If you plan on going to Dresden anytime, Meissen is just a stone?s throw away. Don?t miss on this beautiful trip northwest of Dresden alongside the glamorous Elbe River.
Meissen is world famous for its delicate figurines (often called ?Dresden? china). The town clearly in its buildings shows records of stone which bear witness to the different epochs of not only Saxon history but also the history of the Holy Roman Empire within Germany.
This is manifest, for example, in the mighty ensemble of the Meissen Cathedral and Albrechtsburg Castle, which dominates the skyline. Meissen is more than 1000 years old founded by King Henry I in 929 A.D and 13th/ 14th century Gothic cathedrals dominate the skyline of the town.
I visited Meissen just before Christmas one of the buildings in the market square showcased the countdown of calendar dates on its windows. Hence it was called the building calendar. Every window of this building is marked with the date and every date that corresponds with that day is opened reveal the décor. Its worth taking a leisurely stroll in the narrow medieval streets, with quiet squares and steep flights of steps, past century -old patrician houses which today accommodate small shops, cafes and wine cellars.
Every turn of the street pleasantly surprises you with an impressive gothic style of architecture. All the streets lead to the castle Misni from which Meissen gets its name. On the way up to Misni one climbs the steep winding extravagant streets, which bridge over one another. When you reach Misni you have a grand view of the entire town with its several thatched roofs shining golden and casting a reflection in the beautiful Elbe.
With the romantic silhouette of the roofs of the Old Town below, the hill offers a picturesque view of the Meissen panorama. Although Meissen has a large selection of hotels, I am not sure about staying there, as a day?s trip from Dresden would suffice. Eating can be expensive as these small shops are locally owned and can get pricey. Do try various seasonal foods depending on when you visit here.
One is likely to find deer meat just as in Scandinavia, if you get there in the core of winter. Meissen is a small town hence commuting within the town is out of question. You can literally walk, however the stone paved streets can be steep to climb for people with disabilities or heart problems.
If you have lots of money- I mean in thousands, to spare for spending on a porcelain tea set, Meissen would be the place to buy. It is famous internationally for the Porzellan (as called in German for Porcelain) invented by King Augustus of Saxony (Augustus II of Poland)! The secret of porcelain was known to the Chinese as long ago as the seventh century A.D. For 1000 years.
It symbolized the mysterious world of the Far East and intrigued the ever-curious European traveler. The enthusiasm for the ''White Gold'' from the East finally led to discovery of the magical white paste into porcelain in Meissen where Europe?s first porcelain manufactory was born- The Albrechtsburg Castle.
I also window shopped in one of many cellars alongside the streets and the displays ranged at around 2000 Euros for a 4 cup set with a kettle. Whoa! After all in Europe wine, beer and vodka can be cheaper than water and tea. Try the wine from Meissen; it can also make a great gift.
It is equally famous for its wine and marks the starting point for taking the road trip along Saxon wine road. From spring to fall, several festivals take place in Meissen, for example the pottery market or the Weinfest. Wine festival of Meissen held around September is one of Germany?s biggest!
Happy drinking but make sure to drive back safe to Dresden!
- Thank You! We appreciate your effort.