Inspiring-romantic Saxony
Over and over again, Friedrich was drawn out of the city on extended hiking tours in the surrounding area. In his day, people still went hiking elegantly in a frock coat and with a wooden stick. Since then, our hiking clothing has gradually evolved into technically sophisticated multifunctional equipment, but a hike in Caspar David Friedrich's footsteps should still leave you with a feeling of romanticism. We'll share with you where Friedrich found his inspiration.
Saxon Switzerland
Friedrich is said to have undertaken his first hike through Saxon Switzerland in 1799, one year after his arrival in Dresden.
If you are visiting the Elbe Sandstone Mountains, a hike along the Caspar David Friedrich Trail is well worthwhile. From Krippen you walk to the Kaiserkrone, to the Wolfsberg and then over the Krippenberg back to the starting point. The approximately 14-kilometre route is marked with information boards about the artist's life and work.
Art tip: As part of the anniversary year 2024, a particularly large number of drawing and painting courses are being offered in Saxon Switzerland. Bring the unique landscape to the canvas and encounter nature and yourself.
Zittau Mountains
The Zittau Mountains may be the smallest mountain range in Germany in terms of surface area, but they have a lot to offer.
Friedrich was actually on his way to the Giant Mountains when he came across the castle and monastery ruins of Oybin in this landscape. The ruins, which had been destroyed by lightning, had been a popular subject for landscape painters since the 18th century. The place gained further popularity during the Romantic period - no wonder, as the castle hill offers a marvellous view of the Zittau region.
Friedrich produced sketches and later the paintings "The Dreamer" and "Hutten's Grave".
Tip: The ruins of the monastery church are not only beautiful to paint, but also offer wonderful acoustics. Attend a concert and absorb the atmosphere.
Dresden Elbland
The painting "The Great Enclosure", painted in 1832, is one of Friedrich's late works. While the sky glows from pastel blue to orange, the view opens up across the Elbe into the tranquil landscape of the Ostragehege near Übigau.
Böhmische Schweiz
Admittedly, Bohemian Switzerland is not located in Saxony, but in the Czech Republic. However, if you climb the rocks in Saxon Switzerland, striking Bohemian peaks such as Rosenberg and Kaltenberg are often part of the panorama.
Friedrich was apparently so fascinated by these two mountains that he undertook a multi-day hike to the Pravčice Gate region. This enabled him to take a closer look at the elevations. The silhouette of the Rosenberg can be recognised in the paintings "Mountain Landscape with Rainbow" and "The Wanderer above the Sea of Fog".
If you go travelling in Saxony, you will inevitably pass numerous castles, fortresses, monasteries and churches. This was also the case for Friedrich, who - like many Romantics - had a keen interest in the Middle Ages. His fascination for historic buildings and their ruins can be seen in many of his works. The following is a selection of Saxon monuments that have been proven to have inspired Friedrich's works of art.
Hohnstein Castle
Hohnstein Castle towers on a rocky spur above the Elbe valley, not far from the Bastei. With its museum, views, hostel and events, the almost 700-year-old castle not only attracts many visitors today, but also fascinated Friedrich.
In the summer of 1800, the artist sketched the gateway to the castle. He certainly didn't miss out on the unique view of the sandstone cliffs of Saxon Switzerland during his visit.
Travel tip: Hohnstein Castle is located directly on the Malerweg. On a multi-day hiking tour along the Malerweg, you will discover numerous other places that served as a source of inspiration for Friedrich. These include, for example, the Uttewald rock gate and the Bastei area.
Stolpen Castle
Another romantic scene is located to the north of Saxon Switzerland: Stolpen Castle. Friedrich visited it in 1820 and of course also sketched it. The drawings document the traces of its destruction by Napoleonic troops. Take a moment in the "Romantic Corner" and compare Friedrich's sketch with the original motif.
Anniversary tips: The special exhibition "Between Heaven and Earth. Two Men in Conversation - An Approach to Caspar David Friedrich" is dedicated to the silhouettes and figures of Friedrich's works in an entertaining way. Philosophise about whether or what these people might have talked about.
from 22 June to 4 August 2024
Concert tip: The TWORNA trio gives a concert at Stolpen Castle - all in the spirit of Caspar David Friedrich.
on 26 October 2024
Heilig Kreuz Monastery near Meissen
Around 1824, Friedrich made a sketch of Heilig Kreuz Monastery, located north of Meissen, entitled "View from the Chapter House".
The sketch was later used as the basis for a small-format oil painting "Gate Entrance in Meissen", which can be admired in Dresden's Albertinum. The sketch is kept in the Kupferstich-Kabinett in Dresden Castle.
Nossen Castle & Altzella Monastery
In 1799, Friedrich visited Nossen Castle and made a drawing of the building and its immediate surroundings.
He seems to have liked the area so much that Friedrich returned there in 1800. This time he visited Altzella Monastery and sketched its wine cellar, the bulk building and the ruins of the summer dining hall. The remains of this hall must have particularly inspired him: 30 years later, Friedrich created the painting "Ruinen im Walde" (Ruins in the Forest) based on his sketches.
Exhibitions, monuments, memorial sites
Friedrich created his own monuments with his works of art. In Saxony's exhibitions you will find a large number of his pieces and those of his contemporaries. You can also visit other places and monuments that were created in honour of Friedrich.
Chemnitz Art Collections
The Chemnitz Art Collections have countless works of Dresden Romanticism to offer, including Friedrich's drawing "The Harpist" and his painting "Sailing Ship".
However, the latter is currently "travelling" as part of the anniversary year and will be exhibited in the special exhibitions on Caspar David Friedrich in Berlin and Dresden. The piece is expected to return to the art collections on Theatre Square in Chemnitz at the beginning of 2025.
Museum of Fine Arts Leipzig
Founded in 1858 on the initiative of the Leipzig Art Association, the Museum of Fine Arts Leipzig today has one of the largest art collections in Germany. Among other things, it houses five drawings and three paintings by Friedrich, such as "The Stages of Life".
However, a little patience is still required: the three key pieces are currently presented in Berlin but should be back in Leipzig by the turn of August/September 2024.
Nevertheless, a visit to the permanent exhibition at the Museum of Fine Arts is already worthwhile: admire the works of Friedrich's contemporaries and immerse yourself in the world of Romanticism.
Dresden State Art Collections
With 14 paintings, 70 drawings and a sketchbook, Dresden has one of the most extensive collections of Friedrich's works. In the Albertinum, right next to the Academy of Fine Arts, you will also find works by Friedrich's good friend Carl Gustav Carus, by Ernst Friedrich Oehme and Ludwig Richter.
By the way: You can add a visit to the Albertinum to your hiking trip on the Malerweg with AugustusTours as part of our "ArtPLUS: Caspar David Friedrich" experience module.
Anniversary tip: Temporary exhibition "Caspar David Friedrich. Where it all began"
Kupferstichkabinett: from 24 August 2024 to 17 November 2024
Albertinum: from 24 August 2024 to 5 January 2025
Caspar David Friedrich - memorial sites
The artist's gravesite is still preserved and is being redesigned to mark the 250th anniversary of his birth. It is located in Dresden's Trinitatisfriedhof cemetery, whose entrance portal can be recognised in the painting "The Cemetery". Friedrich painted the work in 1825. Today it is on display in the Albertinum.
On your way to the Albertinum, you should not miss the Caspar David Friedrich monument in Brühl's Garden. It was designed by Wolf Eike Kuntsche in 1990.
A wayside column in honour of Caspar David Friedrich can be found at the start of the Caspar David Friedrich Trail in Krippen. The artist spent several summer weeks there in 1813. The stele was erected on the initiative of local history and art enthusiasts.