Painter's Path

After breakfast, we leave our hotel and head to the Spreewald canals, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve located an hour away. We go on a canoe tour along the branches of the Spree River that extend into the forest. After passing through villages that can only be reached by canoe, we return to our vehicle and set off for Dresden. After a one-hour drive, we check into our hotel and start our Dresden tour. In this romantic city known as the "Florence of the Elbe," notable sights include the Frauenkirche, Semper Opera House, Fürstenzug Porcelain Wall, and the Zwinger Palace. For dinner, we visit the city's popular neighborhood Neustadt and then return to our hotel.

After leaving the hotel in the morning, we head to the Elbe Sandstone Valley. Here, during our St. Wahlen-Hockstein walk, we get to experience firsthand the scenes depicted in paintings by Romantic Era artists. World-renowned painters, from Caspar David Friedrich to Canaletto, took walks here seeking inspiration. On hiking trails that will later be known as the "Painters’ Path," we learn about the artists and their works while enjoying the beauty of the sandstone valley. The Bastei Bridge is another of our stopping points. After reaching the fascinating rock formation of Hockstein, we return to our hotel.

Today's hike will start on the other side of the river, in Krippen Village, where the sundial route is located. In Krippen, which has hosted many artists throughout history, we see 12 sundials and then proceed along the Waldberg Forest behind the village, passing by several dairies and farms. After taking a break in Papstdorf Village, we continue through Gohrisch Forest towards Königstein. The castle, which has housed many famous prisoners throughout history, stands on a hill overlooking the Elbe and Saxon Switzerland. After enjoying the magnificent view of the sandstone valley from here, we return to our hotel. Dinner and free time.

Today, our route mostly passes through the Czech Republic. After crossing the border on foot, we arrive in Hřensko and enter Edmund Valley from there. Inside the valley, also known as the “Smugglers’ Route,” we follow a scenic forest and river trail. Since we can’t proceed by walking in some areas, we continue by canoe on the Kamenice River. After finishing our hike in Jetřichovice, we settle into our hotel in Prague.

After enjoying breakfast at our hotel in the morning, we embark on a Prague city tour until our flight. We start by exploring the old town area, the heart of Prague, which is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Our first stop in the Old Town district is the Old Town Hall and the Astronomical Clock, one of the city’s iconic landmarks built in 1410. Afterwards, we will see many historic monuments with different architectural styles, such as the Jan Hus Monument, Tyn Church, and St. Nicholas Church. Following the traces of Prague’s historical journey in the Old Town Square, we head towards the Charles Bridge, which connects the old town and the castle district. The bridge was originally built in 1170 and later reconstructed in 1402 after being destroyed by a flood, and features close to 30 statues, including the Ottoman Statue that symbolizes the sentiments felt towards the Ottomans at that time. After leaving the bridge, we proceed to Prague Castle. We then visit the Schwarzenberg Palace, St. Vitus Cathedral, both the old and new palace buildings, St. George’s Basilica, the Presidential Residence, the historic Matthias Gate and its story, and the Archbishop’s Residence. After crossing the river again, we set out for Prague Airport, and bid farewell, hoping to meet again on another BUKLATUR tour.