Travel Guide Pirna

A beautiful small town (39 000 inhabitants) on the Elbe River 25 km south of Dresden, retaining the entrance of the Elbe sandstone mountains (Switzerland). The old town can be the subject of a nice walk. Above all, see the market square (Markt), with its city hall and Renaissance houses (do not miss the Gothic portico at No. 3) and the Gothic Church Marienkirche. Also noteworthy is the Mägdleinschule (Kirchplatz 10) of the th century and a row of Gothic elements and baroque facades in the streets adjacent to the market (Schmiedergasse, Schössergasse). In this idyllic setting, the castle of Sonnenstein, beautifully perched on the hill, has a grim history. Built from 1200 for Precursor margraves, it was reworked over the centuries and lost its castle-fort appearance in the th century. In 1811, the castle became a psychiatric hospital. Between 1940 and 1941, while the hospital is in the hands of the Nazis, more than 13 000 patients will be executed in the context of «euthanasia» - a euphemism to designate organized crime against the sick of the mind. Today, Sonnenstein is an important memorial to understanding the history of Nazi terror.