Friedrich Trail in Saxon Switzerland like new

To mark the 250th birthday of German Romantic artist Caspar David Friedrich (1774-1840), the hiking trail named after him is being rediscovered in Saxon Switzerland. The revised 15-kilometre route near Krippen was officially opened on Monday. It follows historical paths on which the artist demonstrably or probably found and drew many motifs. These include sketches from which he later drew for his famous paintings "Wanderer above the Sea of Fog" and "Two Men Contemplating the Moon", but in a completely different composition. The trail has 12 stations that provide information about views, landscape, rock, tree and forest studies and link the location to Friedrich's works. There is also a 13th plaque directly on the Elbe Cycle Path with a motif often drawn by the artist.

According to the Saxon Switzerland Tourism Association, the trail, which has existed since 2001, has been extended to include a section and new views. Among other things, around 150 dead spruce trees were removed, sections were cleared, a picnic area was created and 75 signposts were installed. Part of the Caspar David Friedrich Trail has been joined with the Elbe Sandstone Mountains Painters' Trail. It thus offers the opportunity to discover authentic places of inspiration of German Romanticism and the unique combination of art history and nature experience. The signs point out prominent elevations, isolated boulders or wooded rocky outcrops.