Pirna Old Town and Sonnenstein Castle

Pirna's Old Town and Sonnenstein Castle make a rewarding stop on the Elbe River between Dresden and the sandstone cliffs of Saxon Switzerland. The market square still looks much as the painter Canaletto (Bernardo Bellotto) captured it in the 18th century, while the fortress on the rock above tells a story that runs from medieval border politics to one of the darkest chapters of Nazi Germany. It is an easy day trip from Dresden and a natural gateway to the national park.

Where it is and how to get there

Pirna lies just southeast of Dresden on the Elbe.

• By train: S-Bahn lines S1 and S2 run from Dresden roughly every 15 minutes; the Deutschlandticket is valid. The Old Town is walkable from the station.
• To the castle: Walk up from the Old Town or take a bus to the Landratsamt stop, two minutes from the castle terraces.
• Onward: The same S-Bahn line continues to Bad Schandau and Saxon Switzerland National Park.

A short history

A castle guarded the Elbe crossing here by about 1200, and the town grew in its shadow. The castle is first recorded in 1269. In 1372 Emperor Charles IV signed a border treaty between Bohemia and the Margraviate of Meissen on the site. Between 1570 and 1573 Elector Augustus turned Sonnenstein into a state fortress, which withstood a Swedish siege in 1639.

Later the castle became a psychiatric hospital. In 1940 and 1941, more than 13,700 people with mental illnesses and disabilities were murdered here as part of the Nazi "T4" program. Since 2011 the restored castle has housed the district administration.

Things to do in Pirna

• Market Square and Town Hall: first mentioned in 1396, with Renaissance gables and a Baroque tower from 1718
• Canaletto House: home of the tourist office, named for the painter of Pirna's famous views
• St. Mary's Church: one of the largest late Gothic hall churches in Saxony
• Castle terraces: 19th-century gardens open year-round with views along the Elbe, on clear days as far as Dresden; the bastions open May to October
• Pirna-Sonnenstein Memorial: a moving exhibition in the original rooms of the killing center

Hours, tours and tickets

As of October 2026, the Old Town and castle terraces are free and always open. The memorial is open Monday to Friday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and weekends and holidays 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., with free admission; allow about two hours. A public guided walk of the Old Town (about 90 minutes, €8) leaves from the Canaletto House several days a week, and castle tours run on the first Friday of each month. Book both through the tourist office and ask about English-language options.

Is Pirna worth visiting?

Yes, especially combined with Saxon Switzerland. The compact Old Town is relaxed and photogenic, and the memorial offers an important, sobering perspective on German history. Expect cobblestones in the center.

Nearby

• Großsedlitz Baroque Garden in Heidenau
• Weesenstein Castle in the Müglitz Valley
• Königstein Fortress and the Bastei in Saxon Switzerland