Discover 11 hidden attractions, cool sights, and unusual things to do in Meißen (Germany). Don't miss out on these must-see attractions: Meissen porcelain, Albrechtsburg, and Meissen Cathedral. Also, be sure to include Prälatenhaus in your itinerary.
Below, you can find the list of the most amazing places you should visit in Meißen (Saxony).
Table of Contents
Meissen porcelain
Also known as: Meißner Porzellan
Meissen porcelain or Meissen china was the first European hard-paste porcelain. Early experiments were done in 1708 by Ehrenfried Walther von Tschirnhaus. After his death that October, Johann Friedrich Böttger continued von Tschirnhaus's work and brought this type of porcelain to the market, financed by Augustus the Strong, King of Poland and Elector of Saxony. The production of porcelain in the royal factory at Meissen, near Dresden, started in 1710 and attracted artists and artisans to establish, arguably, the most famous porcelain manufacturer known throughout the world. Its signature logo, the crossed swords, was introduced in 1720 to protect its production; the mark of the swords is reportedly one of the oldest trademarks in existence. Dresden porcelain was once the usual term for these wares, until the Oberlandesgericht decided in favour of the Saxon Porcelain Manufactory Dresden, which alone was then allowed to use the name Dresden Porcelain.
Meissen remained the dominant European porcelain factory, and the leader of stylistic innovation, until somewhat overtaken by the new styles introduced by the French Sèvres factory in the 1760s, but has remained a leading factory to the present day. Among the developments pioneered by Meissen are the porcelain figurines, and the introduction of European decorative styles to replace the imitation of Asian decoration of its earliest wares.
Since 1991, the manufactory has been operating as the Staatliche Porzellan-Manufaktur Meissen GmbH, whose owner is the Free State of Saxony. The company is one of the world's leading porcelain manufacturers and one of the oldest and most internationally known German luxury brands.[1]
Address: Talstraße 9, 01662 Meißen
Albrechtsburg
Elegant 15th-century castle. The Albrechtsburg is a Late Gothic and early Renaissance castle erected from 1471 till about 1495. It is located in the town centre of Meissen in the German state of Saxony. It is situated on a hill above the river Elbe, adjacent to the Meissen Cathedral.[2]
Address: Domplatz 1, 01662 Meißen
Meissen Cathedral
Also known as: Meißner Dom
Cathedral in Meissen, Germany. Meissen Cathedral or the Church of St John and St Donatus is a Gothic church in Meissen in Saxony. It is situated on the castle hill of Meissen, adjacent to the Albrechtsburg castle and forms a critical centrepiece of the iconic Meissen skyline overlooking the River Elbe in the valley below.[3]
Prälatenhaus
Museum
Address: 3 Rote Stufen, Meißen
Torhaus
Gothic architecture, City gate
Kursächsische Postmeilensäule
Zum Heiligen Kreuz
Address: 94 Leipziger Straße, Meißen
Church of Our Lady
Church
Address: An der Frauenkirche 11, Meißen
Church of St. Nicholas
Church
Address: Neumarkt 29, 01662 Meissen
Jakobskapelle
Forts and castles
Address: 30 Leipziger Straße, Meißen
Gutshaus Cölln
Forts and castles, Baroque architecture
Address: 24b Dresdner Straße, Meißen