COPY LINK

For members

DISCOVER GERMANY

10 things you never knew about the German state of Saxony

From a coffee revolution to a lesser known leaning tower, there's several surprising things about the so-called "Free State" of Saxony.

Published: 21 August 2023 16:54 CEST
Updated: 24 May 2024 16:08 CEST

A sign with the inscription "Oberbürgermeister" in German and Sorbian designates the parking lot of Mayor at the town hall in Bautzen, Saxony. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Georg Ismar

It has a diverse linguistic landscape

While the main language spoken in Saxony, is, unsurprisingly, German, the Free State is also home to numerous dialects and another, officially recognised language.

The Sorbian language belongs to the family of West Slavic languages and is most widely spoken in the Lausitz region of Saxony. Both the language and culture are protected by special laws. Cities and villages in eastern Saxony with a significant number of Sorbian residents have bilingual street signs, and administrative offices provide services in both German and Sorbian.

Saxony is also characterised by a variety of distinct dialects. The most notable is Sächsisch, the Saxon dialect, known for its unique pronunciation, vocabulary, and expressions. However, Saxony is also home to various sub-dialects, including Obersächsisch (Upper Saxon) spoken around Leipzig and Dresden, Erzgebirgisch in the Ore Mountains, and Lausitzisch in the Lusatian region.

It revolutionised coffee

Any caffeine fans should be grateful to Saxony for instigating a revolution in the history of coffee consumption.

In 1908, frustrated with the bitter taste and sediment often found in traditional coffee brewing methods, Dresden housewife Melitta Bentz decided to find a solution.

Using a brass pot from her husband’s workshop, she punctured the bottom with a nail, lined it with blotting paper from her son’s school notebook, and thus created the world’s first coffee filter. This simple but ingenious idea allowed hot water to drip through the coffee grounds and the paper, resulting in a cleaner and more flavourful cup of coffee without the unwanted sediment.

Melitta and her husband Hugo then founded the company “Melitta” to manufacture and distribute coffee filters and related products. Their business quickly gained popularity, and by 1912, they were granted a patent for the coffee filter and brewing method.

It gave birth to the first Ampelwoman

Another pioneering female from the Saxon region is the one who tells pedestrians whether or not they can cross the road.

An “Ampelfrau” signals that pedestrians can cross the street in Sonthofen, Bavaria. Photo: picture alliance / dpa | Karl-Josef Hildenbrand

Die Ampelfrau (Traffic light woman) was the first of her kind when she was introduced in the Saxon city of Zwickau in 2004, to bring more diversity to street lamps. Another Saxon city – Dresden – is now the city in Germany with the most female light signals.

It’s home to the new Berlin

Leipzig has often been referred to as “the new Berlin” due to its vibrant arts and cultural scene, lower living costs, and growing reputation as a creative hub. Over the past couple of decades, Leipzig has seen significant urban revitalisation and a surge in creative and entrepreneurial activities.

But being a hub of creativity is not completely new for Leipzig; it has been a cultural epicentre for centuries. It’s renowned for its role in classical music and literature, having been home to Johann Sebastian Bach and Johann Wolfgang von Goethe.

It’s one of Germany’s tech hotspots

In recent years, Saxony has earned the nickname ‘Silicon Saxony’ due to its emergence as a dynamic environment for high-tech companies and research institutes.

Drawing a parallel with California’s Silicon Valley, synonymous with tech innovation, Silicon Saxony has grown to become a leading European tech hub, specialising in semiconductor manufacturing, chip design, and advanced electronics.

Its origins lie in integrated circuit research during the GDR era, evolving into research centres that laid the foundation for its present-day position as a tech hub.

It’s a Hollywood favourite

The well-preserved, picturesque architecture in the town of Görlitz in the far east of the state, near the Polish border, has made it a sought-after location for many Hollywood filmmakers.

Filming for “The Grand Budapest Hotel” takes place on the Untermarkt in Görlitz in February 2013. Photo: picture alliance / dpa | Jens Trenkler

It’s served as a backdrop for numerous Hollywood films, including scenes from “Inglourious Basterds,” “The Grand Budapest Hotel,” and “The Reader”.

It pioneered the study of psychology

While pioneering in the realm of psychology was largely spearheaded by Austrian Sigmund Freud, psychology as a field of academic study was first established at the University of Leipzig in 1879 by Wilhelm Maximilian Wundt.

He created the first institute for experimental psychology with a systematic research programme and his research questions, ideas, concepts, and findings continue to inspire students of the subject until this day.

It’s home to the world’s oldest Christmas Market

The world’s oldest Christmas market is believed to be the Striezelmarkt in Dresden, Germany which, dating back to 1434 has a long history of bringing holiday cheer to its visitors.

It takes its name from Striezel, which is a type of Christmas cake similar to the modern-day Stollen. The market is known for its festive atmosphere, traditional crafts, and holiday treats.

It has a rival to the leaning tower of Pisa

While the wonky landmark of Pisa may be known worldwide, Saxony has its very own leaning tower.

View of the Reichenturm in Bautzen from the Kornmarkt. Photo: picture alliance/dpa/dpa-Zentralbild | Sebastian Kahnert

The Reichenturm in the city of Bauzen is nicknamed “The Leaning Tower of Bautzen”, because it has slopes slightly to the northwest. But despite the slight slant, visitors can still enjoy a wonderful view of the old town from the tower’s observation deck.

It’s the birthplace of the Kleingarten

Germany’s hugely popular Kleingärten – allotments – were first introduced in the city of Leipzig.

Led by figures like Karl Fröbel, Leipzig introduced the idea of Schrebergaerten, providing small plots of land for gardening and recreation, initially for children and later expanding to adults for those living in increasingly urban areas with no access to their own green space.

Member comments

Become a Member to leave a comment.

REVEALED: Germany's most popular cycling routes for summer

With the summer holidays fast approaching, it’s the ideal time to start making plans for the long, sunny days and time off work or school. And for most German families, it just wouldn’t be summer without at least one cycling tour in the countryside.

Beyond its enchanting natural landscapes, Germany boasts an incredible 100,000 kilometers of dedicated cycling trails – so it’s no wonder exploring the great outdoors on two wheels is something of a national pastime.

Each year, the German Cycle Club (ADFC) conducts a poll of its members to pin down their five all-time favourite cycling routes – and this year there’s truly something for everybody.

With some stretching as long as 1,300km, these choices aren’t for the faint-hearted, but more casual cyclists will no doubt have fun picking a part of the route that takes in some breathtaking locations and sights, whether it’s the peaks of the Alps or the meandering banks of the Rhine.

Elbe Cycle Route (Elberadweg)

A view of the Elbe in the Saxon Switzerland

A view of the Elbe from the peaks of Saxon Switzerland. Photo: picture alliance/dpa/dpa-Zentralbild | Robert Michael

Length: 840km in Germany, 1,270km in total
Difficulty: Easy to Medium

If you want a taste of how varied and unique different German regions can be, travelling the length of the Elberadweg from the Bad Schandau in Saxony to the North Sea coast is a great place to start.

Following the banks of the Elbe up from Dresden, you’ll take in cultural landmarks such as Dessau, the birthplace of Bauhaus, Lutherstadt Wittenberg and the imposing Magdeburg Cathedral. But arguably the highlight of this 840km route is the stretch of the Elbe that winds through the breathtaking rock formations of Saxon Switzerland as you cycle away from the Czech border.

Further to the north, the Elberadweg takes you through the atmospheric port city of Hamburg and includes HafenCity and the famous Elbphilarmonie. Leaving the hustle and bustle and weaving along the estuary, you’ll end up the quiet coastal town of Cuxhaven in Lower Saxony where the Elbe flows into the North Sea.

The ADFC recommends doing the full trip in 13 stages, taking around two weeks. But if you’re really up for an adventure, you can spread over three weeks in 22 stages by starting in the Czech Republic and traversing the full 1,270km route from the Elbe’s source at Špindlerův Mlýn in the Bohemian Mountains.

Rhine Cycle Route (Rheinradweg)

Tourists take photographs of the scenic view atop Loreley, Germany

Tourists take photographs of the scenic view atop Loreley, a legendary cliff next to a curve in the Rhine. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Thomas Frey

Length: 1,320km in total, 800km in Germany
Level: Easy to Medium

For a route that encompasses everything from Alpine panoramas to the industrial Rührgebiet, look no further than the Rheinradweg, otherwise known as Euro Velo 15.

One of the most modern and well-maintained cycle routes in Europe, the full Euro Velo 15 stretches all the way from the source of the Rhine in the Swiss Alps to the Hook of Holland, but by far the longest stretch runs through Germany.

If you start the route a little earlier in Switzerland, you’ll ride along the banks of idyllic Lake Constance before reaching Basel and weaving your way up through Baden-Württemberg. Along the way, you’ll take in the Black Forest and the elegant city of Karlsruhe, not far from the university towns of Freiburg and Heidelberg.

Just a stone’s throw from the border with France, this part of Germany is known for its exceptional wine, so you’ll have plenty of opportunities to relax with a chilled glass of Riesling after a long day of cycling. The route also takes in the Middle Rhine Valley, a romantic stretch of the river dotted with medieval castles and ancient forts, as well as the legendary Loreley Rock.

At the northern end of the trail, you’ll pass through Bonn and Cologne in North Rhine-Westphalia before reaching Arnhem on the Dutch border.

Doing the entirety of the Rhineradweg takes around 24 days, but if you’re staying entirely in Germany, it can be done in 2-3 weeks, depending on your fitness and how much time you factor in for enjoying a tipple or two.

Baltic Sea Coast Cycle Route (Ostseeküstenradweg)

Views of the ocean on Rügen

The famous white cliffs of Rügen. Photo: picture alliance/dpa/dpa-Zentralbild | Jens Büttner

Length: 1,140km
Difficulty: Medium

If summer makes you yearn for sea, sand and rugged coastlines, the Baltic Sea Coast route will definitely tick all of your boxes.

Starting in the northern seaside town of Flensburg near the Danish border, this charming route takes in pristine beaches, unspoilt islands and UNESCO World Heritage sites as it weaves through Schleswig-Holstein and into Mecklenburg Western-Pomerania.

Highlights of the tour include the historic Hanseatic towns of Lübeck and Wismar, the upmarket seaside resort of Heiligendamm with its iconic white houses, and the cascading cliffs on the island of Rügen.

Along the way, you’ll also traverse the imaginatively named Fischland-Darß-Zingst peninsula, which boasts unbeatable bathing spots, and pass through Griefswald, the birthplace of romantic painter Caspar David Friedrich. The tour culminates on the beautiful island of Usedom, near the Polish border.

Depending on your fitness and how much time you want to spend in the beach resorts and towns along the way, you should set aside around two weeks for the complete route. If you only have a week to spare, the route is easy to split the into two halves, travelling from Flensburg to Lübeck or Lübeck to Usedom.

Weser Cycle Route (Weser-Radweg)

A stretch of the Weser cycle route near Hamlin.

A stretch of the Weser cycle route near Hamlin. Photo: picture alliance / Deike Uhtenwoldt/dpa-tmn | Deike Uhtenwoldt

Length: 520km
Level: Easy

When it comes to Germany’s most popular cycle routes, the Weser-Radweg often comes out on top: this year, it landed in the German Cycling Club’s top five for the fifth year running.

Taking in six diverse regions of the country, each with its own unique character, it’s easy to see why this route is so beloved.

You’ll start just outside Kassel in the town of Hann Münden and set off through the the Weser Upland Hills; a romantic nature park alive with fragrant wild flowers, rare lichens and peaceful moorlands. Passing through central Germany, you’ll take countless medieval villages and old castles in the rolling hills and can even stop off at the Pied Piper’s house in Hamlin.

Culminating in Cuxhaven on the North Sea Coast, the route cuts through the Weser Marshes, taking in Bremerhaven with its famed Maritime Museum as well as the Hanseatic city of Bremen with its beautifully preserved Old Town and striking Gothic Town Hall.

At just 520km, the Weser-Radweg can be completed in just over a week, but those who prefer a more leisurely cycling holiday can stretch it out to 2-3 weeks.

Danube Cycle Route (Donauradweg)

Passau in Bavaria

A view of the Danube in the historic town of Passau, Bavaria. Photo: picture alliance / dpa | Armin Weigel

Length: 2,800 in total, 560km in Germany
Level: Easy to Medium

If it’s awe-inspiring scenery you’re after as you explore the great outdoors, the Donauradweg may well be the ideal choice. Starting in the picturesque town of Donaueschingen in the Black Forest at the source of the Danube river, this 560km route will take you on a mesmerising ride through Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg, all the way to the Austrian border.

Pedalling along the serene banks of the Danube, you’ll pass through Ulm, home to the world’s tallest church steeple, and Regensburg, a UNESCO World Heritage site known for its well-preserved medieval Old Town. But the unrivalled highlight of this tour is undoubtedly the stretch that cuts through Bavarian Forest, where the river weaves along dramatic gorges and verdant valleys.

As you continue eastward, you’ll arrive at the vibrant city of Passau, situated on the Austrian border at the confluence of three rivers. Here, you can admire the baroque architecture and enjoy a hearty meal or even a leisurely boat trip as you congratulate yourself for your endeavours.

Despite Bavaria’s mountainous backdrop, the Donauradweg is relatively flat and shouldn’t pose a problem for seasoned cyclists. Depending on your fitness level and pace, you’ll want to set aside around 1-2 weeks to complete the stretch in Germany, though the full route through Austria and Hungary will take a fair bit longer.

SHOW COMMENTS

Url copied to clipboard!