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Pirna is the beautiful gateway to the Elbe Sandstone Mountains. This attractive town on the Elbe River fascinated Canaletto, who painted Pirna and thereby put the town on the same level as Dresden, Warsaw, Vienna and Rome. In those days, Pirna was one of the richest towns in Saxony. The townscapes that Canaletto painted are still easy to recognize. To a large extent, the town looks the same, with its artistic patricians' houses, plastered alleys and crooked courtyards. The town hall on the middle of the market- place has been reconstructed several times but dates back to the late Gothic period. The conspicuous gables of the Canaletto House are also from this time. Slightly in the background is St Mary's Church (St. Marien), which dates back to Pirna's heyday and is one of the most beautiful nave churches in Saxony. Near this is the Erlenpeter Fountain, one of many in the town. Above the town is the former fortress of Sonnenstein. It was here in 1811 that Germany's first home for the mentally ill was opened, which was later abused by the Nazis for their euthanasia program. This is commemorated on a memorial. A German- Czech high-school on the site is now making an important contribution to international understanding. Not far from Pirna is another fortress, Konigstein. Erected high up on one of the table mountains typical of this sandstone area, it was never taken by an enemy. From here, visitors have the best views of Saxon Switzerland. In the Kasematten restaurant, connoisseurs can go on an exciting culinary trip through the centuries. Even if sandstone no longer makes Pirna rich, there is still demand for the noble building material. In some buildings there is more Pirna than you think.