📷 Photo by Andreas Jabusch on UnsplashKönigstein Fortress
Königstein, Germany
A fortress on a sandstone table mountain above the Elbe, with a deep well dug by hand.
Königstein Fortress stands on a rock plateau of 9.5 ha that rises 240 m above the Elbe. The defensive walls are up to 42 m high, the wall walk measures 1.8 km, and more than 50 buildings stand on the site. The well was bored between 1563 and 1569 and is around 152 m deep. The fortress served the Saxon rulers as a refuge and was a state prison for centuries; prisoners included Johann Friedrich Böttger, Mikhail Bakunin and August Bebel. It has been an open-air museum since 1955.
You can reach the entrance on foot by the stepped path from the town in about 45 minutes, or by two lifts. The multi-storey car park is about a 10 to 15 minute walk from the entrance, and a small train runs up. The site is extensive. From the plateau you can see the Lilienstein. Opening hours depend on the season; last admission is one hour before closing.
- Nearest town
- Königstein, Germany
- Category
- History & culture
- GPS
- 50.9190, 14.0570
Hours, fees and access change. Confirm with the operator or park before you go.
Good to know
Best time to go
The most pleasant months are usually June–September. Still fine, with some compromises, in May and October. Cold, short days in December–February. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)
Getting there
- Germany: No motorway tolls for cars. No general motorway speed limit (130 km/h advised) and no tolls for cars.
Featured in these trip guides
Nearby
Campsites nearby
- Camping KönigsteinCampsite2 km from Königstein FortressTentsCaravansElectricityDrinking waterShowersToiletsWaste disposalWi-Fi
- Caravanplatz zum LiliensteinblickMotorhome stopover3 km from Königstein FortressMotorhomesElectricityDrinking waterShowersToiletsWaste disposal
- Camping-Stellplatz StruppenMotorhome stopover4 km from Königstein Fortress · 30 pitchesTentsMotorhomesElectricityDrinking waterToiletsWaste disposalWi-Fi
- Ostrauer MühleCampsite10 km from Königstein Fortress · 100 pitchesTentsCaravansElectricityDrinking waterShowersToiletsWaste disposalDogs allowedWi-Fi
- Wasserplatz PirnaMotorhome stopover11 km from Königstein FortressTentsMotorhomesElectricityDrinking waterShowersToiletsWaste disposal
- Kleine BergoaseCampsite11 km from Königstein FortressTentsCaravansElectricityDrinking waterShowersToiletsWi-Fi
All campsites in Germany · Campsite data: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL 1.0 · Updated October 3, 2026
FAQs
Where is Königstein Fortress?
Königstein Fortress is in Königstein, Germany, at GPS 50.9190, 14.0570. It is about 5 km from Bastei.
Can you camp near Königstein Fortress?
Yes. The nearest campsite listed in OpenStreetMap is Landgasthof Neue Schänke, about 1 km away; within 25 km there are 59 campsites and motorhome stopovers.
Which road trips pass Königstein Fortress?
Königstein Fortress is a stop on these CampingSpirit trip guides: Saxon Switzerland and the Elbe.
What is there to see near Königstein Fortress?
Places worth a stop nearby: Basteibrücke (5 km), Tisá Rocks (15 km), Edmund’s Gorge (16 km) and Pravčická brána (16 km).
When is the best time to visit Königstein Fortress?
The most pleasant months are usually June–September. Still fine, with some compromises, in May and October. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)