FESTUNG KÖNIGSTEIN - KÖNIGSTEIN FORTRESS

The fortress of Königstein dates back to the 13th century and has spanned more than 750 years of history. It is an impressive site occupying 9.5 hectares of a 240-metre promontory overlooking the Elbe curve.

Originally, it was a simple medieval castle, then it became a military fortress, before performing various functions according to the times. In the 17th and 18th centuries, it was enlarged and used as a refuge for the kings of Saxony in the event of a crisis, hence its nickname "Bastille de Saxe". This fortress also served as a state prison between 1591 and 1922. During the two World Wars, it served as an internment camp for officers taken prisoner and welcomed into its ramparts famous men, such as the French general Alphonse Juin or Henri Giraud, a French politician who played an important role in the liberation of France during the Second World War, and embodied a rival figure of General de Gaulle for the leadership of the French Allied Forces. He escaped from the fortress by sliding along the cliff. This fortress is a striking testimony of European fortified architecture with its heterogeneous architecture, where flamboyant Gothic, Baroque and 19th century style blend together. Each year, this site attracts more than 700,000 visitors.

Today, there is an important museum of military history, but also many temporary exhibitions and musical events. To get there, you can go up by a small train or by a brand new panoramic elevator. From its walkway you have a superb view over the whole region. You can, among other things, see the Ore Mountains, the Lusatian Mountains or the Bohemian Mountains.