natural wonder
Bastei Bridge
A spectacular sandstone bridge spanning jagged rock pillars 194 metres above the Elbe in Saxon Switzerland National Park.
29 km · about 35 min drive
EuropeGermanySaxony
Elstra
Saxony, Germany · Europe
About Elstra
Elstra is worth a stop: 10 minutes from Panschwitz-Kuckau, 29km from Bastei Bridge.
Elstra is in Saxony, Germany, with about 3,200 people. You drive on the right here. The nearest town is Panschwitz-Kuckau, about 5 km away.
Elstra (German, pronounced [ˈɛlstʁaː] ) or Halštrow (Upper Sorbian, pronounced [ˈhalʃtʁɔf]) is a town in the district of Bautzen, in Saxony, Germany. It is situated on the river Schwarze Elster, 6 kilometres southeast of Kamenz, and 34 kilometres northeast of Dresden. The name "Elstra" stems from the river SchwarzeRead more
Elster, which rises in the district Kindisch.
The city has only about 2,000 citizens and is one of the smallest cities in Germany. The whole municipality has 2,807 citizens (in 2016). It is part of the officially recognized Sorbian settlement area.
Due to the town name's similarity to the word "Elster" (German for magpie), magpies are often used in the town's self-identity.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to see near Elstra?
Within an hour or so of Elstra: Bastei Bridge (29 km), Moritzburg Castle (32 km), Frauenkirche Dresden (33 km), Zwinger Palace (33 km).
Where is Elstra?
Elstra is in Saxony, Germany, about 5 km from Panschwitz-Kuckau.
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Quick Information
- Population
- 3,176
- Continent
- Europe
- Country
- Germany
- Region
- Saxony
- Timezone
- Europe/Berlin
- Coordinates
- 51.2217, 14.1320
Emergency & Services
Essential numbers in Germany
ADAC roadside assistance: +49 89 22 22 22. No general speed limit on some autobahn sections but advisory 130 km/h.
Full driving guide for GermanyTags
Worth the detour from Elstra
8 notable places within an hour's drive.
castle
Moritzburg Castle
A symmetrical baroque hunting palace rising from its own lake near Dresden, famous as a Cinderella film location.
32 km · about 35 min drive
cathedral
Frauenkirche Dresden
A baroque Lutheran church meticulously rebuilt after its destruction in World War II, symbolizing reconciliation.
33 km · about 40 min drive
museum
Zwinger Palace
A masterpiece of Baroque architecture in Dresden, housing the Old Masters Picture Gallery with works by Raphael and Vermeer.
33 km · about 40 min drive
national park
Saxon Switzerland National Park
A surreal landscape of eroded sandstone pillars, arches, and mesas along the Elbe, beloved by rock climbers and landscape painters.
34 km · about 40 min drive
castle
Königstein Fortress
A vast hilltop fortress on a sandstone plateau above the Elbe, with ramparts offering panoramic views over Saxon Switzerland.
34 km · about 40 min drive
racetrack
Lausitzring
High-banked oval and grand prix circuit in the Lusatian lignite country, once host to CART and DTM and now the DEKRA test arena: one of Europe's only American-style superspeedways.
38 km · about 45 min drive
natural wonder
Pravčická Gate
The largest natural sandstone arch in Europe, standing majestically in the heart of Bohemian Switzerland National Park.
39 km · about 45 min drive
Driving roads near Elstra
- 50 kmRakotzbrückeA fairy-tale 'Devil's Bridge' whose arch forms a perfect circle with its reflection in Kromlau's rhododendron park.
Driving in Germany
- Drives on
- the right
- Petrol
- ~€1.78/litre
- Motorway tolls
- None
When to drive here
April to October
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