Colditz- Bautzen

A morning of catching up with some of the chores. It was always going to be a slow day but in the end we traveled quite a distance - now only 59 km from the Polish border. 

Once we started we again found that the countryside is very pictureque, abounding in lush crops and forests. We crossed into Saxony, arriving at our lunch destination, Colditz. 

Hilton, Helene and Colditz. 

Colditz is famed for its Schloss - in particular for the daring stories of escape during WWII. We stopped for lunch and then went for a wander to the castle to put a face to the stories. The castle over the years has had a very checked history. It was burnt down twice in the Middle Ages, used as a poor house in the 19th century, as an asylum in the 20th century and as a prisoner of war establishment during WWII. 

Colditz Schloss perched high above the town. 

The causeway to the main entrance of Colditz. 

Lucas Cranach's painting with Colditz Castle in the top left hand corner.

We admired some of the paintings and drawings done by a British officer who spent part of the war here, he captured many of the day to day experiences of the men.

John Wattin's illustration on the wall of his cell. 

William Anderson's rain, winter and Spring show.

We later returned to Hilton and continued in to the delightful town of Bautzen for our overnight stop. 

An evening view of the old town of Bautzen.