Picture the last two true river islands left on the Saxon Elbe - remnants of a landscape that vanished almost everywhere else after the 19th-century river regulation. The Pillnitz Island and Gauernitz Island form a small but precious pocket of wild nature right on the edge of Dresden.

The setting is intimate and peaceful - alder and ash floodplain forests, damp tall-herb meadows, and muddy, sandy riverbanks where pioneer plants keep taking hold season after season. In spring and summer the islands buzz with birdlife, while in autumn river mist often drifts through the trees, giving the place an almost fairy-tale feel. It's a spot for those who enjoy a quiet walk away from the crowds, watching the river flow much as it has for centuries.

• Starting point: Pillnitz or Gauernitz, path along the Elbe - easy, walking terrain, roughly 1-2 hours round trip
• Alternative: cycle along the Elberadweg riverside route from Dresden

• The area is a strict nature reserve (NSG) - stick to the marked paths
• It protects habitats of beavers, otters, bats, and numerous waterbirds including osprey and kingfisher
• The islands are part of the Natura 2000 site 'Elbtal zwischen Schöna und Mühlberg'

Fun fact: these are the only surviving Elbe river islands in Saxony - all others disappeared after 19th-century river engineering, making Pillnitz and Gauernitz a genuine natural rarity today.