Pirna is a well-preserved small town on the Elbe, about 15 km southeast of Dresden, and the main gateway to Saxon Switzerland (Sächsische Schweiz) — the dramatic sandstone landscape of gorges, mesas and forest that stretches along the river toward the Czech border. The national park takes its name from the nickname given by two Swiss painters in the 18th century who found the scenery reminiscent of home.
The old town is worth a few hours on its own: a tight grid of streets with late-Gothic and Renaissance buildings around the market square, and the twin towers of the parish church of St Mary looming above. The Canaletto Museum shows paintings by the 18th-century artist Bernardo Bellotto (who signed himself Canaletto) — his views of Pirna and the Elbe valley are remarkably detailed records of what the town looked like before the wars.
Most visitors use Pirna as a base for hiking and climbing in Saxon Switzerland, with the Bastei rock formation a short drive or bus ride away. The town has good ferry and S-Bahn connections to Dresden, making it easy to combine with a few days in the city.