Meissen is a beautiful medieval town in Saxony, Germany, located on the banks of River Elbe just between Leipzig and Dresden. It is over a thousand years old and has a ton of history behind it.
When you visit Meissen, some of the things that you will see are Gothic-style architecture, porcelain products, miles of vineyards, and a gorgeous river valley.
Picturesque old buildings, breathtaking architecture are all synonymous with the town of Meissen.
If you are ever in town, here are 10 cool things you can do in this gorgeous medieval town.
10. Götterfelsen
Götterfelsen is an amazing hiking spot located in the city forest. If you’re up for some kind of adventure during your visit to Meissen, you will love this spot. You will find some impressive trails within the forest that will refresh you and give you great peace of mind.
You can reach the starting point of the tour through public transport so that you won’t be too tired during your hike.
While the hike requires some level of fitness, the paths are fairly easy, and you won’t have a hard time. You can enjoy the view along the way and give yourself much-needed stress relief.
9. Rathaus Meißen
Rathaus is a German word that basically translates into a town hall. The Rathaus is an important landmark in the town of Meissen.
Known for its Gothic design, the town hall is an extremely photogenic location. Taking a picture here is one of the coolest things that you can do and show your friends.
The Rathaus Meißen takes up the north wall of Marktplatz. It is several centuries old, with the construction officially completing in 1478. The main features of the building include high and steep saddle roofs and three stylish dormers.
8. Historische Altstadt
The Historische Altstadt is the historical center of the town of Meissen. This tourist hot spot is well maintained with an excellent environment. It is a pretty small area, so you can easily walk around and see everything that’s in it. If you bring your car, you can park it somewhere near and just take a stroll and look at all the old buildings.
Once you are done touring the location, you can get some drinks or something to eat from one of the several restaurants in the area. Overall, it is a great spot to spend your day and just looks around the city.
7. Meissen Porzellan Manufaktur & Museum
Needless to say, porcelain and its manufacturing have a deep connection with the town of Meissen. If you ever come to the town, you will definitely come across something related to porcelain. The legacy of porcelain in Meissen dates back to 1708, when the Elector of Saxony and also the King of Poland, Augustus the Strong, wanted to learn about the secrets of porcelain.
He put together a team of physicists, alchemists, and metallurgists for that reason, and hence the Meissen Porzellan Manufaktur came up.
When you visit this cool location, you will how they make porcelain. The level of workmanship is something that will blow your mind away
6. Stadtmuseum Meißen
If you want to learn about the history of Meissen, you will want to visit the Stadtmuseum Meißen. It is one of the coolest museums you will ever find with tons of history on the culture and life of the people. You will find this museum in some historical buildings of the town such as St Peter and Paul Church.
What makes this museum special is that it brings out history from multiple angles. You will find chronicle records of art and craft like funerary and religious statues from different periods of time. Some cool objects you can expect to see are a giant wine press, old bicycles, ship models, sewing machines, and many more.
5. Church of Our Lady (Frauenkirche)
The Church of Our Lady is one of the most important landmarks in Meissen. It dates back to the 13th century and has been a center of attraction for nine centuries. Like most architecture in this medieval town, the church also has a Gothic style and has been consistent with that style since the 15th century.
While there are several other tourist attractions in Meissen, like the Albrechtsburg castle, this church is a favorite for many. The main reason is its history and also the distinct design. The most recent addition to the Church of Our Lady is the porcelain carillon in 1929 to celebrate the town’s 1000 years of existence.
4. Schloss Proschwitz
The Schloss Proschwitz is the oldest private winery in the state of Saxony. It is just a few kilometers away from the town. The land where Schloss Proschwitz is located has been making wine since the 12th century. If you’re someone who loves wine and want to know about the history of winemaking in Germany, you won’t find a better place.
This location also holds a multitude of events like concerts, and you can even rent it out for some special events. For a cool summer evening, you can visit the Schloss Proschwitz for a glass of wine under the shade of the trees.
3. Siebeneichen Zoo
The next location you will want to visit when you visit the town of Meissen is the Siebeneichen Zoo. This zoo has a size of about three hectares and includes 85 different animal species. In total, there are over 400 animals, which will surely bring out your wildlife-loving side.
This zoo is perfect for families, and kids will have lots of fun petting the animals like rabbits and ponies. Besides the usual wild animals that you usually find in a zoo, the Siebeneichen Zoo also has a lot of farmyard animals like chickens, goats, horses, pigs, and many more.
2. Meissen Cathedral
Just close to the Albrechtsburg, you will find the Meissen Cathedral, which is a perfect example of Gothic architecture. This architecture is one of the coolest things you will see when you visit the town of Meissen. The Cathedral took around 150 years to build, and it shows from the sophisticated design and the massive size of the church. The work for this amazing architecture began way back in 1260 and continued till 1410.
When you visit the Meissen Cathedral, you will also get to see some amazing statues inside, especially the polychrome statues of Otto I, the Holy Roman Emperor, and his wife, Adelaide of Burgundy.
1. Albrechtsburg
Named after the architecture who designed it, Albrechtsburg is easily one of the coolest places to visit in Meissen. Most of the tourists who come to Germany love this iconic site for its vibrant colors and gothic design.
The breathtaking palace dates back to around the 15th century. But, the location where it’s built has been set up since the early 900s. During the 18th Century, the Albrechtsburg lost its significance and served as the Meissen Porcelain Manufactory for about 160 years.
However, by 1873, the Albrechtsburg was restored to its former glory, and now it is one of the top tourist destinations in Meissen.
