24 hours in Germany's best-kept-secret National Park

[@thomastroub4563]

I really appreciate your videos and your calm disposition. As a person born and raised in Germany, I especially like that you show us so many places in this beautiful country, and almost always at a very reasonable cost. Have a great holiday season!

[@thornton]

Aw thanks, feeling good that I can even show places to natives haha :)

[@kerstinmosenpickel4100]

It seems you overlooked the best part of your hike to the "Kuhstall". About 100 feet to the left behind the cave is a long and very narrow ladder, called "Heaven's Ladder", which leads to the upper plateau of the rock. Up there you can still find small remains of an extensive castle complex that was here in the 15th century. Greetings from Dresden

[@narmex9727]

Im from germany and live in the area. I reall apreciate how well you catched the vibe

[@anxietify]

i was there this summer and i can only agree that it is a wonderful place

[@actionletsplayde6966]

It really is impressive that Park. What makes the park even more mind blowing is the fact that there was a castle up there once.

[@felixblum]

I really like how calm your videos are

[@avaw.6661]

You are a lovely guy. Please do keep those coming up as they are so pleasing, peaceful to watch. Big thanks to you. First timer to watch.

[@ageoflove1980]

Good stuff, these are exactly the kind of trips im looking for. Outdoorsy but not too extreme. Last autumn I did some walking in the woods around Eisenach and Wartburg Castle. Very pretty there too.

[@thornton]

Ahh I loved Wartburg! I have a video from there too :)

[@ageoflove1980]

@@thornton Ah yes, looks very pretty in wintertime. Like a real life postcard. What ive noticed about the place is that pretty anywhere in the world there would have been an entry fee, possibly security. maybe tourist shops or whatever. But here you walk just in to this amazing UNESCO site completely free. Germany does these types of things really well to prevent them from becoming some sort of tourist trap experience like so many other famous places in the world.

[@Seisei16]

I somehow find the beauty in life throughout your video

[@lew.wright]

Aw man this is beautiful. I spent a month in that region in the summer of 2021 and made trips to Dresden and the Sächsische Schweiz, and seeing this brought back a lot of touching memories. Thanks for this, and showing the beauty of a part of the world not many have heard much of (both the Sächsische Schweiz and Dresden, honestly. Both are truly stunning)

[@UnknownIdentityDE]

Sächsische Schweiz is indeed one of the most beautiful places here in Germany. I couldn't believe it until I've seen it with my own eyes in Summer 2019. Thanks for bringing back those memories

[@jarrad888]

I just discovered your channel Tom and I really, really love the way you carry yourself into your vlogs, love the way you speak, your humour, and the content of your videos itself. I feel so peaceful but also inspired to visit the places you have in. (especially Germany...thinking of visiting to check it out and see if I could come back and live there! ). Love from Australia, J

[@thornton]

Thanks a lot mate! I would love to make more Aussie videos one day

[@hansmitdergans7879]

10:06 I remember this from the Windows 7 Germany wallpaper pack.

[@rr7firefly]

Beautifully captured and edited. And your narration is great. Thank you for sharing this with us. My friend Dagmar took me to the park in 2001. Gorgeous place.

[@audioupgrades]

Thanks for bringing us on this beautiful and relaxing trip.

[@thornton]

It sure was relaxing haha, nothing better than a train pretzel

[@audioupgrades]

@@thornton That reminds me of a question about the pretzels. Are they a signature for your videos or do you eat them all the time?

[@johncrwarner]

I looked at the Sächsische Schweiz which I first saw when travelling from Prague to Dresden and thought of the painting by Caspar David Friedrich called "Der Wanderer über dem Nebelmeer" (in English "The Wanderer above the Sea of Fog") which had been on the cover of a Penguin Classics Nietzsche I think it was his short work "Ecce Homo". and on looking it up Friedrich was in the area and did combine elements from Sächsische Schweiz in the composition.

[@TheHellpoy]

Man! You have to take another trip there visiting the Carolafelsen and the surroundings, that‘s actually the more „alpine“ part!

[@reconquista4011]

Glad you enjoyed your time in Dresden and its surroundings! I'm an American that's been living here for a little over 2 years now and have been enjoying it as well. You should definitely take another short weekend/day trip or two with the Deutschland ticket. I would recommend checking out: Schloss Moritzburg (AKA Cinderella's Castle in Drei Nüsse für Aschenbrödel) Schloss Pilnitz (the ride there is also excellent passing through charming older sections) Lingnerschloss Park and/or Spitzhaus Radebeul (for views of the city) Großer Garten (for the best park in the city) Meißen (the town, the castle and the porcelain museum) Königstein (Sächsiche Schweiz) Hohnstein (take a bus up there, then hike to Brand-Baude Bergrestaurant for an amazing view) Pirna Also, this is completely separate from Dresden, but you need to go see Görlitz! Incredible small town. Those are all my local suggestions, perhaps some of these suggestions interest you! I look forward to more of your videos, there's also still a lot of smaller towns and castle I haven't been to in Saxony and its bordering states; I hope I'll discover something new from you.

[@thornton]

hey, thanks for the suggestions!

[@summersun6536]

@@thornton you can have a great view at the Elbe-valley from the Lingner-Terrassen behind the Lingner castle while drinking having a drink, too. In the evening a lot of cultural events take place at the Lingner-Schloss, too. If you are already there I recommend visiting "Schloss Albrechtsburg" (formerly known as "Pionier Palast"/"Pioneer's Palace" during GDR era) from the inside, too.

[@TommyCrossen]

Very nice vibes! I haven't been to Dresden and the east since I was a teenager. Would love to go back after watching this.

[@davidaarthur]

I'd heard of it before, even seen some photos, but this conveys the appeal much better.

[@peteblueeyes]

Leipzig Hauptbahnhof is easily one of the most beautiful stations in Germany, spending an hour there is definitely not an hour wasted.

[@liorfeld972]

Such a beautiful video, thank you. I just love the settle tone of your videos and your vibe in general, you mange to transfer a genuine sentiment of warmth and serenity. I really enjoy your channel! And yeah, the Die Simpsons part LOL 😆

[@pulz418]

It is really interesting to see that Tom has done exactly the same things compared to when I was there

[@blessingsoutlaw]

Love this! Have been trapped in my house and I love being able to experience autumn via your skill & chill. 🍂

[@MartinBrez]

Last week, I've travelled from Prague to Berlin by train. The route along the Elbe is absolutely stunning. Around the Czech/German border is beautiful. I've done a day trip to Dresden from Prague before. I really want to go back and travel back to this area 👍

[@blabla260]

What a courage, saying out loud in Dresden, that you expected another Leipzig :)

[@bstidd2656]

Brilliant! So glad I found your channel, has me planning more and more trips!

[@thornton]

Awesome! Thank you!

[@Xshunin]

After living here (Dresden) for 11 years now (moved here from lower saxony) I grew quite fond of this state and now having a motorcycle it's even more fun. I've been into Saxon Switzerland a few times now and it's a blast every time! Stumbled across your channel thanks to the algorithm. If you ever need help here, hit me up :) 5:40 probably czech. It's fun to recognise everything you see. I also visited Rathen long ago. I should revisit sometimes!

[@theon__]

13:18 Wich reminds me of a tram in my city when i was a child. All trams are new excapt this one. This was still an old one becous of reasons and i loved traveling with that tram number. So nostalgic to see it again but somwhere else

[@tsurutom]

6:57 ferry-nough, surely? :) Love your videos, such chill vibes.

[@thornton]

This is a good contender, but we have a German-language pun in the comments too that rivals it!

[@SpeedOfTheEarth]

Just discovered your channel from the 49€ Deutschlandticket video, I like your chalm style and dysposition - very relaxing to watch! Btw „Kuhstall“ just means "cow shed/barn".

[@patrickrbx7825]

Going around on the Elbe with a steam boat is just really beautiful

[@WujiErTaiji]

Just got recommended your 24 hour Deutschlandticket video a couple of weeks ago and had a look around your channle. Watching this vdeo again because it finally inspired me to book a hotel in Dresden for a couple of days next month and go on a day trip to Rathen and the Bastei during my stay which I wanted to do for a couple of years now.

[@thornton]

Hey that's awesome! Hope you enjoy it :)

[@nullplan01]

I was there a couple years ago in summer. And while impressive, it was more horrifying then. The view down from Kuhstall was just brown. No green anywhere. The bark bug had hit the forest hard, and they'd had to cut down a lot of trees. The Kirnitzsch valley is supposed to be a dark and spooky place for all the trees, but it was light and sunny when I was there, because of all the tree cutting. Glad to see the place recovered a bit.

[@pinterestringo]

your videos actually make me so happy. they make me realize how lucky I am to live in a place that is so beautiful. Thank you for showing me all these beautiful places i didnt even know existed! Your channel is amazing x

[@thornton]

You've made my day 💙 thank you for taking the time!

[@benphipps6498]

Awesome vid and I appreciate your choice of hoodie too!

[@kwikycz]

You shold also visit one day the Czech part of this national park where the legendary Pravčická brána (gate) is located. Sadly since last summer a big part of the forest burned down, but its growing back

[@kkakkungsoo]

he goes up all those steps and then goes back to get the camera and has to go back up. your hard work is appreciated haha

[@EdwardReadsBooks]

Great as always Tom! Merry Christmas 🎄

[@thornton]

Same to you mate :)

[@PeterAmbos]

I'm from Dresden and went to a working week boarding school near Leipzig and did my vocational training in Leipzig. I've been to the café in the back of the book store so often, and have taken that RE uncountable times over the course of nine years (technically even longer, because visiting my parents from where I now live goes along that route as well), so the first two minutes of that video alone made me nostalgic to the point I got goosebumps and had teary eyes. Also, pedantic German comment: Sächsische Schweiz really is the name! The Landkreis (county/administrative district) of where my mom now lives is literally called "Sächsische Schweiz/Osterzgebirge" (Saxon Switzerland/Eastern Ore Mountains).

[@ulrichfeige6498]

Lovele video. Thank you very much. P.S.: Kuhstall = stable for thecows; up there you should not miss the "Himmelsleiter", a flight of stairs up the rocks with a marvellous view as a reward.

[@thornton]

Good to know! Really glad you liked it :)

[@Cobbmtngirl]

Pretty cool overlook. But definitely not Grand Canyonish. Pretty cool national park in general! I’ll have to try & see it next time I go to Switzerland. Ty!

[@Brauiz90]

In this video you took the same trip I took every weekend from September 2006 to June 2009 - I lived close to Leipzig and went to Pirna for my job education. Watching your video is a bit like coming home.

[@timor64]

When Germany was divided the Sächsischer Sweitz was "world famous in the DDR" to coin a phrase. Actually well known in West Berlin too from where locals (but not foreigners) could do a day trip. It's absolutely beautiful, and living in Leipzig its a no brainer for you. Superb video as always!

[@wohlhabendermanager]

Great content. It's always nice to see Germany through the eyes of someone with a different background (ie, not being brought up in Germany, so you still have an outsider perspective of some sorts, even if you live in Germany now). We've got a lot of places called "Name of the Area Schweiz". I've been to the Fränkische Schweiz once, for example. Wikipedia says there are at least 105 places with the suffix "Schweiz" in Germany. And yes, it's more like a marketing gag than anything else. Dürenmatt once said "Die Welt wird entweder untergehen oder verschweizern," the world is either going to end or being made into Switzerland.

[@oslargotte7945]

There's a couple of Schweizes in Germany like Fränkische Schweiz and Märkische Schweiz, which spouts mountains up to 150m over sea level. Still not sure whether it was tongue in cheek, or just using Schweiz as synonym for a hilly region. All of those regions have the most drastic elevation changes (gorges etc) in the surrounding area (like 200km radius)

[@alfigel2567]

Hi Tom, thank you for your video! 5:40 All the other people on your train were probably going to the last stop of the line Schöna to take the ferry to Hřensko (Czechia) for cheap alcohol and cigarettes. 13:45 The Lichtenhain waterfall has got a pushable weir. That's why it wasn't that expressive. You can pay a small amount of money, around 1 Euro, and they'll pull the trigger.😅

[@thornton]

Ohhh right, I didn’t know that about the waterfall!

[@eprohoda]

Tom- like it- you shaared nice video, )

[@Roselysium]

I'm like, super late to commenting on this video but man did this bring back some beautiful memories! My sister lived in Dresden when I was growing up (and my Mum used to live in Dresden back when it was still part of the DDR) and they took me to see the Sächsische Schweiz when I was like 14 or so. Pretty sure we took a ferry, or a steam boat or something like that down the Elbe to get there! If they still offer those I can totally recommend it!! Back then I definitely didn't appreciate the beauty of this national forest (being a moody teenager) and now, 13 years later this video popped up in my recommended and really makes me want to go back and visit it sometime. Your channel is wonderful and definitely sparks that sort of Wanderlust that I would get from watching channels like "Abroad in Japan", just for my own country. Knowing that I can ACTUALLY go and see all of these marvelous places without having to travel across the world is... so comforting in a way. Anyways, thank you for making the videos you make and I hope you're having a good weekend!

[@salzstreuer8065]

Awesome video, one similar location I can only recommend in bavaria is the Altmühltal, not very touristy on weekdays and if youre into camping you can sleep at 5-20 Euros per night

[@thornton]

Thanks for the tips!

[@JM.5387]

This looks a lot like Garden of the Gods in Shawnee National Forest, Southern Illinois.

[@frankiewildish4471]

The train station bookstore is so cute xox

[@thornton]

It’s a special one, we can go when you visit

[@theon__]

3:56 Ah the typical german Vesper (Veschper pronounced) as we say in Baden Württemberg. Like it

[@Johnnysunami]

Merry Christmas Tom. ✨

[@thornton]

And you John 🎄

[@destumdestum]

Thanks for these videos. They're nice. You're nice.

[@thornton]

Glad you like them!

[@icannotbeseen]

I went there when I was 9. I barely remember anything except that a wasp stung me and that I was scared on the ferry. 10/10 Also Nationalpark Unteres Odertal next! it's not nearly that impressive because it's all flat. I just want to see someone explore it because I'm too lazy to go do it myself

[@V0r4xiz]

The word Schweiz does not only refer to the country of Switzerland. In German, the term "Schweiz" refers to the "the highest region within a mountain range" meaning the highest peaks and platformed areas within a "Gebirge". The Sächsische Schweiz is called that because that part is the highest elevated region of the Erzgebirge (Ore Mountains). Technically, every mountain range has a Schweiz but it's rarely used in common German and most people don't know that that's what it means.

[@tdb7992]

The rock formations remind me a lot of the Blue Mountains near Sydney in Australia. If you google the "three sisters", you will see a rock formation incredibly similar to the formation at 8:41. Germany is such a beautiful country - I am a big lover of hiking and Germany, so I will make sure I visit next time I am in Europe. Thank you for the great video. Your efforts are appreciated, mate.

[@jenshoefer7944]

Both are very similar sandstone formations indeed. I've been often to Australia and blue mountains are one my favourite spots there for hiking and camping

[@beyondthecircles1]

"Fähr' enough" (just a little german "Wortspiel" for you)

[@rockerjim8045]

I haven’t seen all of your videos. If you want a great day out checkout the steam train up Mount Brocken in the Harz mountains. You will not be disappointed

[@thornton]

Thanks for the tip!

[@agn855]

Part of that trip (I guess you can take the train from there too) should be a visit to *Quedlinburg* an amazing historic town. Have phun!

[@rockerjim8045]

@@thorntonadditionally I recommend Colditz Castle. Once the most famous Prisoner of War site in WW2 now the best Youth Hostel in the world. I stayed there and we were the only guests. The manager gave us the key to the main 15ft high gates. We got back at midnight after a few drinks in town to let us in. That key would have been priceless in 1944.

[@---lj8lp]

Great vid!

[@thornton]

Thanks!

[@Pseudynom]

I didn't realize you live in Leipzig. I'd recommend doing a Free Walking Tour here. I did one 4 years after I moved here.

[@singenstattatmen5096]

Sächsische Schweiz was the first place I ever want trekking proper (bought my shoes in Bad Schandau too lol), and I went solo. Went back a year later with a couple of friends to see some new bits and some other bits again, the region is just so gorgeous. The "Raubschloss" (or Winterstein) is my favourite bit, as well as the Affensteine. Just breathtakingly beautiful. ❤

[@henningbartels6245]

Saxon Switzerland is not a secret and he actually chose THE touristic hot spot of the area which can be easily overrun on a weekend with nice weather. there are so many hiking paths in the area. So it could be wice to choose a not quite so popular route. Schrammsteine would be also popular but really nice.

[@gigiamharic468]

nice haircut and footage

[@theon__]

5:15 Brezeln are very nice but sadly the more north you go the lower the qualety is if they had one. Sad but true

[@theon__]

4:31 Ok thats a nice one ^^

[@sniggles05]

I was born in this Region.

[@Geldzerstaeuber]

you are welcome

[@theon__]

6:56 Yes they could be a bridge but welcome to germany were we want to do the easiest things as fancy and complicated as Humanety can imagine and eaven more than that xD

[@sriparnabhowmick8679]

can this entire thing be done in December during christmas?

[@agn855]

That whole region is amazing. But not that secret. And, BTw, there are other areas in Germany that are labeled _" Schweiz"_ Sad fact, one of my partners family members died falling from one of these rock towers. May she rest in Peace.

[@budapestkeletistationvoices]

❤

[@mixerman1078]

Just learn to say Drayz-den instead of Dressden. Then you'll be ok! Nice area to explore for sure.

[@fbdasjkwlsdgbhngvbhnvsjlk]

Die Simpsons🥰

[@theon__]

Why is it called Sächsische Schweiz? I heared things about it and hm its nothing like Swizerland. I mean i was in Swizerland and how they describe the part in germany its not eaven close to that. No hate but for me as a german it looks more like the Child of Peru, Germany and China. Ok maby a little bit of New Zeland is in xD

[@marcizagyva6553]

9:51 More like: german meteora

[@thornton]

Ok now that's actually true

[@theon__]

14:14 Thats right Kuh = Cow

[@theon__]

9:58 Hm thats only becous they never visit real Canyon like things in germany . Ok its top 10 but not the canyon to call it german grand canyon. Sorry but typical americans. They instant compare things to things in there country eaven if its not eaven close to what they comparing it

[@chiara161]

Rly like ur videos but u rly gotta stop calling it east/west germany. Its united for 33 years now

[@marianesantana9504]

I think it’s a tiny Christ the redeemer 🤏🏻 haha