | Pfaffendorf
Ebenheit, Elbhäuser, Halbestadt and Hütten are not officially districts; however, they are referred to as such to provide a degree of differentiation, owing to their locations being clearly spatially separate from Königstein and their history.

Impressions

Guest Card Saxon Switzerland mobil

Logo of the mobile guest card
Mobile guest card logo

As an overnight guest, one receives the guest card mobil. Besides great discounts at a variety of leisure facilities, the guest card simultaneously serves as a ticket for the use of public transport in all tariff zones of the Upper Elbe Transport Association (VVO) in Saxon Switzerland. Thus, the guest card mobil is the ticket for all bus, train, and most ferry connections in Pirna (70), Bad Gottleuba (71), Bad Schandau (72), and Neustadt (73), as well as for the Kirnitzschtal Railway and the cross-border Tisá Line 2017. 

The brochure ERLEBNISSE Sächsische Schweiz provides information on special offers for guest card holders: All participating establishments are marked with the guest card logo. The brochure is provided upon arrival along with the guest card or at the Tourist Information.

Attractions

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