ELBE-RADWEG, Ciclabile del Fiume Elba, DAY 04: Dresden (Dresda) - Konigstein (Parco Naturale della Sassonia o SAXON Schweiz))

Quarto (ed ultimo) tratto del pezzo relativamente breve di ciclabile del fiume Elba che abbiamo percorso, in questo segmento partendo da Dresda per arrivare alla piccola frazione di Konigstein, nel cuore del parco naturale della Sassonia "Svizzera".
Dal momento che non ho trovato su Wikiloc info in italiano su questa ciclabile (votata per diversi anni come la ciclabile piu' bella della Germania) spendo qui qualche parola per chi volesse organizzare la "traversata" : la ciclabile e' ottimamente tenuta, praticamente sempre su pista ciclabile separata dal traffico ordinario ed interamente asfaltata (non sono rari brevi tratti su Pavet, che in Germania ho trovato estremamente frequentii e che comunque non hanno dato alcun problema alle nostre bici (una trekking bike muscolare Jamis Commuter 1 ed una Kalkhoff Endeavour a pedatala assistita). Noi abbiamo fatto l'intero viaggio con al seguito un carrellino biposto per i bimbi ed un set completo di borse Ortlieb, non abbiamo avuto alcun problema meccanico, i mezzi hanno sostenuto lo stress molto bene, ma come ho detto i segmenti che riporto qui ( e di seguito) sono tutti stati fatti su asfalto con particolare attenzione alla pianificazione del viaggio. Unico errore non insignificante e' stato quello di percorrere la ciclabile in senso "inverso" al decorso del fiume che in effetti scorre dalla Repubblica Ceca fino ad Amburgo: ci siamo ritrovati a percorrere la ciclabile in lieve salita, nulla di problematico comunque, ma soprattutto spesso contro-vento (nnostante quanto avessi letto su web iinfatti il vento NON gira quasi mai da mar del Nord in direzione Sud e noio ce lo siamo quasi sempre trovato contro). Se potete quindi seguite il percorso qui riportato, ma in senso inverso a quanto fatto da noi. Ultimo cenno sull'altimetria: nonostante abbiamo percorso la ciclabile in senso sfavorevole, le brevi salite sono state semplici e non hanno posto problemi.

Per completezza, riporto di seguito il programma dell'intero viaggio, in inglese per mia convenienza organizzativa (partiamo dal terzo giorno in quanto i primi due ci sono serviti per arrivare a Torgau con le nostre bici):

DAY 03 (Aug 1st) Torgau --> Strehla, Preferred on a Mixed Left/Right Route, 47 Km BIKE (alternatively, just on the Left side, 42 Km), BIKE
Start in Torgau on the Left side, then turn left after Plotha, and then again on the left to take the new futuristic bridge (with a dedicated cycle way), to go on the Right side and reach Muhlberg on Elbe, that is apparently the "official",paved and most organized cycle way, then stay on the Right Side up to Strehla, but then you need to go through the Elbe again to reach the Village and the Campings...).
ROAD BOOK:
A. Torgau --> Losswig (Evang Kirche) --> Bennewitz (PlayGorund, close to the Cycle Way) --> Wessnig (Food, ATM, Playground), 8 Km
B. Wessnig --> Kranichau (Nothing) --> Dobeltitz (Nothing) --> Belgern (Ferry Service, ATM, Food), 9 Km (from Wessnig)
C. Belgern --> Ammelgosswitz (Nothing) --> Droschkau (Food) --> Plotha (Nothing) --> Muhlberg (RIGHT Side, Food, Grocery), 12 Km
D. Muhlberg --> Borschutz (Nothing) --> Kreinitz (Food) --> Cottewitz (Nothing) --> Lorenzkirch (Ferry to Strehla) --> Strehla, 17 Km
POIs: Muhlberg: 1. Muhlberg Schloss and Bridge (Drone Flight)

EAT: WESSNIG: Coffee / Lunch at Landgasthof Zur Elbaue. Belgern: Coffee / Lunch at Zur Fahrdiele on the Cycle Way ||| DROSCHAU: Coffee/Lunch at Rittergut Dröschkau, along the cycle way. ||| MUHLBERG, To Go Burger at Gudruns Imbiss, right on the cycle way. ||| KREINITZ: Coffee/Lunch at Country inn and pension Kreinitz,on the Cylce way. |||| In STREHLA Dinner at the Strehla Youth Hostel (The Camping is CLOSE in 2022)
SLEEP:
Strehla Youth Hostel
Torgauer Strasse 33
01616 Strehla
Tel. +493526492030
strehla@jugendherberge.de
Management: Robert Mueller


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DAY 04 (Aug 02) Strehla --> Meissen, on the RIGHT Side, 40 Km, BIKE
ROAD BOOK:
A. Strehla --> Oppitzsch, 4 Km (BreakFast/Food) --> Riesa, 10 KM (Food) --> Leutewitz, 16 Km (Nothing) --> Schanitz, 18 Km (Nothing) -->
B. Boritz, 20 Km (Church) --> Althirschstein, 21 Km (Nothing) --> Neuhirschstein (Castle and Drone Flight, Food), 23 Km -->
C. Niederlommatzsch (Food, Ferry) --> Hebelei (ZOO-Playground) --> Niedermuschütz (Ice Cream) --> Zehren (Nothing) -->
D. Mischwitz (Nothing) --> Keilbusch (Food) --> Meissen DownTown

POIs: Boritz --> Boritz Kirche (Consider Drone Flight). Neuhirschstein --> Hirchstein Castle (Drone Flight). Niederlommatzsch --> ZOO (kids can feed the small cute animals) Meissen --> 1. Albrechtsburg Castle 2. Meißen Dom

EAT: Coffee/Lunch: Riesa --> Sommerbar Riesa to get Just a drink on the Elbe River (no food, just drinks), Italian Food (Pizza / Pasta) at Pane & Vino, Coffee, Steaks and Pizza at Grillhaus Am Pusckinplatz, all the above are right on the Cycle Way. Neuhirschstein --> Lunch at Zum Alten Brauhaus (Steaks, Fish Burgers etc..). Niederlommatzsch --> Steffen Reimann Bäckerei und Konditorei (Coffee Bread and Pies), Steaks/ Fish in ELBKLAUSE Niederlommatzsch. Steak or Fish at Dinner (Meissen): Indian Restaurant --> Fuchshöhl • Punjabi Haveli, SteakHouse: DomKeller, Schnitzel House: Schnitzelhaus Zum Domblick

SLEEP:
1) Campingplatz Rehbocktal, just on the cycle way but outside Meissen (you have got to add 2 more Km to the 40 Km of the day),
Inh. R. Kaiser Tel: +49 1514 2497758
Rehbocktal 4 Internet: www.camping-rehbocktal.de
01665 Klipphausen Mail: info@camping-rehbocktal.de
Reservations: https://www.camping-rehbocktal.de/de/kontakt/buchungsanfrage

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DAY 05 (Aug 03) Meissen --> Dresden, Keep on the LEFT Side for the whole day, 32Km, BIKE
ROAD-BOOK
I -> Simply LEFT Side all day
A. Meissen --> Reppina (Food) --> Gauernitz (Coffee/Bread, Ferry to Coswig-Kotitz to get to the Badesee Coswig-Kötitz) --> Wildbred (Food, PicNic) -->
B. Niederwartha (Food) --> Gohlis (Ice Cream/Lunch, Grocery, PlayGround, Drone Flight)
II -> On the Right Side of the Elbe up to Gauernitz, then Ferry to Coswig-Kotitz to visit Camping and Swimming Pool. Back on track still on the Left side, up to the AirBnB Apartment in Dresden.

EAT: Meissen (immediately out of the City), Coffee but also Brunch (Steaks, Meat and Burgers) at Försterhaus 7 Eichen Gaststätte. Cofee and Meat also at Rehbockschänke (is the cafeteria associated to the Campingplatz Rehbocktal), staff is rough and nasty but the food is good and cheap. Reppina: Burger, Steaks, (Cofee ??) at Western Inn. Gauernitz: Bread Sweets and Coffee at Bäckerei-pasticcere Hartmann, PicNic Area at the Bus Stop. NiederWartha: Meat and Beer at Fährhaus Niederwartha. Gohlis: Ice Cream / Coffee at Frabel's Eiscafe. Lunch at Gohliser Windmühle.

POIs: 1. Coswig-Kotitz: Huge Camping with Swimming Pools, Playgrounds and Activities (BUT you need to take Ferry from Gauernitz) 2. Dresden --> FrauenKirche, Zwinger, Fürstenzug (Murales di Porcellana), Brühl's Terrace, Theaterplatz, Schlossplatz, Hofkirche (Dresden Cathedral), Old Market Square (Altmarkt), Dresdner Residenzschloss (Dresden Castle), Innere Neustadt (quartiere tipico con Localini), inside you have Kunsthofpassage. Transport Museum (for Kids), Albertinum (Museum sculptures and paintings)

SLEEP:
AirBNB Apartment
Address: Torgauer Straße 5,
Dresden, Sachsen 01127, Germany



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DAY 06 (Aug 04) DRESDEN
- BRÜHL’S TERRACE: Start your Dresden day trip with a relaxing stroll along the Elbe River. Cross the bridge to get the views of old town and snap some pictures. This is a truly serene and beautiful way to start the day. The terrace is named after Count Heinrich von Brühl, who was chief adviser and great friend to the King of Saxony Augustus III. The minister had a palace built in this area in the 1730s and was subsequently given the whole terrace by the king, in recognition of his services to the crown.
- Dresdner Kaffeestubchen: Directly behind the terrace, you’ll find the sprawling complex that houses the Dresden Academy of Fine Arts. Walk around the left side of the building to reach a small, unassuming side street and follow the smell of fresh-baked goods to Dresdner Kaffeestubchen. Dresdner Kaffeestubchen serves homemade cake, including a local specialty called Eierschecke cake. It comes filled with cheese, poppy seed, or cherry. The tasty treat should give you enough energy to make it through the morning. If you need an extra jolt, order coffee and egg liqueur.

The café opens at 9 am and becomes quite busy within an hour or two. If you want to avoid a long line, try to reach the café from the terrace just as the doors open.
- Dresden Cathedral: From the waterfront, you can walk to Dresden Cathedral. The Roman Baroque style catholic church was first built between 1739 and 1755 but suffered severely during World War Two. The cathedral was rebuilt during the next 15 years and now it’s an incredible place to visit.
- Fürstenzug: There is no way you can go on a Dresden day trip without walking past the world’s largest porcelain artwork, a 102-meter long tiled wall. It’s situated on the way between the cathedral and Neumarkt Square, so you might pass it more than once during your day in Dresden.
Originally, the wall was painted at the beginning of the 1870s, but about 30 years later it was replaced by tiles to be more weather resistant. It’s a beautiful masterpiece showcasing the 35 rulers of the House of Wettin that will amaze many generations.
- Neumarkt Square Und Frauenkirche: Sitting on the famous Neumarkt Square, Frauenkiche is a must-visit. You can get a guided tour or audio guides to learn more about the church’s history and there’s a small exhibition area where you find everything about the reconstruction of the church after the war.
Make sure you head up to the dome for spectacular views. There is a lift that takes you part of the way up and the last bit goes up narrow winding stairs to the viewing platform.
- Lunch at Neumarkt Square After visiting Frauenkirche it’s natural to take a lunch break at Neumarkt Square or at least grab a coffee and enjoy people watching. This is the main meeting point in the old town and a nice and busy place to soak in the surroundings and gather energy for the rest of the day.
If you’re into old vehicles, you might want to take a look at the Verkehrsmuseum before you head to the Zwinger Palace. It’s a really interesting collection of anything from old trains, planes, cars, and ships.
- THE QF PASSAGE FOR SOME DESIGNER SHOPPING: The square of the Frauenkirche is a great place to stop in a café and watch the world go by, or indulge in a spot of shopping if you have a taste for luxury and designer brands. To get a feel for how the old style facades are backed by more modern buildings, you can take a walk through the QF Passage where there are lots of designer fashion brands and we also enjoyed the bronze sculptures by Dresden based artist, Małgorzata Chodakowska.
- Zwinger Palace : is one of the most astounding places to visit during a day in Dresden. Yet another historical site that was destroyed completely during World War Two, the palace and gardens have been rebuilt to look as close to the original as possible.
Now it houses a number of museums that hold a large number of paintings, a collection of Chinese, Japanese, and Meissen porcelain, as well as other historical artifacts.
- A CHOCOLATE STOP AT CAMONDAS: With all this sightseeing you may be ready for an afternoon break and we discovered the Camondas chocolate shop and museum on Schloßstraße 20, which is just behind the Residenzschloss palace. In summer they have a kiosk selling their famous chocolate ice cream as a block on a stick or in small tubs to take away. In winter you may prefer a hot chocolate with whipped cream, or a look around their small chocolate museum to get your chocolate fix.
- Prager Strasse: After examining the priceless artifacts at the Zwinger, it’s time for shopping on Prager Strasse. A block to the east of the Zwinger, you’ll come across Schloss Strasse. As you walk south on Schloss Strasse, the street becomes Altmarkt and then See Strasse before becoming Prager Strasse on the other side of the Kuelz Ring. This trip should only take 8 to 10 minutes if you don’t stop to stare at the architecture along the way. Prager Strasse is a pedestrian thoroughfare lined with shops. It’s a high-end shopping street with designer brands and sportswear.


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DAY 07 (Aug 05) Dresden --> KonigStein, Full on the Right Side , 40 Km BIKE (Go here: http://www.ovps.de/Tourismus/Fahrradbus/4176/)
ROAD-BOOK
Dresden --> Laubegast (Coffee, Breakfast, Food) --> Heidenau (Coffee, Soda, Ferry to Pillnitz) --> Kleinzschachwitz (Food, Ferry) -->
Thurmsdorf (Mausoleum, Drone Flight) --> Elbhalser (Coffee/Lunch) --> Konigstein (Ferry to Halbestadt, Festung-Fortezza, Grocery / Coffee / Lunch, Playgrounmd) here you can take the Ferry to the Left Side --> Halbestadt (Left Side) --> Prossen (Many Guesthouses, ONE Bakery for Lunch and Coffee) --> Bad Schandau.
If you keep on the Right side from Konigstein: stop by Hüpfburgen-Verleih, Huge PlayGround with Inflatable, Minigolf, Labyrinth and Swimming Pool. There is also an ATM

EAT: Dresden: - Cafe' Toscana (BreakFast Coffee and Lunch). Laubegast: 1. - Volkshaus Laubegast (BreakFast Cofee and Lunch) , 2. - Elbterrasse Laubegast: Barrique (Coffee, Pizza, Lunch), 3. - Fährhaus Kleinzschachwitz (Burgers, Coffee Drinks, Lunch, God reviews) , - Gaststätte "Zur Elbinsel" (Lunch, close to a large Swimming Pool, the Freibad Wostra). Heidenau: 1) ALEX BEACH - Beachbar Heidenau (Coffee, Sodas, Beach ) 2) Cafe Villa Else (Coffee, Ice Cream). Pirna: 1) I.O. Restaurant (Lunch, Burger, Anything). 2) Stadt Wehlen: Flüsterklause (Lunch, Coffee). Rathen: Basteiblick (Cofee Ice Cream, Ferry). Elbhalser: Raststätte Kleine Einkehr Inh. T. Wagner (Cofee Lunch) . Konigstein: Amtshof Pension und Gaststätte, Coffee Lunch. Hüpfburgen-Verleih (ATM, Lunch, PlayGround, MiniGolf, Pool).
On the Left side Naturfreundehaus Königstein, Coffee Lunch and Bed. Prossen: Landbäckerei Schmidt (Bakery, Coffee and Lunch) Grocery (Penny Market)
POIs: 1. Freibad Wostra (Swimming Pool) 2. ALEX BEACH - Beachbar Heidenau 2. Konigstein Fortress.

TO DO
- Bath in Freibad Wostra, Swimming Pool at roughly 15 Km from Dresden (25 Km from Konigstein)
- Konigstein Fortress --> 5 Km Hike, 250 mt Ascent
- Hüpfburgen-Verleih, Huge PlayGround with Inflatable, Minigolf, Labyrinth and Swimming Pool.

SLEEP
Natur-und FamilienOase Königstein
gemeinnützige GmbH
in Kooperation mit den NaturFreunden Sachsen e. V.
Halbestadt 13
01824 Königstein
Tel. +4935022/99480