There is no other National Park of this kind – let’s preserve it for 2morrow!
What would the world be without National Parks? These spaces are where our most precious natural landscapes are preserved for future generations. “Leave nature to nature”, this is the maxim of the world-wide National Park movement. It means: Humans should restrict to their role as admiring and inquisitive observers. National Parks are not only fascinating refuges for rare species of animals and plants. They are also idyllic recreational spaces for their visitors. This is true for Saxon Switzerland, too. It is the only non-alpine rock National Park in Germany and one of its smallest with a size of 94 square kilometres. The protected area consists of two parts on the right bank of the River Elbe. The smaller part is situated in the surroundings of Kurort Rathen. The main part stretches from Bad Schandau eatward to the Czech border where Bohemian Switzerland National Park continues then picks up.
Did you know that the National Park status implies the highest degree of protection for landscape and nature? That’s why it is very important to respect the following rules in the National Park:
- Lighting fires and smoking are strictly prohibited
- Routing requirement: Hiking is allowed on existing paths only, in the core zone (Kernzone) on waymarked trails only
- Camping and staying overnight outdoors is prohibited
- Don’t take anything along. Plants, animals, minerals are part of nature. The National Park is no place for collecting mushrooms and berries.
- Dogs have to be kept on a leash.
- Take your litter home; it does not belong to nature.
Find more information here.