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What can you do in Saxon Switzerland in the winter times? You would think there is not much to be wenn or to do. We have been there and have tried it out. First of all you can do what you would do the rest of the year: Hiking. Most hiking paths are accessible. Also with snow. You should have good shoes, sticks and maybe spikes. But you can go hiking. With or without snow. And you can stopp at an Inn. Many ‘Baude’ are open even in winter. Different opening hours are given at the beginning of a hiking trail so that there should be no surprises when arriving. The menu might be smaller, too, but you will get hot drinks to warm up or cold drinks if you are really thirsty. Tipp: Stay a little bit longer, even after the Baude has closed to enjoy the sunset! You can

You think an activity holiday is a great idea? And you are looking for an activity hotel? There are so many. But how many of them have a sports center included? The Aktivhotel Pirna is one of them. Or the only one? From outside the hotel does not look big at all. But once you are inside you will notice, how long the building actually ist and how much is offered there… First of all there is a tennis hall with five places. But there are also courts outside. Then there are volley ball fields, basketball and a huge fitness center with all kind of machines. Don’t forget about squash and badminton. Oh yes! And there is table tennis also. Not enough? How about billiards? Or tabletop football? Ninepins? Here you get much more than the usual hiking path behind the house and yoga in the morning. Here you get a

As a self-confessed bookworm for me it is always important to be informed about books in a region. So I had a look how a bookworm would get its food in Saxon Switzerland. There are several possibilities of course: Hotels/Accomodations In many hotels or appartments your can find an assortment of books, that you can read during your stay. Some have more some have less books. In some hotel rooms you will find a test sample and you can buy the book afterwards at the reception. Some suites are also equipped with a handful of books. In other hotels you will see a book shelf at the lobby or they have a library also equipped with nice and cosy armchair so that you can just stay there and get lost in a book. Some times you can order a snack or you will get served coffee and cake. Library In

Everywhere in the cafés or restaurants or at a bakery you will see a cake called “Eierschecke” a egg custard cake. But how do you do it? We were invited and could watch a baker do it: For the different layers you need different ingrediences. Here they are nicely sorted. For the bottom you need flour, sugar, baking soda and liquid butter. Mix everything. Powder a baking dish with flour. Put the dough on the bottom of the baking form and spread it in a thin layer. Put it up a little bit at the edge. For the curd cheese layer you need to mix curd cheese, custard powder, sugar and eggs. Spread it afterwards onto the bottom. For the next layer stirr custard powder and sugar with milk. Heat this mixture in a pot. Add butter and mix it all. Separate the eggs. Beat the egg whites until they are stiff. Put the egg yolks

Mariner Carnival or “Schifferfastnacht” as it is called here… We have been to a mariner carnival at Saxon Switzerland. Something new for us. We both come from the Rhineland and we know a thing or two about it… But the mariner carnival somehow is different… The first thing that stands out is the date. The mariner carnival in Postelwitz takes always place at the first weekend in February. So it is not on Rose Monday or Shrove Tuesday. No. It is always at the same date. Here you can also see carnival groups. But they look quite different. Like they just came from ‚Love Boat‘. All dressed in sailor suits or captain’s uniform. And they do carry flags. Rather serious. The battle call is not ‚Alaaf‘ or ‚Helau‘ and also not ‚Halt Pohl‘ or ‚Schöpp Op‘ but ‚Ahoi!‘. But it sounds rather seldom. At the speech in the beginning before the

In the middle of Saxon Switzerland you can not only experience the old handicraft of dipping candles but you can make them yourself. So we had to try it… In an old huge barn you can get everything related to candles and what you need for making your own. First you bring your personal belongings to the cloak room and then you have to choose from the samples which form you want to do. That is a difficult decision. Then you get at the entrance a wooden plate. With this plate you can dip candles or even make lanterns or bowls out of wax. Put the wick into the slits at the plate. One wick makes two candles. First you let the wick soak for 10 seconds. After that the wick is dipped shortly into the wax. Afterwards you let it dry for around one minute. You can hang the plate on

What happens to the Ecovillage Schmilka in winter? we asked ourselves and went to have a look. Normally during winter time there is not much going on in the region. Therefore a lot of restaurants and hotels are closed. Also Schmilka has had a winter break so far. But 2017 will be different. During the winter the ecovillage will become the wintervilage. And when it gets colder people tend to get closer together. Also at the „Bio- und Nationalpark Resort Schmilka“. This then changes to the winter village. And the center is transferred to the mill. Nearly everything happens there. First there is the reception. Which then is at the mill. For the whole village. From here you move into your eco room at the hotel Helvetia, a rustic holiday flat at the old forester’s house or one of the generous holiday homes with view to the Elbe at the