Germany, Sachsen (Saxony): Around Dresden

This feature is an exploration of the area around Saxony's capital, including the Dresden/Elbe Valley UNESCO world heritage site (please read excerpts of the article). That is a stretch of castles and palaces along the river, including the restored heart of Dresden itself. The trip starts in porcelain city Meissen and sheds light on two inventions, both done in the Albrechtsburg castle: porcelain and the ribless cellular vault. The scenic drive ends in Zittau, near the spot where Germany, Poland and Czechia meet, with a touching story about Zittau's famous Lent Cloth. On the way we visit walled Bautzen, meet artist Franz Gruss and his dinosaurs and hike in the Elbsandsteingebirge with its table mountains and national park.