The landscape is the German part of the Elbsandsteingebirge, a sandstone mountain area of about 700 km² extending over the border to the Czech republic where it is called Labské pískovce.
Highest mountain is the Hoher Schneeberg in the Czech republic with 723 meters.
The Elbe is about 100 meter above sea level in this area. About 100 meters higher is a plateau (Die Ebene) where upon table mountains are spread.
Table mountains have names ending on "stein" like e.g. Lilienstein, Falkenstein, and Königsstein.
Königsstein is also a fortress and a museum.
More traditionally looking mountains have names ending on "berg" like e.g. Grosser Winterberg.
From Dresden there are frequent train departures with stop at several places up the Elbe. If you are more for romance, take a steam wheel ship in stead. There's also an excellent bike road along the Elbe.
Königsstein
The Königsstein offers great views both up and down the Elbe. It has been a fortress since the early 13'th century, and has an interesting history.
Schrammsteinaussicht
We had rented an appartment in Bad Schandau about 30 km south of Dresden. After spending the morning with shopping, we wanted to go for a short stroll in the afternoon before dinner. There was a place called the Schrammsteinaussicht (Schrammstein view). That sounded like a walk to the plateaeu ridge where the Elbe could be overlooked. And since the marked path to the place went right by our appartment, we went for it. We soon became wiser, it was a long and tedious climb on steel ladders on vertical rock sides and narrow steel bridges over deep clefts. But it was worthwhile.
The view from the top was spectacular.
Bastei
The Bastei at Rathen is probably the best known place in the Elbsandsteingebirge. The mountains rise almost 200 meter above the Elbe. Many painters and poets have visited this place e.g. Caspar David Friedrich. The Basteibrücke leads to the Fortress Neurathen, which played an important role during the 30-Year War 1618-1648.
If you go to the Bastei, be sure to get there in the morning. The place is filled in the afternoon. There is a hotel, restaurants and parking space for thousands of cars.
The Lilienstein
The Lilienstein is situated on the plane above the Elbe, the top is 415 meters above sea level. It is climbed easily on paths (roads) and stairs. On the top there is a Gäststätte serving a limited repertoire of meal and, luckily, cold beer.
The Lilienstein rises quite massively from the plane when approached from the north east.
From the top there is an impressing view all the way round the horizon.
Here is a look at the Königsstein at the other side of the river.
