Königstein Fortress, Saxon Switzerland, Germany 1 Feb 2025

Königstein Fortress, Saxon Switzerland, Germany

Königstein Fortress, one of the largest mountain fortresses in Europe, rises high in the Elbe Sandstone Mountains of Saxon Switzerland. The "Burgrave Gebhard vom Stein" is first mentioned in a document of King Wenceslas I of Bohemia in 1233, presumably referring to Königstein. At that time the area belonged to the Kingdom of Bohemia. In the 16th century, the castle underwent significant expansion to become a Saxon state fortress, with the start of construction of the imposing 152.5-metre-deep castle well between 1566 and 1569 being an important milestone. It is still one of the deepest historic wells in Germany.

© Bildagentur-online/Exss/Alamy

palette

Today in History

A castle full of history
1 Feb 2024Sassnitz lighthouse, Rügen, Germany
1 Feb 2026Colourful house in Olinda, Pernambuco, Brazil

More Desktop Wallpapers:

1 Nov 2023Haut-Barr Castle
27 Nov 2024Tombeau du Géant in Bouillon, Belgium
So close, yet so far
25 Feb 2026Mendenhall Glacier, Alaska, United States
31 Aug 2025Scotts Bluff National Monument, Gering, Nebraska, United States
Where is this historical bridge?
16 Feb 2024Female pyrrhuloxia in Texas, USA
7 Nov 2024Vancouver Coastal Sea wolves in the Great Bear Rainforest, Canada
2 Apr 2024Beech trees and anemone wildflowers, Jutland, Denmark
Back to the future
19 May 2024Vernazza, Cinque Terre, Liguria, Italy
27 Aug 2024Young black caiman, Tambopata National Reserve, Peru
6 Jan 2025Flooded crypt, Basilica of San Francesco, Ravenna, Italy
28 May 2024The Monastery of Roussanou, Greece
19 Aug 2025The Three Musketeers Falls at Iguazú Falls, Argentina
26 Mar 2026Logan Creek Suspension Bridge, West Coast Trail, Canada
19 Dec 2024Sibiu Christmas Market, Romania
Ever seen garlic bloom?
14 Apr 2024Bowling Ball Beach, California, USA
Have a merry little Christmas
3 Apr 2024Newcastle Upon Tyne, England
4 Mar 2024Arenal Volcano, Costa Rica
16 Sep 2024Wallabies, Australia
Pretty in pink
25 Nov 2024Maasai giraffes in Amboseli National Park, Kenya
14 Feb 2026Happy Valentines Day!
23 Mar 2024World Meteorological Day
16 Aug 2025The Isle of Wight Garlic Festival
10 Jan 2025Abraham Lake, Alberta, Canada
29 Apr 2024Fujian Tulou, China