Königstein Fortress, Saxon Switzerland, Germany Feb 1, 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

Feb 1, 2024Sassnitz lighthouse, Germany

More Desktop Wallpapers:

Dec 10, 2025Castle of Rocca Calascio, Italy
Oct 6, 2025Anshun Bridge, Chengdu, China
Jun 26, 2025Horse Head Rock, New South Wales, Australia
Jul 21, 2025Staghorn coral in shallow ocean
Jul 30, 2025Ribadesella, Asturias, Spain
Dec 11, 2023Huangshan Mountains, China
Sep 27, 2025Tank Lakes, Alpine Lakes Wilderness, Washington, United States
Dec 10, 2023Llyn Padarn lake, Snowdonia, Wales
Dec 27, 2024Lake Bled, Slovenia
Dec 12, 2023Poinsettias
Oct 13, 2024Royal Alcázar of Seville, Spain
May 1, 2024Hawaiian lei flower garlands
May 20, 2025Honey bee on lavender flowers
Mar 26, 2024Vinh Hy Bay, Vietnam
Feb 24, 2025Giant cuttlefish, Whyalla, South Australia, Australia
Jan 26, 2024Northern hawk-owl
Nov 11, 2024Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada
Dec 13, 2023Svolvaer, Lofoten Islands, Norway
Sep 8, 2024Abbey of Saint-Martin-du-Canigou
Jun 15, 2025Lesser rheas, Torres del Paine National Park, Patagonia, Chile
Sep 23, 2024Sea otter, Alaska, USA
Apr 25, 2024Adélie penguins, Antarctica
Jun 7, 2024Family of humpback whales, Dutch Harbour, Alaska
Jun 6, 2025Common pheasant, Normandy, France
Mar 23, 2025Lightning and storm clouds at sunset near Bowman, Nebraska, United States
Aug 1, 2025Royal Mile, Edinburgh, Scotland
Dec 13, 2025Merced River, Yosemite National Park, California, United States
Dec 1, 2023Jasper National Park, Canada
Aug 24, 2024Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument, USA
Dec 31, 2024Fireworks over Parliament Hill, Ottawa, Canada