Königstein Fortress Festung Königstein

High above the town, prominently situated on its hill, stands the fortress of Königstein, covering an area of 9.5 hectares/23.5 acres. A walk round the ramparts offers fine views of the Elbe Sandstone Hills and takes in almost all the important structures in the fortress itself.

The principal features of interest are the main entrance (after 1590); the well-house (1735), with the 152.50m/500ft deep well; the Old Arsenal (1594), on the ground floor of which is a large room with groined vaulting borne on massive columns; the Guard-house (Old Barracks, 1598); the Christiansburg, later called the Friedrichsburg (1589; altered 1721); the Georgenburg; the Magdalenenburg (1622-23); the New Arsenal (1631), with the aisled, groin-vaulted Johannessaal; and the Garrison Church, which preserves some 13th C. work.