In the midst of the picturesque landscape of the Elbe Sandstone Mountains, the imposing mountain fortress towers 247 meters above the Elbe. Bastions, watchtowers, barracks, casemates, powder magazines - on the fortress plateau, more than 50 buildings bear witness to more than 300 years of military use of the Königstein.
The fortress was considered impregnable and at the same time feared as the "Saxon Bastille": princes, chancellors, alchemists, spies, democrats and revolutionaries were imprisoned here.
Despite this, the Königstein was often used as a place for court festivities by Saxon electors and kings because of its picturesque location. Even the crowned heads appreciated the truly royal views that are offered on the 1.7-kilometre-long panorama trail along the fortress wall at any time of the year. Numerous exciting and amusing stories are entwined around the baroque Friedrichsburg with the legendary machine board of Augustus the Strong or what was once the world's largest wine barrel in the cellar of the Magdalenenburg.
Modern and interactive exhibitions convey the multifaceted history of the fortress in an informative, entertaining and playful way. The numerous hands-on stations offer "hands-on history" and are not only very popular with children.
In addition to regular themed tours, the calendar of events at Königstein Fortress also offers military-historical spectacles, musical and culinary events as well as numerous activities for families with children.
There are places to stop for refreshments in the historic bar "Zum Musketier", in the officers' casino (April to October), a 19th-century-style inn, or in one of the beer gardens. The fortress bakery entices with delicious sweets fresh from the wood-fired oven.
The tickets are not date-specific, but are bound to the booking period! There are 2 periods:
1st high season: 01.04. until 31.10. & 2nd low season: 01.01. until 31.03. - High season tickets cannot be redeemed in low season and vice versa.
for people with disabilities
Königstein Fortress also offers people with disabilities an eventful stay:
- free parking at the entrance to the fortress (opposite the ticket office building) for people with a valid blue EU parking permit
- a severely handicapped pass is not sufficient.
- discounted entrance fee
- for severely disabled people with the mark "B" in their severely disabled pass: free admission for one accompanying person
- assistance dogs are allowed free of charge
- comfortable ascent by elevator
- Ttctile model for the visually impaired with explanations in Braille and Prismatic writing;
- optimized in height for people with wheelchairs
- 1.7 km long tour along the outer wall with mostly enough space to move around and many vantage points
- marking of paths that are unsuitable for wheelchair users
- mMost of the exhibitions are accessible without steps
- disabled toilets
Dogs are allowed on a leash in the open area, but not in the buildings and exhibitions.
Opening hours:
April - October: 9 a.m. - 6 p.m
January - March: 9am - 5pm (1 January: 10am - 5pm)
open every day without a day off
entry closes: 1 hour before closing
audio guide
for adults:
For an individual tour of the fortress and a visit to the permanent exhibition "In lapide regis - On the King's Stone", an audio guide can be hired directly on site for € 3.50 (deposit of security required).
Good to know: In order to comply with the hygiene rules, you will receive a disposable headphone cover. All audio guides are disinfected upon return.
languages: German, English, French, Italian, Japanese, Polish, Russian, Spanish, Czech
for children: for every audio guide rented for adults at € 3.50, there is an audio guide for children aged 6 to 12 free of charge.
Audio guide edition in the museum shop
parking:
Multi-storey car park "Königstein Fortress" on the B 172 (fortress junction), only 650 m on foot to the fortress - open all year round, entry and exit possible at any time
