Heidenau: Garden Art, Water and Cycling

Heidenau combines Baroque garden landscapes, a self-guided look at the town’s history, the Albert-Schwarz-Bad and a range of cycling options. This makes it a good fit for different kinds of day: perhaps you’d like to combine art and relaxation, spend time in the water or plan a bike tour.

Garden Art and Town History

The Baroque Garden of Großsedlitz is a formal Baroque garden associated with Heidenau. Its terraced garden spaces, original sandstone sculptures, water features and flower beds give the grounds a variety of character. The garden was designed in the French style under Augustus the Strong. It combines relaxation with an appreciation of art—a different way to spend your time than a day full of sporting activities.

From Heidenau/Großsedlitz, you can reach the Baroque Garden on the S1 or S2; from there, it’s about a 20-minute walk uphill. Check the connection before you travel. Bicycles and scooters are not allowed in the garden. Bike racks and bicycle luggage lockers are available if you’d like to combine your visit with a bike tour.

The self-guided historical town walk “A Look into Heidenau’s Past” lets you explore Heidenau independently. It includes 30 numbered places or buildings, with historical pictures and signs. The stops give the town’s history tangible points of reference and can be planned as an activity in its own right, alongside time in the garden or at the swimming pool.

Swimming, Sports and Cycling

The Albert-Schwarz-Bad brings together a range of water and sports activities. Its water area covers 800 m² and includes a paddling pool, a non-swimmer pool, a competition pool and a diving pool; there is also a 70-metre RacerSlide. In addition, there are more than 40,000 m² of play and sports areas, as well as three courts for beach volleyball, beach handball and beach soccer. Swimming lessons range from getting used to the water to advanced swimming. This lets you think of pool time, sporting activities and focused swimming lessons as different priorities.

You can reach Heidenau from Dresden or Pirna on S-Bahn lines S1 or S2. A regional train runs from Altenberg to Heidenau; from there, continue by bus to the Albert-Schwarz-Bad. Check the latest connections for your visit.

Cyclists also have a range of options: bike tours from Heidenau pass through the Eastern Saxon Switzerland region and along the Elbe. A family-friendly route through the Eastern Saxon Switzerland region also offers views of the Elbe. The Castles Tour includes the Baroque Garden of Großsedlitz and Weesenstein Castle. Much of this tour runs on roads without a separate cycle path. As conditions can change, check the local situation before setting off.

The Heidenau ferry is part of the Central Germany Route, also known as the D4 Route, a long-distance cycle route from Aachen to Zittau. The D4 Central Germany Route also extends to Neustadt in Saxony and the Lusatian Highlands. These longer routes offer a different scale from a single day trip and may be worth considering when planning your cycling holiday.

The wider destination of the District of Saxon Switzerland-Eastern Ore Mountains

The wider destination of the District of Saxon Switzerland-Eastern Ore Mountains also offers a striking natural setting in Saxon Switzerland National Park: it is Saxony’s only national park and Germany’s only national park of rocky landscapes. When choosing between hiking and cycling, it’s helpful to know the difference between two routes: the Painters’ Way is exclusively a hiking trail and cannot be explored by bicycle or e-bike. The Elbe Cycle Route runs for 40 kilometres through Saxon Switzerland.

Cultural attractions in the district add their own distinct character. On the fortress plateau of Königstein Fortress, modern exhibitions and interactive stations tell its story. Guided tours, hands-on activities and cultural events round out the offerings; individual exhibitions and programmes may vary. This makes it possible to consider nature and cultural experiences as different interests when planning a trip to the wider region.

Choose the Right Accommodation for Your Plans

Start by mapping out your days: garden art and town history, swimming and sports facilities, or cycling tours each offer a different focus. Then you can check the location of your accommodation and the connections that suit your plans. This way, your choice is guided by the experiences that matter to you during your stay in Heidenau.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Königstein, Pirna, Schmiedeberg, Glashütte, Bad Gottleuba-Berggießhübel, Struppen, Stolpen and Altenberg.

Back to the overview of the wider region: Saxon Switzerland.