Sächsische Schweiz

Summary

The Saxon Switzerland National Park is the only rocky national park in Germany. It is characterised by the contrast between jagged, dry sandstone rock areas, which are very hot in summer, and deep, damp and cool gorges.

Description

The Saxon Switzerland National Park is located in the state of Saxony, covers an area of 93.5 km² and consists of two spatially separated parts of the natural region. The landscape consists of forest, gorges and rock formations of chalk sandstone. In the neighboring Czech Republic, the natural region and protected area continues as the Bohemian Switzerland National Park. Both national parks are surrounded by protected landscape areas where less strict nature protection rules apply. The national park is home to many protected and endangered animal species, such as the peregrine falcon and black stork. In addition, rare plant species that are considered to be Ice Age relics, such as the two-flowered violet and the clasping twistedstalk, grow in the national park. Recreation for visitors and the protection of habitat for rare species are both important goals in the National Park. Therefore, special rules apply to the visit, in particular it is required to stay on the trails and to not light any kind of fire or undertake drone flights.