Fürstenstein Castle (Zamek Książ)

Lower Silesia (Dolny Śląsk) in southwestern Poland borders Saxony and the Czech Republic. Approximately 2.9 million people live on its roughly 19,900 km², with Breslau (Wrocław) as its capital and largest city. To the south, the Sudetes Mountains rise, featuring the Giant Mountains, whose highest peak, Schneekoppe (Śnieżka), reaches 1603 meters. Northward, the land transitions into the flat Silesian Lowland along the Oder River.Throughout history, the region alternated between Bohemia, the Habsburgs, and Prussia, finally becoming part of Poland after 1945. Castles, churches, and historic towns bear witness to this past: the Churches of Peace in Schweidnitz (Świdnica) and Jauer (Jawor), the stately homes in the Hirschberg Valley, and Fürstenstein Castle near Waldenburg (Wałbrzych).

Krummhübel (Karpacz) is located in the Giant Mountains, by the Lomnica river, at the foot of Sněžka (Śnieżka). At 1603 meters, Sněžka is the range's highest peak and lies on the Czech border. With just over 4,000 residents, the town is one of Lower Silesia's key holiday resorts, perfect for summer hiking and winter skiing.Karpacz stretches up the valley. The lower part holds the town center with churches, town hall, and museums. Further up is Brückenberg (Karpacz Górny), home to the Norwegian Wang Stave Church. Above the town, the Giant Mountains National Park (Karkonoski Park Narodowy) offers trails to Sněžka.Plan a full day for the ascent; check weather and lift operations beforehand, as ridge conditions can change rapidly.

Breslau (Wrocław) is, with around 673,000 inhabitants, Poland's third-largest city and the capital of Lower Silesia. The city lies on the upper Oder River and spans about twelve islands, connected by 100 to 300 bridges, depending on how they are counted. Around the year 1000, a bishopric was founded here, and in 1261, Wrocław was granted Magdeburg Law. In 2016, it was a European Capital of Culture.The heart of the Old Town is the Market Square (Rynek) with its Gothic Town Hall, surrounded by burgher houses and churches. North of the Old Town, bridges lead to Cathedral Island (Ostrów Tumski), the oldest part of the city, featuring a cathedral and churches. To the east, in Scheitniger Park, stands the Centennial Hall, which has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2006.As you stroll through the city, you'll repeatedly encounter small bronze gnomes on house walls, lampposts, and stairs. The first figure commemorates the anti-communist Orange Alternative movement; meanwhile, there are now more than 1,000 of them. You should plan at least two to three days for your visit to the city.

Görlitz on the Lusatian Neisse is Germany's easternmost city. Since 1945, the river has formed the border with Poland; its eastern districts are now the independent Polish city of Zgorzelec, reachable on foot via the Altstadtbrücke.During World War II, Görlitz remained almost entirely spared from destruction, and its historic Old Town, including Untermarkt and Obermarkt, is consequently well-preserved. This makes the city a popular and frequently used film set.

Saxon Switzerland, the German part of the Elbe Sandstone Mountains, is located southeast of Dresden on both sides of the Elbe. Its bizarre rock formations are largely within the Saxon Switzerland National Park, established in September 1990, prior to German reunification. Climbing adheres to the Saxon Rules and is only allowed on designated climbing peaks.The most famous viewpoint is the Bastei near Rathen, which rises 194 meters above the Elbe. It is freely accessible year-round and at any time. Upriver on the Elbe, Königstein Fortress proudly sits atop its mesa, one of Europe's largest mountain fortresses.