Saxony | historical region, duchy, and kingdom, Europe | Britannica.com historical region, duchy, and kingdom, Europe Written By: Ascanian Dynasties Saxony, German Sachsen, French Saxe, any of several major territories in German history. It has been applied: (1) before ad 1180, to an extensive far-north German region including Holstein but lying mainly west and southwest of the estuary and lower course of the Elbe River ; (2) between 1180 and 1423, to two much smaller and widely separated areas, one on the right (east) bank of the lower Elbe southeast of Holstein , the other on the middle Elbe; and (3) between 1423 and 1952, to a large central German region with its principal axis even farther up the Elbe and including, in the widest sense, all the country from Thuringia to Lusatia, bordering Bohemia (now in the Czech Republic ). Before 1180 the name Saxony was applied to the territory conquered between about ad 200 and 700 by the Germanic Saxon tribe.

This territory included Holstein and the area west of the lower Elbe River, in what is now the German Land (state) of Lower Saxony . From there the Saxons expanded westward by sea to Britain in the 5th century. In the late 8th century the Saxons were conquered and Christianized by the Frankish ruler Charlemagne . In 843 Saxony became part of the East Frankish, or German, kingdom. By the early 10th century Saxony had emerged as a hereditary duchy under the Liudolfing dynasty , and in 919 Duke Henry of Saxony was elected German king. He founded the Saxon, or Ottonian, dynasty, which held the German crown until 1024. (See Saxon dynasty .) Under the Ottonians, the Germans advanced eastward into Slavic territory. In 961 the Saxon ducal title was transferred to the Billung family, which held it until 1106. The duchy thereafter passed to Henry III the Lion of the house of Welf in 1142.

When Henry the Lion was outlawed by the Holy Roman emperor Frederick I Barbarossa in 1180, the duchy was broken up, and only two small and widely separated territories retained the Saxon name: Saxe-Lauenburg, southeast of Holstein, and Saxe-Wittenberg, along the middle Elbe (now north of Leipzig). Both territories were united under the Ascanian family until 1260, when two separate Ascanian dynasties emerged. From the mid-13th century, the duke of Saxony was recognized as an imperial elector (a prince with the right to participate in choosing the Holy Roman emperor); a dispute over this right between the two branches was settled in favour of the Wittenberg branch in 1356. The Lauenburg line survived until 1689, after which its lands were absorbed by Hanover.

Similar Topics Schaumburg-Lippe When the Wittenberg line became extinct in 1422, the duchy and electorate of Saxony was bestowed on Frederick I the Warlike, margrave of Meissen and a member of the house of Wettin, and the name Saxony was then applied to all the Wettin possessions, including Osterland (the area around Leipzig) and large portions of Lusatia and Thuringia. Following Frederick’s death (1428) the Wettins disputed the division of the inheritance; in 1485 Albert and Ernest, the sons of Frederick II (d. 1464), by the Treaty of Leipzig, arranged what came to be a permanent division between the Albertine (eastern) and Ernestine (western) Saxon lands. Albert’s lands comprised the margravate of Meissen (with Dresden as his capital) and northern Thuringia. (For information about the western lands, see Saxon duchies .) In the 16th century the Albertine line acquired the electorate and won territory from the Ernestines in Thuringia and Wittenberg. The electors Henry (d.

1541) and Maurice (d. 1553) adopted Lutheranism. Augustus (reigned 1553–86) codified Albertine Saxony’s laws and made the capital, Leipzig, a centre of commerce and the arts. John George I (reigned 1611–56) headed the organization of German Protestant princes during the Thirty Years’ War (1618–48), but from this period Albertine Saxony was increasingly overshadowed by Brandenburg-Prussia as the leading state of Protestant Germany. In 1697 Elector Frederick Augustus I (reigned 1694–1733) became king of Poland (as Augustus II ), initiating an economically draining bond between Saxony and the declining Polish kingdom that lasted until 1768. Britannica Stories Saxony | state, Germany | Britannica.com state, Germany Leipzig Saxony, German Sachsen, Land (state), eastern Germany . Poland lies to the east of Saxony, and the Czech Republic lies to the south.

Saxony also borders the German states of Saxony-Anhalt to the northwest, Brandenburg to the north, Bavaria to the southwest, and Thuringia to the west. The capital is Dresden . Area 7,109 square miles (18,413 square km). Pop. (2011) 4,056,799. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. Geography Present-day Saxony is composed largely of hill and mountain country, with only its northernmost portions and the area around Leipzig descending into the great North European Plain . The chief mountain range is the Ore Mountains ( Erzgebirge ), which stretch for about 100 miles (160 km) along the state’s southern border and reach elevations of more than 4,000 feet (1,200 metres). In the west and southwest are subsidiary groups of this range, while the northeastern angle of the state features the mountains of Upper Lusatia (Lausitz). South of this group, and along both banks of the Elbe River , extends a picturesque region of hills and deep gorges known as the Saxon Switzerland, the site of a national park.

The upper course of the Elbe River flows from southeast to northwest through the state. The Mulde , a tributary of the Elbe, is the second largest river in Saxony. More than half of Saxony’s land area is used for agriculture, and about one-fourth is forested. The region’s climate is generally temperate, though the mountain country has a harsher one. Tour the Elbe Sandstone Mountains in Saxon Switzerland National Park, eastern Germany. Contunico © ZDF Enterprises GmbH, Mainz Saxony is one of the most densely populated and populous states in eastern Germany, although since the mid-20th century its population has declined. Between 1960 and the turn of the 21st century, the number of inhabitants declined by one-fifth. More than nine-tenths of the population is ethnically German; there is a small indigenous ethnic minority, the Sorbs , and there is also a relatively small foreign population. Similar Topics Rhineland-Palatinate Northern Saxony occupies one of the most fertile parts of eastern Germany and is highly developed agriculturally, though fertility diminishes toward the Ore Mountains of the south.

Wheat, barley, rape, sugar beets, fodder crops, peas, apples, butter, and cheese are the principal agricultural products, while cattle raising is important on the extensive pastures of the Ore Mountains. Forestry is also of some importance. Saxony long had important mineral production in the Ore Mountains, including the production of uranium, but the latter has ceased, and expensive clean-up projects were undertaken across the region to reduce the contamination of mining and waste sites, especially around Aue and Zwickau . Currently lignite is the only major industrial resource still mined in significant quantities, and both production and employment in this once important sector were dramatically reduced after German unification. Lignite is mined both in northeastern Saxony in the Lusatia field near Hoyerswerda and around Leipzig in the Central German field. One clear advantage of the decreased mining and use of lignite in Saxony and the wider region has been a dramatic improvement in air quality. Although the Saxon economy, especially manufacturing, suffered severe cutbacks after unification, it remains one of the largest economies in eastern Germany and one of the few in which ‘‘new economy’’ sectors such as microelectronics have experienced considerable growth.

Nevertheless, unemployment in the state has been significant since the mid-1990s. Major manufacturing sectors in Saxony include electronics, machinery, pharmaceuticals, auto and auto parts production, food processing, publishing, and textiles. The chief manufacturing industry was once textile production, focused on Chemnitz and Zwickau, as well as many smaller urban centres. While some production in this sector continues, employment has declined drastically. Dresden, the state’s largest city in terms of area, is the production site of many types of precision optical and electrical equipment. There are also silicon-chip-production facilities in Dresden. Leipzig , the most populous city in the state, is a centre of printing and publishing, heavy engineering, and auto manufacturing. Automaking has also been important in Mosel, near Zwickau. Meissen is an important and historic centre for the production of porcelain and other ceramics, and some production of traditional wooden toys and Christmas decorations continues in towns in the Ore Mountains, most notably Seiffen. The cathedral and (left) Albrechts Castle overlooking Meissen, Germany. © Caio Garrubba/Madeline Grimoldi The manufacture of musical instruments in Markneukirchen, Saxony, Germany.

Contunico © ZDF Enterprises GmbH, Mainz Britannica Stories Ringling Bros. Folds Its Tent The principal urban centres are Leipzig, Dresden, Chemnitz, Plauen, Zwickau, and Meissen, and each has important regional service sectors. In addition, Leipzig and Dresden have important airports. Leipzig in particular is an important national transport centre, owing to a key location in the national rail and highway networks. For centuries it has been home to important trade fairs. Following unification many retailers took advantage of Leipzig’s centrality within the German transport network, its access to a large regional population, and a brief period of looser land-use controls to construct a number of large suburban shopping centres. Leipzig’s huge downtown rail station has also been renovated to serve as both a station and an attractive shopping plaza. Underground mall at the main railway station in Leipzig, Ger. © DB/Press and Information Office of the Federal Government of Germany World Tour Saxony has a moderately important tourist industry focused in particular on the scenic Ore Mountains, Leipzig, the scenic Elbe River valley and Saxon Switzerland, and Dresden.

Though the city was bombed into ruins by an Anglo-American bombing raid in 1945, some of Dresden’s former architectural glory has been restored. Reconstruction of the Saxon royal palace, the Zwinger, and other sites began after the war; unification opened up more resources and has allowed relatively rapid reconstruction, for example, on the city’s famed Frauenkirche. Along with taking Elbe River cruises, sightseers to Dresden often visit nearby Pillnitz (palace and gardens) and Radebeul (museum focused on the popular author Karl May ). The Dresden Elbe Valley, including the Pillnitz Palace and the centre of Dresden, was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2004. There are a host of architectural and cultural attractions in other parts of Saxony, notably in Görlitz , Bautzen , Freiberg , and Meissen. Also designated a World Heritage site in 2004 was Muskauer Park, a European country park laid out in the early 19th century; located on the border between Germany and Poland, it is jointly maintained by both countries. The Zwinger, designed by Matthäus Daniel Pöppelmann, in Dresden, Ger.

© Bundesbildstelle/Press and Information Office of the Federal Government of Germany Königstein Fortress, Saxony, Germany. Facebook Twitter YouTube Instagram Pinterest The state of Saxony is governed by a Landtag (state parliament) and a minister-president, who is generally a leading member of the Landtag’s strongest party. The election of extreme right-wing politicians from the National Democratic Party (NDP) to the state parliament in 2004 generated controversy and concern among some within Saxony and Germany as a whole. Leipzig is a university town, as is Zwickau. There are technical universities in Dresden, Chemnitz, and Freiberg. Saxony’s primary cultural centres are Dresden and Leipzig. Dresden has important concentrations of historic buildings, museums, and musical groups, as well as major art collections and the renowned Semper Opera House. Leipzig is the site of one of Germany’s major national libraries (the Deutsche Bücherei), a nationally acclaimed orchestra (Gewandhaus Orchestra), and sections of the national Academy of Sciences . The Leipzig site of the German National Library.

© Bundesbildstelle/Press and Information Office of the Federal Government of Germany History The state of Saxony was re-created in the process of the reunification of East Germany with West Germany in 1990 from the former East German Bezirke (districts) of Dresden, Chemnitz (formerly Karl-Marx-Stadt), and Leipzig, along with a small part of Cottbus district. The East German districts had themselves been created in 1952 from historic Saxony , an important region in German history for nearly 2,000 years, particularly so since the 15th century. Saxony and its capital, Dresden, prospered from the 16th to the 18th century before their relative importance within Germany waned with the rise of Brandenburg-Prussia and Berlin . The people of Leipzig are justly proud of the key role that the massive but peaceful demonstrations in the city in late 1989 played in toppling East Germany’s communist dictatorship and ultimately opening up the opportunity for German unification.

Saxony – Travel guide at Wikivoyage Understand[ edit ] Once one of the leading German states and first among equals in the Lutheran (Protestant) camp, the princes and kings of Saxony managed to be on the wrong side of almost every war since 1500 and gradually lost territory and influence due to that. the former glory of Saxony and especially the financially reckless spending (i.e. building opera houses and churches from money Saxony didn't have) of Saxon elector and Polish king August der Starke (August the strong) can still be seen in Dresden. Saxony is also notable as the first industrial center of what would later become Germany. Leipzig and Dresden where the first mainland European cities to be connected by a long distance railway in the 1830s and Zwickau and Chemnitz were among the cradles of the German automobile industry before World War II . During GDR times Saxony was culturally and economically dominant in the new state and people from the "west" (the old Federal Republic of Germany) think of a Saxon accent if they think of an "easterner" (Ossi).

The Messe (trade fair) in Leipzig was for a long time the pride of the regime and Saxony's window to the world, as it attracted many visitors from "capitalist" countries. Although the war and the incredibly bland GDR-architecture have destroyed a lot of what used to be beautiful in cities like Dresden, Leipzig and Chemnitz (renamed Karl-Marx-Stadt during GDR-times) happenstance, ideology and lack of funds also preserved many things that were lost in western Germany such as many scenic narrow gauge railways or tramways that are among the most extensive and reliable in Germany. Almost forgotten until the wall came down Saxony now attracts travellers from all over the world, who come looking for beautiful historic (many of them rebuilt) buildings, breathtaking scenery of Saxonian Switzerland or just to buy a nutcracker in the Saxon Ore mountains. While it certainly isn't a budget destination it is notably a cheaper place to go than western Germany with unemployment higher wages lower and lines for attractions shorter than in Bavaria. Talk[ edit ] Language of communication is naturally German, but the Sorbs in the Oberlausitz also speak their own language. Sorbian is a sister language of Polish and Czech.

The Saxon accent is quite strange for most other Germans and therefore often ridiculed and used in comedy. Regardless, the Saxons are very proud of it and it remains a strong part of the region's identity. English is widely spoken and many, especially young people, have a basic knowledge of another foreign language, like French, Spanish or Italian. Russian might be understood by the middle-aged and older Saxons, but with a growing Russian-German community, you might even find a native speaker of the language. In many regions close to the border you will find at least some singange in Czech or Polish. In tourist- oriented hotels as well as some shops you might also encounter signage or people speaking Russian, as there has been a lot of Russian shopping-tourism in recent times, especially to Dresden. By plane[ edit ] Saxony has two major airports used for scheduled passenger flights in Dresden ( IATA : DRS) and between Leipzig and Halle ( IATA : LEJ), in the town of Schkeuditz some 25 minutes by S-Bahn from either city-center. Flights to nearly all German cities and to some destinations in Europe are offered.

The airport of Leipzig has a slightly better network and good Autobahn and rail connections. Dresden's airport is closer to the city and easily accessible with public transport and car. Both have frequent inexpensive (around 2-3€ one way) direct S-Bahn service to the centrally located Hauptbahnhof (main station) of their respective cities. From Frankfurt airport, Germany's main international hub there are regular direct ICE connections to Leipzig and Dresden. There are two stations attached to the airport for ICEs take Frankfurt Flughafen Fernbahnhof, if you have to change trains at the main station take the S-Bahn from Frankfurt Flughafen Regionalbahnhof. As Saxony is close to both Poland and the Czech republic, Prague or Wrocław might be feasible options for some travellers. There is regular train service from both main stations. For information on how to get from the airport to the respective station see the respective city articles. By train[ edit ] The main hubs for rail travel are Dresden and Leipzig with a new high-speed line between Nuremberg (Munich) and Berlin (Hamburg) via Leipzig scheduled to open in December 2015, with further upgrades along the line ready by December 2017.

Dresden is connected to Wrocław (Poland) via Görlitz by a regional train and special offers starting at 39€ round trip can be had for that connection. the Eurocity Brno-Hamburg and Budapest-Berlin (both via Prague) pass through Dresden and Bad Schandau (Saxon Switzerland) Leipzig boasts one of the biggest main stations in Germany with a wide variety of shops and free Wifi with modern fast ICE connections to almost everywhere in Germany either operating or scheduled to open in the next few years. From Czech-German-Polish three country border[ edit ] In the vicinity of the Czech-German-Polish three country border, you may profit from the unified fare of the ZVON transport system . By bus[ edit ] Saxony's major (and some of the minor) cities are all served to varying degrees by long distance buses both domestic (most of them newly emerging or recent due to a change in laws around 2012/13 that prohibited this development earlier on) and international (most of them existing since at least 1990).

Berlin is particularly well served for historic reasons as well as because of the bad railway connection between Dresden and Berlin and (historically) Leipzig and Berlin Get around[ edit ] Public transport is for the most part good fast and reliable. If you plan to do a day trip the "Sachsen-Ticket" might just be what you are looking for. It costs 23€ for one person plus 5 € for each additional member of your group up to five and covers all regional trains in Saxony, Saxony Anhalt and Thüringen plus public transport in Leipzig, Zwickau, Görlitz, Halle, Erfurt, Gera, Jena and Dresden. Validity is from 9 am on working days (all day on weekends) until 3 am the following morning. Unfortunately, Saxony has bucked the general German trend towards more and better local train service. Some routes have been cancelled in recent years while others are acutely threatened with cancellation subject to federal funds, which were reduced for Saxony in a recent readjustment. There are several narrow gauge heritage railways , especially in the Ore mountains. As most of them are privately run (some not-for-profit) the Sachsen Ticket usually isn't valid on them.

In some areas of the countryside, buses run only once a day. Depending on your interests you can see a variety of things including: The mountains of Saxon Switzerland The old city of Dresden that was rebuilt almost exactly like it was before World War II The former prison Bautzen II which was used by the Stasi and can give you a chilling history lesson on the live of critics of a police-state regime The Saxon Ore Mountains famous for wooden figurines, skiing and mining. Although the mines are almost all closed by now some can be visited in guided tours The saxon Ore mountains offer skiing in the winter (provided there is enough snow) Saxon Switzerland is an excellent hiking and climbing area. Eat[ edit ] Being one of Germany's easternmost regions as well as politically and culturally connected to the USSR during GDR times, Saxony boasts a lot of Slavic influences in its cuisine, notable in dishes like cabbage rolls, dumplings or Soljanka (a soup with various pieces of sausage, meat and vegetables, traditionally eaten with sour cream and lemon juice).

While dishes such as Döner can be had in bigger cities like Leipzig or Dresden, they are usually not up to par to those made in Länder with more (Turkish) immigrant influence, and sometimes have a slightly Asian (mostly Vietnamese) or German interpretation to it. Drink[ edit ] The Elbe valley between Dresden and Meissen is the easternmost wine area in Germany and on the northeastern edge of wine-growing in Europe. Mainly white wines like Riesling, Pinot and Traminer are grown. There are plenty of wineries in the hills to the northeast of the Elbe downriver from Dresden, connected by the tourist route "Sächsische Weinstrasse" (Saxon Wine Route). Stay safe[ edit ] Yes, there are Nazis in this region (until 2014 the far right NPD was represented in parliament); however, they hardly (if ever) target tourists and are mostly present in run down neighborhoods of the big cities (Dresden-Gorbitz, Dresden-Prohlis, parts of Hoyerswerda and Leipzig) or some rural communities in Saxonian Switzerland.

In general the security situation in Saxony isn't any worse than in most other parts of Germany (which is to say, very good when compared to almost all populated parts of the world), but the usual cautions in big crowds ( pickpocketing ), run down neighborhoods and alone at night can't do any harm. Go next[ edit ] Poland via Görlitz (just cross the river et voila you're in Poland) The Czech Republic via a scenic (albeit slow) train connection in the valley of the Elbe, as well as the Elbe Radweg The Saxony wine region: one-off wines Media gallery The Saxony wine region: one-off wines Wines from Saxony are known as rare gems because the Saxony wine region is the most north-easterly and one of the smallest in Europe. People have been producing wine here on the river Elbe for 850 years. Special features include the vineyards divided into small plots that are cultivated by more than 3,000 small independent growers. Saxony has a broad range of grape varieties – including goldriesling which is only grown here. The majority of Saxony wines are drunk locally, a rarity in Germany.

Regional characteristics Area under vine and grape varieties Saxony's wine-growing region currently covers around 472ha, 80 per cent of which is used for growing white-wine grapes. Saxony has a broad range of grape varieties, currently 37 are grown. The main cultivars grown include müller-thurgau, riesling, pinot blanc and pinot gris, plus pinot noir and dornfelder for making red wine. Regional specialities include traminer and goldriesling. Soil types The special character of Saxony wines is determined by a variety of different soil types depending on the location of the vineyard. The Elbe Valley features a wealth of geological formations. During the main folding phase of the Erzgebirge mountains in the Lower Carboniferous period, rocks from Meissen's granite-syenite massif pushed their way to the surface. The syenite layers were partially covered by sandstone and pläner layers from the Upper Cretaceous period. In turn, these were also partially covered over by ice-age deposits such as loess, clay and river sand. Climate Saxony's easterly position means it is heavily influenced by the continental climate.

In addition to cold winters and late frosts, this also means plenty of rainfall and a high average amount of sunshine a year. This creates the perfect conditions for the grapes to grow and mature. Some parts of the region have more sunshine than a number of other German wine regions, such as the Elbe Valley which enjoys an average of approx. 1,570 hours of sunshine a year. Also, the closer you get to the outer limit of the wine-growing region, the richer the aroma and bouquet of the wine. Growers and cooperatives Saxony's wine-growing structure is unique in Germany: the wine region is currently cultivated by approx. 3,650 independent growers, 21 wineries for whom wine production is their main occupation and twelve wineries for whom it is a sideline. The majority of the small independent growers belong to winegrowers' associations. The three biggest wine producers are the Saxony wine cooperative in Meissen with approx. 1,600 members, the Saxony state winery at Schloss Wackerbarth and the only quality-certified winery in Saxony , Schloss Proschwitz Prinz zur Lippe.

The character of the Saxony winegrowers is reflected in their wines – traditional but open to change. For many years, the growers have seen themselves as open, honest hosts, responsible for bringing both locals and tourists closer to Saxony wine. The famous laid-back attitude in Saxony not only benefits visitors, it also means the grapes are left in peace to mature. The least you can do is devote some of your time to sampling the results! Tips Saxony Wine Route Between Pirna and Diesbar-Seusslitz near Meissen, the Saxony Wine Route wends its way for 55 kilometres through the sunny, mild and captivatingly varied valley of the Elbe, along with the international Elbe Cycle Route and the Saxony Wine Trail. Lower Saxony – Travel guide at Wikivoyage Talk[ edit ] The predominant spoken form of German taught and spoken Lower Saxony is High German or Hochdeutsch. Although there are different accents in several regions and some grammatical variations are regionally widespread, the language closely follows written German and is thus easy to understand.

It is often said and commonly believed in Germany, that the dialect spoken in Hannover is the "best" dialect in terms of "correctness" as it is closest to the written form. In the north, Low German or Plattdeutsch (Plattdüütsch or Platt in Low German) is widespread and even spoken alongside Hochdeutsch (Hoochdüütsch). In some areas there are even different forms of Plattdeutsch, albeit very locally. In the north and northeast, variants of the Frisian dialects are still officially recognised and spoken by a few thousands of people. Frisian is actually more closely related to English than to German and has little to do with the various (low) German dialects also spoken in Frisia that are sometimes mistaken for it. Whilst English is a compulsory foreign language for schoolchildren, many adults have only a basic knowledge of the language or are not confident enough to speak it. In tourist areas, many of the signs are in two or more languages. The German national railway, Deutsche Bahn, uses two languages on all their signs and, in long-distance trains, even the announcements are also made in English as well as German.

By air[ edit ] The most important airports are Hanover ( IATA : HAJ), Hamburg ( IATA : HAM) (other Bundesland, Niedersachsen-Ticket not valid), Bremen ( IATA : BRE) (other Bundesland, Niedersachsen-Ticket valid) and Münster /Osnabrück ( IATA : FMO) in the neighbouring state of North Rhine-Westphalia . There are also some small airports with mostly domestic and seasonal services on most of the inhabited Est-Frisian islands. Unless one of the islands is your final destination or you arrive in your own plane, you are unlikely to use any of those. By rail[ edit ] The largest station in Lower Saxony is Hanover Central (Hauptbahnhof Hannover), which has hourly connexions to Hamburg, Frankfurt and Munich as well as other long-distance destinations. It is on the high speed lines from Hanover to Würzburg and Hanover to Berlin ; travel times to Hamburg are also attractive. Other large regional hubs are Brunswick (regional services to East Germany and the Harz) and Göttingen (regional services to the South Harz).

The two largest transport associations are GVH (Großraumverkehr Hannover) in Hanover and VRB (Verbundtarif Region Braunschweig) in Brunswick. It should be noted that tickets for journeys within those transport association zones must be purchased before travelling as they are not available on the trains. Bus[ edit ] Along with state run regional buses covering distances of usually 50 kilometers and less, there are private domestic and international long distance lines that serve the region and connect it to the rest of Central Europe By road[ edit ] The largest motorways (Autobahnen) are the A2 running from east to west and the A2 running from north to south. The A1 in the north is also an important link. The A2 has three lanes throughout, the A1 and A7 on those sections where traffic levels are highest. In spite of that all three motorways, especially the A2, are very busy, prone to accidents and thus traffic jams. Large cities like Hanover and Brunswick have their own networks of city motorways.

Important federal roads (Bundesstraßen) are the B1, B3, B4 (Harz) and B6 (Buxtehude - Celle - Hanover). Several have also been upgraded to near-motorway standard, in that they have dual carriageways each with two lanes. The density of fixed safety cameras varies from region to region, but they are especially common in the Harz even on steep section of road. In wooded areas the risk of accidents involving wildlife is very high; wild boar in particular can cause a lot of damage to vehicles and danger to life if struck. In rural areas, straight roads with avenues of trees are also dangerous and frequently claim lives as a result of speeding or reckless overtaking. By boat[ edit ] The largest port is Hamburg which, although not part of Lower Saxony, has good road and rail connections (note that for regional travel the Niedersachsen Ticket does not apply in Hamburg) There are also limited connections (mostly cruises) along the Mittellandkanal and some services from Dutch ports (you can get to the German island of Borkum from Eemshaven (NL) for example) to German islands.

Get around[ edit ] "Metronom" regional train on track from Uelzen to Göttingen. There is a special ticket called the "Niedersachsen Ticket" which offers unlimited travel by regional trains inside Lower Saxony area, up to Bremen and Hamburg in one day. This ticket is not valid in high speed trains (D, EC, IC, ICE) unless otherwise noted so make sure you board the right trains (RE, RB, S-Bahn, Metronom) when using this ticket. It is valid from 9am to 3am the following day during weekdays and the whole day on weekends. The price of the ticket depends on the size of your party with 23€ for a single person and four Euros on top of that for every additional person up to five. If you are more than five people, other discounts might apply, or you can simply buy more than one group ticket. These tickets are also valid inside public transport network in some of the cities ( Hanover , Hamburg , Bremen , Brunswick ). Do[ edit ] Swim in the North Sea Go Wattwandern (i.e.

hiking through the mudflats during low tide, that are covered by water during high tide) only do this with a licensed guide as the flood arrives almost unnoticed and the channels that bring the water back in can rise to several meters and cut off your way back to safety Take a tour on a boat a watch aquatic mammals, or the fishing of Krabben (a type of crayfish typical for the area) Eat[ edit ] Grünkohlessen, a typical regional dish: kale served with Pinkel, Kochwurst, Kassler and bacon Lower Saxony has a number of traditions when it comes to cuisine that are often widespread, but with local regional variations. Many of the recipes are based on local food and tend to be basic, hearty and flavoursome, rather than haute cuisine. An exception, perhaps, is Welf Pudding, a layered pudding made from milk, eggs, wine and vanilla, that was created by one of the chefs to the royal household in Hanover. Unsurprisingly fish dishes using, for example plaice, flounder and mackerel, feature strongly in the coastal region.

Herring is served in various guises, popular ones being Matjeshering (soused), Brathering (fried) or Rollmops (pickled). Inland, trout (Forelle) and eels (Aale) are popular. As elsewhere in Germany, pork is the most form of popular meat, with beef a poor second and lamb rarely seen. There are the inevitable regional types of pre-cooked sausage (Kochwurst) which is very popular in the Lüneburg Heath, the Bremen area and Schaumburg Land; local varieties include Bregenwurst, Kohlwurst, Pinkelwurst. Other meat dishes from that area are Knipp a kind of smoked sausage, venison, wild boar and hare. Another heath speciality are Heidschnucken dishes created using mutton from the local moorland sheep. Two specialities from the Hanover region are Schlachteplatte, a dish of assorted meat, and the Calenberger Pfannenschlag (also known as Rinderwurst, a beef sausage). The internationally known Braunschweiger sausage presumably originates from Brunswick.

Around Gifhorn and Wolfsburg a form of black pudding called Pottwurst, served with Sauerkraut (pickled cabbage), is popular in the autumn. The most common accompaniment is the humble potato, boiled potatoes (Salzkartoffeln, that is potatoes boild in salted water without their skin) being by far the most common. Another popular vegetable, very typical of the area, is Grünkohl (kale), sometimes known as Braunkohl especially in Bremen and Brunswick Land. Asparagus (Spargel) is eaten as a great delicacy in Lower Saxony. It is grown mainly around the towns of Burgdorf, Nienburg, Brunswick and in the Oldenburg Münsterland as well as the southern part of the Lüneburg Heath and on the Stade Geest. Asparagus season begins around April and lasts until June 24th. As the best Spargel is grown locally and eaten only during the season, asparagus devotion can seem quasi-religious at times. Soup is a common form of starter. Particularly popular is Hochzeitssuppe ("wedding soup"), a meat broth.

On the North Sea coast there a plant called arrowgrass, known locally as Stranddreizack or Röhrkohl, grows in salt meadows immediately by the coast and is prepared, like Grünkohl, as a thick stew. Other country dishes in the coastal region are Steckrübeneintopf and Birnen, Bohnen und Speck, both types of stew. The Germans are great cake eaters, popular regional varieties being butter cakes (Butterkuchen) and, around the Lüneburg Heath, Buchweizentorte (buckwheat cake) which is like a gateau and very tasty. Drink[ edit ] East Frisian tea Lower Saxony is home to many breweries, for example in Jever , Einbeck , Celle , Lüneburg , Brunswick , Allersheim (part of Holzminden ), Hanover , Wittingen , Peine and Göttingen . Two of the oldest beers, brewed since the Middle Ages, are Braunschweiger Mumme and Goslarer Gose.

In general the Lower Saxons prefer coffee to tea, except in the regions of East Frisia and Friesland where tea is popular and often drunk with Kluntjes (rock candy) and cream. A specialty found mainly in East Frisia (i.e. the North of Niedersachsen) are "Pharisäer" (Coffee with rum and a whipped cream topping) that also exist in the caffeine free version (replacing cacao for coffee) of "tote Tanten" (literally dead aunts). Stay safe[ edit ] While this area is very safe in terms of crime and even the big city issues of Hanover and Braunschweig are not all that bad, there are some natural hazards: Swimming in the North Sea is usually only allowed during certain hours of the day. As the tides can be very strong, it is best to follow the advice and don't bathe when it isn't allowed. Mudflat hiking with a guide is a safe fun activity. Without one it can be deadly, due to people being lost and trapped by the rising tide. Fog is more common than you might think.

Saxony tourism - The beating heart of Europe Scroll down Saxony – The beating heart of Europe "…the jewel of the European culture that has inspired the creative potential of all nations…". Saxony lies on the south east corner of Germany, bordering Poland and Czech Republic. The Free State of Saxony unites 1000 years of history. A unique landscape exists here – East and West meet here. It is a long story that has made profound impact on art, culture, music, technology, and on mankind. Saxons resonate human determination to relive, recover, restore and relish the power of human determination. About Saxony Why you should visit Saxony Saxony is the hidden treasure that is the Cultural Capital of Germany. It is a land of inventors. High-quality wellness resorts, top-class art and culture, world-famous handicrafts, and some of the best luxury products in the world await to welcome you. The musical landscape of Saxony is rather unique in Germany. Castles, palaces and gardens are part of the great Saxon heritage. Historical steam trains, oldest paddle steamers and the finest brands of German automobiles are all encompassed in unmistakable nature.

It is also the Motherland of the Reformation. Germanic Genealogy Society - Saxony Saxony The Newcomers to Saxon genealogy need to identify whether they want the Kingdom of Saxony or the Province of Saxony Lower Saxony , Niedersachen or Saxony-Anhalt . The history of what became the Kingdom of Saxony [Königreich Sachsen] in the German Empire of 1871 is complex. Over centuries, large areas broke into smaller states, boundaries changed position, and regions changed names. Each of the identifiable areas will be dealt with separately. This complex history has led to three states in today's Germany that include Saxony [Sachsen] in their name: Lower Saxony [Niedersachsen], Saxony-Anhalt [Sachsen­Anhalt], and Saxony [Sachsen], similar in area and location to the Kingdom of Saxony. Refer to The Germanic Genealogy Journal Spring 2002 for a excellent "how to do Research in Saxony". GGJ Topic Index WHAT ARE THE SAXONS? The Saxons are the people that populated the different areas of Saxony. This is a small insight to them.

Saxons were a confederation of Old Germanic tribes. Their modern-day descendants in German states are considered ethnic Germans (the state of Sachsen is not inhabited by ethnic Saxons; the state of Sachsen-Anhalt is though, in its northern and western parts); those in the eastern Netherlands are considered to be ethnic Dutch. Saxons participated in the Germanic settlement of Britain during and after the 5th century. Since the 18th century, many continental Saxons have settled other parts of the world, especially in North America, Australia, South Africa, South of Brazil and in areas of the former Soviet Union, where some communities still maintain parts of their cultural and linguistic heritage, often under the umbrella categories "German", and "Dutch". The pre-Christian settlement of the Saxon people originally covered an area a little more to the northwest, with parts of the southern Jutland Peninsula, Old Saxony and small sections of the eastern Low Countries (Belgium and the Netherlands). During the 5th century AD, the Saxons were part of the people invading the Romano-British province of Britannia.

One of the other tribes was the Germanic Angles, whose name, taken together with that of the Saxons led to the formation of the modern term, Anglo-Saxon Kingdom of Saxony (Konigreich Sachsen) History The Newcomers to Saxon genealogy need to identify whether they want the Kingdom of Saxony or the Province of Saxony to the north. The Kingdom of Saxony includes the cities of Dresden, Meissen, Chemnitz and Leipzig. The Kingdom of Saxony (German: Königreich Sachsen), lasting between 1806 and 1918, was an independent member of a number of historical confederacies in Napoleonic through post-Napoleonic Germany. From 1871 it was part of the German Empire It became a Free state in the era of Weimar Republic in 1918 after the end of World War I and the abdication of King Frederick Augustus III of Saxony. Its capital was the city of Dresden, and its modern successor state is the Free State of Saxony.

The Napoleonic Era and the German Confederation In 1806, French Emperor Napoleon abolished the Holy Roman Empire and decreed the Electorate of Saxony a kingdom in itself. Elector Frederick Augustus III became King Frederick Augustus I. Frederick Augustus remained loyal to Napoleon during the wars that swept Europe in the following years; he was taken prisoner and his territories declared forfeit by the allies in 1813, who intended the annexation of Saxony by Prussia. Following the defeat of Saxony's ally, Prussia, at the Battle of Jena in 1806, Saxony joined the Confederation of the Rhine, and remained within the Confederation until its dissolution in 1813. Following the battle, in which Saxony - virtually alone of the German states - had fought alongside the French, King Frederick Augustus I was deserted by his troops, taken prisoner by the Prussians and considered to have forfeited his throne by the allies, who put Saxony under Russian occupation and administration.

This was probably more due to the Prussian desire to annex Saxony than to any crime on Frederick Augustus's part, and the fate of Saxony would prove to be one of the main issues at the Congress of Vienna. Ultimately, the opposition of Austria, France, and the United Kingdom to this plan resulted in the restoration of Frederick Augustus to his throne at the Congress of Vienna. At this time in 1815, Saxony was forced to cede the northern part of the kingdom to Prussia. The Austro-Prussian War and the German Empire The Kingdom of Saxony in 1895 - During the 1866 Austro-Prussian War, Saxony sided with Austria, and the Saxon army was generally seen as the only ally to bring substantial aid to the Austrian cause, having abandoned the defense of Saxony itself to join up with the Austrian army in Bohemia. This effectiveness probably allowed Saxony to escape the fate of other north German states which allied with Austria (notably the Kingdom of Hanover), which were annexed by Prussia after the war. The Austrians insisted that Saxony must be spared, and the Prussians acquiesced.

Saxony nevertheless joined the Prussian-led North German Confederation the next year. Prussia's victory over France in the Franco-Prussian War of 1871, let the members of the Confederation were organized by Otto von Bismarck into the German Empire, with Wilhelm I as its Emperor. The End of the Kingdom of Saxony Wilhelm I's grandson, Kaiser Wilhelm II, abdicated in 1918 as a result of Germany's defeat in the First World War King Frederick Augustus III of Saxony followed him into abdication and the Kingdom of Saxony became the free State of Saxony within the newly-formed Weimar Republic. For more insight to the history and genealogy of the Kingdom of Saxony refer to Germanic Genealogy 3rd Edition p.408 Lower Saxony (German Niedersachsen) lies in north-western Germany and is second in area and fourth in population among the country's sixteen Bundesländer (federal states). In rural areas Low Saxon is still spoken, but declining.

Lower Saxony borders on (from north and clockwise) the North Sea, the states of Schleswig-Holstein, Hamburg, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Brandenburg, Saxony-Anhalt, Thuringia, Hesse and North Rhine-Westphalia, and the kingdom of the Netherlands. The state of Bremen forms two enclaves within Lower Saxony. The state's principal cities include Hanover, Braunschweig , Osnabrück, Oldenburg, Meppen and Göttingen. The area is named for the Saxons, who moved there from what is today the neighboring state of Schleswig-Holstein towards the middle of the 1st millennium AD. Originally the region was simply called Saxony, but as the center of gravity of the Duchy of Saxony gradually moved up the Elbe, towards the present day states of Saxony-Anhalt and Saxony, the region was given the name Lower Saxony, which it bore as an Imperial Kreise Estate from the late 15th Century The northwestern portion of Lower Saxony is a part of Frisia; it is called Ostfriesland (Eastern Frisia) and lies on the coast of the North Sea.

It includes seven islands, known as the East Frisian Islands. In the southwest of Lower Saxony is the Emsland, a sparsely populated area, once a inaccessible swamp. The northern half of Lower Saxony is absolutely flat, but there are two mountain chains in the south: the Weserbergland ("Weser Hilly Region") and the Harz. The middle of the state houses the largest cities and the economic centers: Hanover, Hildesheim, Wolfsburg, Salzgitter and Braunschweig (Brunswick). The region in the northeast is called Lüneburger Heide. To the north the Elbe River separates Lower Saxony from Hamburg, Schleswig-Holstein, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and Brandenburg. The lands on the southern banks are called Altes Land (literally "Old Land"), and they are characterized by thousands of fruit-trees. Saxony Xenophobia Under the Microscope - SPIEGEL ONLINE Saxony Xenophobia Under the Microscope What's Wrong with Saxony? A Search for the Roots of Fear and Racism For a time after reunification, Saxony was widely considered an eastern German success story.

Lately, however, the state's image has darkened. Weekly Pegida marches combined with an ongoing rash of anti-immigrant attacks are raising uncomfortable questions. By Maximilian Popp , Andreas Wassermann and Steffen Winter Maximilian Popp wurde 1986 in Passau geboren. Er absolvierte die Henri-Nannen-Journalistenschule in Hamburg und studierte Politikwissenschaften in Istanbul. Seit 2010 arbeitet er für den SPIEGEL, zunächst als Redakteur im Deutschlandressort in Dresden, Hamburg und Berlin, seit 2016 als Korrespondent in Istanbul. Für seine Türkei-Berichterstattung wurde er mit dem Journalistenpreis der Südosteuropa-Gesellschaft ausgezeichnet. Living in Germany, welcome to Saxony! Historic city centre of Dresden in the afternoon (© Marco Barnebeck/ pixelio.de) Saxony offers a high standard of living, and is an attractive business location. In order to preserve Saxony’s economic strength and competitiveness in the long-term, we need qualified, educated people. International exchange is an important component here. Well trained and motivated people from abroad strengthen the economy and create jobs.

Promoting the migration of qualified specialists is one of the Saxon state government’s proclaimed aims. Whether or not you need a visa or residence permit depends on which country you come from and the purpose of your stay. Entry, stay, work The entry conditions for citizens of the European Union member states differ from those applicable for citizens of third-party states, i.e. countries not belonging to the European Union. EU citizens and citizens of the European Economic Area (EU states plus Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein) are free to travel and work in Saxony and Germany. Citizens from the two new European Union member states – Romania and Bulgaria (joined on 1 January 2007) -, certain conditions may be applied for a transition period of up to seven years, and these may limit the free movement of workers from, to and between the new member states. The restrictions only affect freedom of movement for the purposes of commencing work, and may vary depending on the member state. NOTE: Citizens from the new member states of Romania and Bulgaria require an EU work permit in Germany.

The AKZESS project is aimed at qualified foreign specialists from third countries (highly qualified persons, workers, researchers, self-employed persons, PhD candidates, graduates from German universities, students participating in an integrated degree programme) who are planning to live in the state capital Dresden, the city of Chemnitz, or the district of Mittelsachsen. It is a standardised process seeking to ensure foreign specialists gain fast access to the Saxon employment market. A decision on the residence permit is guaranteed within four weeks. AKZESS will also be starting up in Leipzig in autumn 2012.

Question: Saxony is a region of which European country?
Answer: Germany