The wild and romantic national park through which the Elbe carves its way before reaching Dresden is known as Saxon Switzerland. Canyons, towers which soar into the sky, cornices, caves and steep cliffs demonstrate why this is the international meeting place for free climbers. Along the Elbe you will pass the spa resort of Rathen with its famous bastion cliff formation and Königstein Fortress.

After Pirna, the Elbe changes and the river scenery becomes delightfully harmonious, and in the baroque city of Dresden you will realise that not only nature but also people are capable of staging something very impressive. With its sumptuous baroque buildings and unique art collections, with a music and theatre scene of a diversity that is hard to match up, top restaurants, areas for stolling and shopping and an events calendar which is full to bursting, Dresden invites you to explore and enjoy. From Dresden, a side trip to nearby Leipzig, the city of Bach, is a must.

We then continue downstream along the Saxon Wine Route through vineyards and idyllic villages and past romantic Elbe palaces to Meissen where you should visit the Albrechtsburg castle and the world-famous porcelain factory. In the wine villages along the Saxon Wine Route, the wine you are served will have come straight from the wine-grower. Further downstream you will reach the Renaissance town of Torgau (see picture) with its impressive preserved historic town centre, the castle Schloss Hartenfels, churches, town hall and the lovely burgher houses.

A recommended excursion in this delightful surrounding is to the Düben Heath nature reserve. This is one of central Germany's largest areas of adjoining forests and has lakes with are ideal for bathing, wind-surfing, rowing and diving, as well as the peaceful forest tracks for hiking and cycling.