Holiday in Meissen

About Meissen

Meissen on the Elbe is the cradle of European porcelain and one of the most romantic small towns in Saxony. In 1710, Augustus the Strong founded the first porcelain manufactory in Europe here — after the alchemist Johann Friedrich Böttger deciphered the secret of porcelain production at Albrechtsburg. The crossed blue swords remain one of the oldest trademarks in the world to this day. Albrechtsburg, towering high above the Elbe on the castle hill, is considered the oldest castle construction in Germany (built from 1471). Its late Gothic architecture with elegant ribbed vaults and large wall paintings is unique. Right next to it stands the Gothic cathedral, whose slender towers shape the city's skyline. The Meissen porcelain manufactory can be visited in the show workshops: porcelain painters, mold makers, and decorators demonstrate the craftsmanship that has been largely unchanged for over 300 years. The Meissen onion pattern, the swan service, and the figurative sculptures are world-famous. Meissen is also the center of Saxon wine cultivation — the northernmost closed wine-growing region in Europe. The vineyards along the Elbe mainly produce Müller-Thurgau, Riesling, and Weißburgunder. The Saxon Wine Route runs directly through Meissen, and Elbtal wine is served in the historic wine cellars of the old town.