Experience the Saxon Wine Route – Wine, Culture & Castles Along the Elbe, small groups, max. 6 Guests in Miinivan
Discover and enjoy Saxony’s wine culture along the River Elbe. This day tour takes you through Germany’s smallest yet most traditional wine-growing region – from Radebeul via Meissen to Diera-Zehren. Look forward to impressive landscapes, historic towns, renowned wineries and fascinating cultural landmarks.
Our tour begins at Pirnaischer Platz in Dresden. Passing the Terrassenufer and the Saxon State Parliament, we cross the Marienbrücke and reach our first destination in Radebeul.
Our first photo stop takes us to Villa Shatterhand, the former home of Karl May and today home to the Karl May Museum. Just a few minutes away is the beautifully restored historic village centre of Altkötzschenbroda. Cobblestone lanes, romantic courtyards, small shops, and cosy cafés and restaurants give this place its very special charm. After a short stop, we continue along the Saxon Wine Route.
Just a few minutes later, we reach the first highlight of our tour – Wackerbarth Castle, Europe’s first experience winery. Here you will have plenty of time to explore the magnificent Baroque gardens and surrounding vineyards. Enjoy the unique atmosphere, visit the wine shop and take the opportunity to taste regional wines and sparkling wines or purchase a bottle to take home as a souvenir.
We then cross to the left bank of the Elbe and continue to Meissen. Before reaching the city centre, we make a photo stop at the world-famous Meissen State Porcelain Manufactory. For more than 300 years, it has represented the finest porcelain craftsmanship and is known worldwide for its trademark – the Crossed Swords.
This is followed by one of the most impressive sections of the tour. Your driver will take you through the historic streets of the Old Town and up to the Castle Hill, directly to Cathedral Square. There, the majestic Albrechtsburg Castle and the impressive Meissen Cathedral await you, together forming the city’s iconic landmark. Albrechtsburg Castle is considered Germany’s oldest castle and is one of the most important examples of Late Gothic architecture. Meissen is also considered the cradle of Saxony and boasts an impressive history spanning more than 1,000 years.
Here, we take a break for lunch. Around Cathedral Square, cosy restaurants and traditional inns invite you to relax and enjoy a meal. Afterwards, there is plenty of time to explore the cathedral with its Late Gothic cloister, visit the Cathedral Museum, or enjoy the viewpoints overlooking the Elbe Valley at your own pace.
After this cultural highlight, we cross the Elbe Bridge back to the right bank of the river and continue towards Diera-Zehren. Along the vineyards, you can once again enjoy magnificent views of the Elbe Valley and Saxony’s wine country. We then continue through the beautiful and varied countryside to Moritzburg Castle.
The Baroque palace, surrounded by water, is considered one of Germany’s most beautiful castles and became world-famous as a filming location for the fairy-tale classic “Three Wishes for Cinderella.” During our approximately 30-minute stop, you can explore the castle, its extensive park and the picturesque castle pond from the outside and take some unforgettable photos.
With many memorable impressions of vineyards, historic towns, magnificent castles and the unique landscape of the Elbe Valley, we then enjoy a relaxing journey back to Dresden. Our tour ends back at Pirnaischer Platz, bringing a varied day full of culture, history and Saxon hospitality to a close.
