Meissen

This town wasn’t named after the mighty Elbe river or the Triebisch river that enters the former: the town of Meissen was named after the small creek Meisa. Initially, a fortress stood on the imposing castle hill that still dominates the town with its characteristic red tiled roofs today. It is dominated by the towers of the gothic cathedral and surrounded by the former “Freihöfe”, the palaces of the nobles. The German colonisation of today’s Saxony began in Meissen, and Saxony was still known as “Mark Meissen”, meaning “Meissen Frontier Territory”, for years. Since the town was never destroyed in the course of its history, you can still feel the old times. Historic buildings line the streets and narrow alleys lead up to the castle hill. Vincenz Richter, a famous, most romantic, family-run restaurant has been located in the former weaver’s guildhall at the market square for generations.  In the cosy guest rooms and the yard the guests are surrounded by 500 precious antiques from different centuries. The dishes served on Meissen porcelain are topped off by wines from the in-house vineyard.