Saxon Switzerland National Park, Protected sandstone canyon landscape in Saxony, Germany.
Saxon Switzerland National Park is a protected area of sandstone rock formations, deep valleys, and flat-topped mountains shaped by the Elbe River's erosion over millennia. The terrain features a mix of forest, open cliffs, and river gorges that create diverse landscapes across the region.
The park was established on 1 October 1990 under the GDR's national park programme, on a decision of the Council of Ministers of 12 September 1990. It was officially opened on 28 April 1991, marked by a memorial stone on the Wildwiese below the Schrammsteine. Earlier protection began in 1912 with the Polenztal, followed by the Bastei nature reserve in 1938.
The 116 km Malersweg (Painters' Trail) runs from Pirna along the Elbe to Schmilka and back, a route named for the painters who worked here. The Bastei bridge is the first view of the valley for many visitors and is heavily photographed. The park's name comes from two Swiss artists, Adrian Zingg and Anton Graff, who likened the sandstone to their homeland.
The park features over 400 kilometers of marked hiking trails ranging from easy walks to challenging routes suited to different fitness levels. Sturdy footwear and good footing are important, especially on steep paths or when conditions are wet.
The core zones, where nature is left to itself, cover the Bastei, Polenztal and Brand areas in the west and the Großer Winterberg, Großer Zschand and Kirnitzschklamm in the east. Forestry there is limited to controlling forest insect outbreaks, promoting individual white firs, pushing back invasive trees such as Weymouth pine, keeping viewpoints open and taking timber for path maintenance.
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