Saxony shines with UNESCO World Heritage sites
Two UNESCO World Heritage sites – “Mining Region” and “Muskau Park”, confirm Saxony’s reputation as a leading cultural destination in Germany, and indeed the world.
One park spanning two countries
North of Görlitz lies the Fürst Pückler Park in Bad Muskau, created between 1815 and 1845 by landscape architect and writer Hermann Prince von Pückler-Muskau. The exceptional 830-ha English landscape park embodies the essence of romanticism. But its uniqueness comes from its division by the Neisse River. One part lies in Saxony, and the other in Poland – both connected by bridge. In 2004, the “Muskauer Park/Park Mużakowski” was recognised as a Polish-German UNESCO World Heritage Site.
In Pückler’s Castle, there is an exhibition on his interesting life, since he was known not only as a landscape artist, but also as a travel writer, dandy and ladies’ man.
Montanregion Erzgebirge/Krušnohoří
Not just one place but an entire region in the Ore Mountain range is also a UNESCO World Heritage site. The cultural landscape of the Ore Mountains has been deeply shaped by 800 years of almost continuous mining, from the 12th to the 20th century, with mining, pioneering water management systems, innovative mineral processing and smelting sites, and mining cities. The property’s components have been preserved in their settings and, even though some have been adapted for new uses, they retain a high degree of authenticity.
Mining towns towns such as Freiberg, Annaberg-Buchholz or Schneeberg shine with their magnificent churches and historic town centres, an inspiration for research, technology and arts. Mines, museums and exhibitions explain the history of mining. The “Terra Mineralia” in Freudenstein Castle in Freiberg with its 3,500 minerals is considered the most comprehensive and most beautiful exhibition of its kind in the world. Above all, visitors to the Ore Mountains are most captivated by the miners’ traditions still evident throughout the year.
Saxony is the Official Culture Destination of ITB Berlin NOW 2021. The most important meeting point for immersing in Saxony’s cultural offerings is the digital Culture Café from 9-12/3/21 with interviews, videos, music and presentations.
