Dresden - wonderful “Florence on the Elbe”: Dresden and part of the Elbe Valley have been a World Heritage site since 2004. And if you have ever been here, you will know why. Dresden’s historic centre with the Church of Our Lady, the Palace, the Zwinger and the Semper Opera House - just a few minutes’ drive away from your holiday flat - is worth the trip on its own. The Innere Neustadt district to the north of the Elbe boasts splendidly renovated baroque houses with large internal courtyards, whilst Äußere Neustadt with its numerous Wilhelmenian structures is a sort of Saxon Soho with no end of nightlife and pubs for all tastes. But there is also some impressive recent architecture such as the Jewish Synagogue or Volkswagen’s “transparent factory” to be viewed. Further afield, Meissen beckons with Albrechtsburg Castle and the Porcelain Manufactory, Moritzburg is home to a water palace and animal sanctuary, whilst Pillnitz Palace and its grounds can be reached by paddle steamer.

Cultural cornucopia:: The Semper Opera House and Staatsschauspiel Theatre rank with the best of their kind in Germany. Dresden’s Art Collections are amongst the most momentous in the world. A total of 12 establishments cover a cultural spectrum beyond compare. Amongst them are the Old Masters Art Gallery, the Green Vault, the Collection of Prints and Drawings, the Porcelain Collection and the Salon of Mathematics and Physics. In a similar vein, the open-air film shows and concerts held by the Elbe on summer evenings are unforgettable experiences. In summer there’s the Elbe Hills Festival and the City Festival to look forward to, in winter the Striezelmarkt Christmas fair. The Dresden Music Festival attracts around 100,000 music-lovers a year, whilst tickets for the International Dixieland Festival in May sell like hot cakes. Alternative guided tours on a range of themes offer a different take on the city.

Sport and leisure - there’s something for everyone: Nordic walking and jogging are popular pastimes in the “Grosse Garten”, a vast swathe of unspoilt nature in the city centre. The Elbe Cycleway provides the wherewithal for tours great and small, with frequent opportunities for returning by suburban train along the way. Bikes can be hired in the city. Bathing is possible at various open-air pools and natural lakes. Saxon Switzerland is a striking rocky area traversed by myriad hiking routes - some straightforward, some rather less so – and providing some spectacular views. Climbing and mountaineering of varying degrees of difficulty are also possible. The Elbe, meanwhile, can be negotiated by canoe, by inflatable dinghy or, with slightly less effort, by commercial paddle steamer. Children can ride on the park railway or visit the zoo, both in the Grosse Garten, or else they can be taken to the recently converted Hygiene Museum.