Location: Meissen
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What to do and see in Meissen, Germany: The Best Places and Tips
Meissen (in German orthography: Meißen, IPA: [ˈmaɪsn̩]) is a town of approximately 30,000 about 25 km (16 mi) northwest of Dresden on both banks of the Elbe river in the Free State of Saxony, in eastern Germany. Meissen is the home of Meissen porcelain, the Albrechtsburg castle, the Gothic Meissen Cathedral and the Meissen Frauenkirche. The Große Kreisstadt is the capital of the Meissen district.
Restaurants in Meissen
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 304 reviews
Reviewed By Janulik - Prague, Czech Republic
When you walk from the city centre towards the Cathedral you generally end up inside the castle walls. We didn't go inside as it was shut due to winter but admired many lovely buildings and the views from the top, not to be missed.
2. Meissen Porcelain Manufactory
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 467 reviews
MEISSEN is the first Porcelain Manufactory in Europe. Since the establishment in 1710, the Manufactory stands for passion, extraordinary and indeed unique craftsmanship. The World of Experience is to be found not far from Dresden at House of MEISSEN®, where the world famous Meissen Porcelain® is brought to life at the demonstration workshops and the museum of Meissen Porzellan-Stiftung. The World of Experience combines artworks from the past and present, luxury shopping and delicacies at Café & restaurant MEISSEN® - served on Meissen Porcelain®.
Reviewed By MBKOKent - Maidstone, United Kingdom
Just like other recent reviews this tour of the Meissen building included a fascinating demonstration of making China by hand. Some amazing pieces on show. No wonder Meissen is so expensive. Some may think the China only appeals to ladies. Yes my wife loved it but so did I unusually. As with reviewer JuneFox we were on a River Elbe cruise from Prague to Berlin.
3. Dom Zu Meissen (Meissen Cathedral)
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 198 reviews
Reviewed By Janulik - Prague, Czech Republic
The main church was built between 1260 and 1410 in Gothic style by the Catholic Church. The two steeples weren't added until 1909, despite they are not that old they do look old and very beautiful. Since 1581 due to Protestant Reformation the church became Lutheran.
4. Historische Altstadt
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 71 reviews
Reviewed By Sue_at_folly - Soham, United Kingdom
Meissen Altstadt is a lovely old city, which is best seen on foot. A self-guided tour leaflet is available from the Tourist Information Centre. The walk takes you from the Rathaus square with its amazing Baroque houses, past the Frauenkirche and the oldest restaurant in Europe, up to the Dom and the Schloss at the top, with parts of the old city gates, the "alphabet stone" and numbers of interesting old buildings on the way. At the top, you can admire the stunning views and get a well-earned beer at one of the cafes.
5. Frauenkirche
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 62 reviews
Reviewed By Alex_almaty - Almaty, Kazakhstan
We lived in the hotel beside the Frauenkirche. Church's bells made of Meissen porcelain. Bells ring every 15 minutes, and 4 times a day they play different music, it sounds unbelievable! You can find timetable of the music in the internet. I was really happy to stay so close to this church and listen the music, the sound of porcelain bells is not so loud. As I know, if you step up to the top of the church, you'll see a great view, but the church had been closed when we come.
6. Meissen Porzellan Manufaktur & Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 46 reviews
Reviewed By worleybird98 - Hudson, Ohio
We were on our way to Dresden from Berlin, and wanted a quick stop to see how this porcelain was made. We found the store front very easily, but their parking is down the street farther than you would think - to the point where we weren't positive at first if that was their lot or not. But we went ahead and parked and walked the few blocks back to the front entrance. This is a lot that you have to pay for - they have a machine that you put your money in that validates the ticket. This is a very pretty town so the walk was very scenic. Once inside you could stroll around and see the store and displays, or pay to see the demonstration. We paid, and had the whole conversation in English with the ticket seller, then went through the store to look at all the designs. Some are very bold and intricate, some are very simple. The large, life-size, female figurine has something like 8,000 individually made blossoms on the dress. Meissen has produced a new line of "everyday" dishwasher safe set based on these blossoms that was very pretty. The coffee cups in the line can come very sleek or with a single blossom at the bottom of the handle which I really liked. One of the salespeople, Antje, was extremely nice to us. She went out of her way to show us the Royal Blossom line and explain the design elements of it. She really made the stop worthwhile. After speaking to her (in English), and then going to the back to get in line for the tour (and speaking to that person in English) we go in to the first of three artisans. A recording starts IN GERMAN and as it goes along the artisan points to the things they are apparently referencing in the audio. Despite not speaking German, we could relatively follow along. Then we move on to room 2 and the same routine starts again. In room 3 we greeted the artisan (as we had done in each room) and as she goes to start the recording she looks at us and asks if we speak German. We say no, we don't. Then she asks why we don't have the audio headsets that translate everything! I was really ticked when I found this out - at this point we've missed 3/4'ths of the tour, and because it was really obvious that we didn't speak German as we spoke to everyone we dealt with in English. She then went out and got us the headsets which at least helped us understand what she was doing. So if you go - make sure you ask for the headsets!
There is an outlet area with lower priced items, but the selection there is limited. I wish I had bought some of the Royal Blossom while there - it was so pretty, and I'm sure it will be hard to find here! Oh well - guess I need to go back!
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 15 reviews
Reviewed By Yulia Z
Почему был выбран именно Майсен?!
Помните фильм «Семнадцать мгновений весны»?! «Он (профессор Плейшнер) шел на конспиративную квартиру, адрес которой ему дал Штирлиц, по пустынной улице» (цит. Юлиан Семенов). Очередной просмотр фильма натолкнул на мысль съездить в Майсен (именно тут снимались сцены из фильма), раз уж на майские собрались на Берлин! на Рейхстаг!
Майсен (Meißen) — город в Саксонии, с тысячелетней историей, расположенный в долине рек Эльбы и Трибиш, у подножия горы Бурберг. Майсен именуют также: «Колыбель Саксонии».
Всего в 25 км от Дрездена, славится историческим центром города, фарфором и винным ландшафтом долины Эльбы.
Майсен один из самых красивых городов Германии, который не пострадал во время бомбежек.
Overall Ratings
4 based on 13 reviews
Reviewed By Janulik - Prague, Czech Republic
The town hall is at the Markt so you can't miss it. It's a pretty building but as we have seen it only from the outside I can't say how it looks inside. Good for a quick photo on your way to the castle.
9. Kleine Hoftheater Meissen
Overall Ratings
4 based on 6 reviews
Reviewed By nadnn - Moscow, Russia
Это удивительное место. Переходя из комнаты в комнату, видеть, как под руками обычных мастеров рождается чудо мейсенского фарфора. Все начинается с материала, а заканчивается великолепными произведениями. Особенно впечатлил процесс изготовления цветов.
10. St. Afra Kirche
Overall Ratings
4 based on 4 reviews
The pulpit and the baroque carved altar were created by Valentin Otte (around 1660). The Martinsaltar is on the west wall of the Afrakirche. The early baroque portal on the south side was built around 1670. The vestibule with the rich cell vault comes from the late Gothic period. The Schleinitzkapelle is a funeral chapel. Here are tombstones from the Gothic era and epitaphs from the Renaissance.
Reviewed By Mike C - Bryan, Texas
Other reviewers' ratings are overly harsh, I think. As one mentioned, at first it seems bare, but when you stand inside quietly, the internal beauty seems to emanate from the simplicity. So man cathedrals are gaudy. This one is not; it is tastefully adorned in a manner that is reverent and respectful of God's Son. Contrary to other reviews, I find the St. Afra Kirche to be quite attractive. It's location is so peaceful. Other photos do no justice to this place of worship. Mine do. Take a look. On the outside she is plain, but on the inside she is beautiful. I've known ladies like that.
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