Elbe Cycle Route - Dresden Elbland section - left bank

The starting point is in Pirna, where the old town with its historic market square, town hall, St. Mary's Church and the town museum provides an impressive backdrop right at the beginning. From here, the route follows a very well-developed cycle path through Heidenau towards Dresden, where a wealth of sights await.

In Dresden, the "Blue Wonder", the Loschwitz Elbe bridge, is the first impressive sight before the route leads to the highlights of Dresden's old town. The baroque Frauenkirche, the Zwinger, the Semper Opera House and the Royal Palace are just as worth seeing as the Transport Museum and the City Museum. The diverse gastronomy in the city center also invites you to linger, while Dresden Neustadt on the opposite side of the Elbe attracts visitors with its lively trendy district, creative art projects and nightlife.

A little further out of town, having already cycled along the green Elbe meadows, the Gohlis windmill offers another opportunity for a rest and exploration.

The route continues through Klipphausen, where the Schulzemühle miniature mill, for example, is open on the first Sunday of every month in summer. A short detour to Scharfenberg is worthwhile to visit the former Grube Güte Gottes mine and take a look inside the Hoffnungsschacht. You then roll on to Meissen, which is famous for its porcelain tradition and wine-growing. Here, the historic old town, the Albrechtsburg Meissen, the imposing cathedral and the healing and herb garden of the Meissen Social Projects Foundation will entice you. The HAUS MEISSEN adventure world offers insights into the art of porcelain production and the winegrowers from Rothen Gut Meissen invite you to visit their vineyard on the left bank of the Elbe.

From Meissen, the route continues through the postcard-perfect landscape to Zehren and Hirschstein, where idyllic villages and wide fields line the route. In Riesa, the Nudelcenter Riesa, the city museum, the monastery and the zoo await visitors. The town also offers an exciting mix of industrial history and leisure activities. Further north, the cycle path leads to Strehla and the legendary Nixstein. Stories are told here about the "Nixe", which is embedded in the landscape and inspires the imagination. A little further on, you reach the "Am Nixstein" inn, the ideal place for a break. TheStrehla ferry connects the left bank of the Elbe with Lorenzkirch on the right bank and is the only crossing point for cyclists between Riesa and Mühlberg.

The final section leads along the Elbe to Torgau, the northernmost point of the route. The 1,000-year history of the Renaissance town can be discovered at numerous historical sites. The Renaissance market square forms the heart of the old town and Hartenfels Castle, the most important early Renaissance castle in Germany, is a highlight worth seeing. The castle's Hausmannsturm tower offers an exciting view over the countryside and the green meadows along the Elbe. Torgau marks the end of this impressive route before you can return to Pirna via the route on the right bank of the Elbe.

All current information on detour along the cycle route, including in the area of the collapsed Carola Bridge in Dresden, can be found on the official website of the Elbe Cycle Route:

https://www.elberadweg.de/news-service/aktuelle-informationen-und-news/