Krummhübel (Karpacz) and Giant Mountains

Schloss Fürstenstein (Zamek Książ) is, after Marienburg and Wawel, the third largest castle in Poland. It thrones on the northern edge of Waldenburg (Wałbrzych) on a rock above the deep gorge of the Polsnitz (Pełcznica).The building combines medieval, Renaissance, Baroque, and Neo-Renaissance styles: Its core dates back to a castle of Duke Bolko I of Schweidnitz from the late 13th century; during the renovation from 1909 to 1923, a new wing and the 47-meter-high main tower were added. A visit includes the state rooms, the terraced gardens, the underground passages from World War II, the stud farm, and the palm house. Around the castle extends a landscape park, which you can explore on forest paths.

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).

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.

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.

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.