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
1 Feb 2026Colourful house in Olinda, Pernambuco, Brazil

More Desktop Wallpapers:

12 Oct 2024World Migratory Bird Day
12 Jul 2026Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument, Maine, United States
13 Jul 2025International Rock Day
8 Dec 2024Notre-Dame reopens
5 Nov 2023Guy Fawkes Night
11 Apr 2026Papagayo Beach, Lanzarote, Canary Islands, Spain
Aug 24, 2023Shark Fin Cove, California
3 Jan 2024J.R.R. Tolkien Day
22 Feb 2024Bathing boxes at Brighton Beach, Australia
28 Nov 2025Val Brandet, Corteno Golgi, Brescia, Lombardy, Italy
9 May 2024Tulips at Emirgan Park in Istanbul, Türkiye
9 Sep 2025Eurasian red squirrel, Switzerland
7 Oct 2023Katmai National Park, Alaska, USA
How can we help at-risk animals?
Reflecting on Christmas
13 Oct 2023Vieste, Apulia, Italy
12 Aug 2025World Elephant Day
29 Mar 2025Superbloom in Carrizo Plain National Monument, California, United States
21 Sep 2024Oktoberfest, Munich, Germany
9 Sep 2024Iguazu Falls at the border of Argentina and Brazil
16 May 2025Endangered Species Day
A legendary islet
20 Jun 2025Maasai giraffe mother with calf in the Serengeti, Tanzania
16 Feb 2025Happy World Whale Day!
7 Oct 2025Autumn colours below Mount Sneffels near Ridgway, Colorado, United States
International Nurses Day
12 Aug 2024World Elephant Day
28 May 2024The Monastery of Roussanou, Greece
Babbling on and on
Night outside the museum