Königstein Fortress

To get to Königstein Fortress, drive your car as far as possible and you end up at a parking area. From there you can either walk or take a shuttle tram to the base of the fortress that looms high above, crowning the hilltop. Buy your ticket and take the elevator (built into the rocks) that ascends to the dramatic portal. From there, you walk farther up the well-worn road to the summit. The fortress is actually a walled town built on the top of a flat mountain. Many of the old buildings are open to view, but they are not of remarkable interest. What is really special is to walk the perimeter of the castle walls, which drop straight down to the valley far below. Poke into a few of the museums along the way as the mood suits you. If you haven’t had lunch, or even if you have, stop for refreshment at the simple snack stand that is tucked along the top of the wall—the view is incredible. (9 am–8 pm May to September; 9 am–6 pm October, 9 am–5 pm, November to April.)