Pirna packs a good amount into a small town. The old town centre holds the market square, the church of St Mary, and the Canaletto Museum within easy walking distance of each other — a half-day on foot covers all three. On the hill above town, Sonnenstein Castle carries one of the most sobering histories in Germany: a medieval fortress that became a psychiatric hospital, then a Nazi killing centre. The memorial there is worth visiting.
Beyond the town itself, Pirna's position at the entrance to Saxon Switzerland means that some of the most dramatic scenery in central Europe — sandstone towers, river gorges, cliff-top fortresses — is within easy reach by bus, bike, or ferry.
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