Königstein Fortress, Saxon Switzerland, Germany 1 Feb 2025

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

More Desktop Wallpapers:

The Old Bridge, reborn
5 Mar 2024Bangkok, Thailand
20 May 2025World Bee Day
10 Feb 2025Art installation of umbrellas, Borough Market, London, England
19 Mar 2025A black heron canopy hunting in Botswana
Perfect day for a ride
26 Aug 2025Trullo buildings in Alberobello, Apulia, Italy
High above the Aegean Sea
5 Mar 2025Khao Sok National Park in Thailand
19 Oct 2023Mekong River Delta, Long An, Vietnam
30 May 2025Little Pigeon River, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, United States
8 Jan 2025Great Wall of China
A kiss and a sigh
3 May 2025Happy International Astronomy Day!
28 Feb 2025Tibetan New Year
9 Nov 2024Aït Benhaddou, Morocco
17 Jul 2024Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Bavaria, Germany
10 Sep 2025Hay bales in North Yorkshire, England
26 Nov 2024Celebrating World Olive Tree Day
15 Dec 2023SantaPark, Lapland, Finland
A bridge that holds up history
Remember, remember…
22 Feb 2025Gateway Arch in St Louis, Missouri, United States
20 Jul 2024International Moon Day
25 Sep 2024Sequoia National Park, California, USA
Where are these spectacular peaks?
15 Aug 2024Hang Sơn Đoòng, Phong Nha-Kẻ Bàng National Park, Vietnam
Sep 6, 2023Rethymno, Crete, Greece
Clouds dance above Sundance
Magnificent moss, magnified