Sometimes things in Germany can be a bit confusing — even for me and I do this all day long. So, I can just imagine your confusion if you hear that the town of Sebnitz is in a region known as Saxon Switzerland. Oh, be for real — Sebnitz is a stone’s throw from the Czech Republic, not anywhere near Switzerland. See, told you, confusing! ;-)
To make things a bit less confusing, Saxon Switzerland is really a 93 square kilometer nature park in southern Saxony. Seems kind of strange to refer to Sebnitz as the City of Artificial Flowers (or City of Silk Flowers) with all the real live flora found within the nature park. Don’t ya think?
Sebnitz isn’t all about nature (and flowers), although the view from the 36 meter high wooden observation tower might make you forget about everything else.
OK, maybe not because the Prehistoric Park with over 400 gigantic sculptures is downright impressive.
If larger-than-life Jurassic experience isn’t your bag, perhaps the many festivals are. There’s the Flower & Music Fest, the Weifberg Fest, and the Outdoor Festival in July.
For something a bit more “refined,” enjoy a number of theater performances or musical concerts at the Evangelical Lutheran Church.
The church itself is a piece of Sebnitz’s history. It was built in the 15th century, but its interior underwent renovations two centuries later. Sebnitz’s Catholic Church wasn’t built until the 19th century.
Prefer museums? Great, because Sebnitz has its own Heimatmuseum (Local History Museum), housed in the Community Center in a building dating to 1731. Over at the Afrikahaus, you can learn a bit about the continent from as far away as the little town of Sebnitz.
The last of Sebnitz’s sightseeing ends at the memorial at Haus #49, for 600 people who died along a death march. There’s also a memorial found on the Bahnhofstraße for those who suffered from fascism, and lastly the town’s Bismarck Monument.
You know, the area around Sebnitz might be a bit confusing about the whole Saxon Switzerland thing. But, there’s no way being confused about what a great town Sebnitz is.
