Festung Königstein

The mighty walls of the fortress Königsstein tower far above the Elbe, gray and rugged. The huge complex can be visited and offers exciting exhibitions about the changeable history of the fortress. Even if you do not visit the exhibitions, the phenomenal view from the ramparts of the broad walls is especially worthwhile.

At the fortress Königstein it is worthwhile to visit the historic-romantic Christmas market, open until 31st March 2017, during the winter time. The opening hours are from November to March 9 - 17 clock. Note different opening times and admission fees for special events. Since there are so many attractions on the fortress, you should plan enough time or make the fortress a day trip destination.

I can recommend the self-made bread of the fortress bakery. Together with the smoked sausages a very tasty snack.

It is unbelievable what our ancestors created here - many generations created this complex many centuries ago and expanded it again and again. The eventful history can be seen here in the buildings with their exhibitions.
I insert the picture with the "graffiti" from 1756 in the tree, here you suddenly get a personal connection to the culprit.

The fortress Königstein offers impressive views of the Elbe and the surrounding area, and the ascent is easily possible and only slightly strenuous. At the top of the fortress there are various exhibitions around the fortress and the history of the Free State of Saxony.

Sure, the best views, even from the toilet vestibule !!! in the administrator building. Fresh and not overloaded exhibition with disguise possibility for children from the lockers.
Oct2017: Exhibition and Film! over the gigantic city wall in Nanjing / China on the 2nd floor in the storage building.
Finally, delicious pieces of cake in the open air next to the officers' mess.

There is so much to see at the fortress Königstein. Because you can easily spend a whole day.

a plateau created by human hands. Impressive what people could create. Also, the section as a prison camp is knowledge rich.

The handling of plague patients, who were let down to die into a deep cave, seems inhumane to us from today's point of view.
But without antibiotics, that was the only way to save the healthy, even if the sick only as a dead person would leave the cave on a slide.
The ability of our ancestors to suffer was probably higher than ours !?

Opening hours of the fortress:
April - October 9am - 6pm
November - March 9am - 5pm
Admission 8 € in winter or 10 € in summer, including exhibitions and lift
Parking is available nearby in the car park:
koenigstein-sachsen.de/de/Tourismus/Touristinfo-Parkhaus-Festung-Koenigstein
Cost max. 7 € (day ticket)

Many exhibition, all very nicely done and informative.

If you buy a Schlösserland Card Saxony, almost every palace or castle in Saxony can be visited free of charge within 365 days. After three to four locks, the money is back in.

Great fortress, only enough time you have to plan because there is only entrance with museum.

In December there is always a nice Christmas market.

There is so much to see that I did not make it in one day.

Gigantic building, very well maintained with a wonderful view of the surroundings

Those who walk attentively through the fortress also find one or another old love oath or someone left behind I was here on the pictures is one of 1756 received.

Magnificent view over the Saxon Switzerland.

The old amusement palace on the fortress wall offers a unique view of the Elbe Sandstone Mountains. It was built in the Renaissance style at the end of the 16th century and was originally called “Christiansburg” after the Saxon Elector Christian I. While the ground floor originally had guns, the upper floor was used as a ballroom. In 1728 the Prussian King Friedrich Wilhelm I and his son, later Friedrich II, visited the Königstein. In memory of the meeting of the three brothers in Christiansburg, the building was renamed “Friedrichsburg”. Three years later, the elector ordered the conversion into a baroque pavilion with double stairs, which was unfortunately destroyed by lightning in 1744. Today the small but festive baroque mirror gallery is stylishly furnished and can be rented for events.

dresdenausflug.de/festung-koenigstein

Beautiful view of the Elbe and the Lilienstein

just fantastic up there

"Lusthaus" for festive occasions.

Due to its proverbial impregnability, the fortress has been used since the Thirty Years' War, especially during wartime, as a repository for art treasures such as the collections of the Dresden Residence and in particular for the state treasury of the Kingdom of Saxony. In 1854/55 a treasure house in the style of a powder magazine was built on the grounds of the fortress, which at that time was also bulletproof for artillery shells.

There is a 1.20 m thick sandstone vault under the roof cover. The side walls are up to 1.80 m thick. Access was secured by a triple iron door. The windows on the gable ends were protected by iron bars and shutters. The cellar of the treasure house - which was primarily intended and used for the storage of coins - is worked into the natural rock. Four trap doors are set into the floor of the first floor as access to the cellar. Rails for lorries have been laid there to transport the heavy cash drums.

Two million thalers, packed in 200 barrels, were stored in the treasure house on Königstein from 1860 to 1865. So 10,000 thalers stored in a barrel (unit weight ~ 185 kg). Incidentally, with this type of “packaging” and transport of the coins, it is understandable that coins from this period have edge defects and notches.

dresdenausflug.de/festung-koenigstein

Beautiful and gigantic. You should have seen it

The fortress is always worth a visit. Very extensive area with many attractions.

These fantastic builders would have gotten ready for Berlin Airport 🏗