Saxon Switzerland
As Saxon Switzerland the German part of the Elbe Sandstone Mountains in Saxony is called. The well-known by its bizarre rock formations landscape lies southeast of Dresden on both sides of the Elbe.
Nature Spatial allocation
In the natural environment breakdown Meynen, the Saxon Switzerland a main unit (430 ) within the Saxon- Bohemian Cretaceous sandstone area (main unit group 43 ) that the otherwise only includes on German soil the Zittau mountains as the main unit. The interface of the two main mountains, the Elbe Sandstone Mountains and the Lusatian Mountains, located on Czech soil, which is why these natural areas are spatially separated.
The working group ecosystem and area character of the Saxon Academy of Sciences in Leipzig has now been combined at the beginning of the 21st century, all the Central Mountains in the Saxon- Bohemian border area superunit Saxon mountains and highlands. Heard between Saxon Switzerland and Lusatian Mountains to the Lusatian mountain country that had yet been summarized by Meynen to the north and east Lösshügellandschaften subsequent to the main unit Upper Lusatia; to the west, the new superunit continues into the main unit groups Erzgebirge and Vogtland.
Geography
To the east is the Saxon Switzerland in the Lusatian mountains and west over the Ore Mountains. The neighboring Czech part of the Elbe Sandstone Mountains is called Bohemian Switzerland. The highest elevation of the Saxon Switzerland is the Great Zschirnstein 562 m above sea level.
Naming
The name Saxon Switzerland originated in the 18th century. The two Swiss artists Adrian Zingg and Anton Graff had been appointed in 1766 to the Dresden Art Academy. " From their new adopted country from the east they saw, about a day's march away, are a mountain range. It was a strangely flattened panoramic, not actual summit [ ... ] "(after Lothar Kempe ) These were attracted by the landscape of their homeland, the Swiss Jura, remembered and reported in their correspondence to distinguish them from their home to the " Saxon Switzerland ". Previously, the Saxon part of the Elbe sandstone was merely referred to as the Meissner highlands, Meißnisches Oberland or Heide Schandau.
Became popular designation by the publication of Wilhelm Leberecht Götzinger. In his books he described the Saxon Switzerland and made the name of a wide audience known.
Geological formation
See Elbe Sandstone Mountains (section: Geology )
Mountain forms
In general, two mountain shapes can be distinguished. As stones numerous rock formations of the Elbe Sandstone Mountains in the Bohemian and Saxon Switzerland are referred. Prominent examples are the king stone, stone lilies, Gohrisch and Papststein. The term does not extend to the mountain-like peaks of volcanic basalt or granitic material of the basement as the Waitzdorfer height or the Great Winterberg.
The Cretaceous sandstone formations protrude from the so-called flatness, the former level of the river Elbe and on their part, remnants of a former peneplain dar. During the late Tertiary elevation of the Ore Mountains and the lateral pressure from the Lusatian mountains broke the sandstone slab trellis- like thing at the same time increasing flow rate of the same and receding erosion in the side valleys, attacks and meridians of the destructive power of water offered. First, the larger mesas remain ( lilies stone), or already highly indented as Zirkelstein, imperial crown or already forested ( carbon Bornstein ), which dissolve upon further erosive destruction in elongated ridges ( Schrammsteine ) down to individual pinnacles ( gatekeepers ). Morphologically tougher areas of the layer, the longer afford and successful resistance to erosion, most of the top layer form. The collapse is thus mostly from below, or from the rocky flanks.
History
In the Saxon Switzerland region there are a number of castles which had been erected to protect the trade routes. Been preserved of these are the Königstein Fortress and Castle Hohenstein. From other facilities only a few remains are left, so the little ones Bastion or the castle on the Falkenstein (now climbing the summit). Some of the castles were also used as a medieval prey nests. Originally this area was populated Slavic and came only in the 15th century about current boundaries under Saxon rule.
The tourist development began mainly in the 19th century. In this context, wrong in Saxon Switzerland also one of the first trolleybus lines in the world, emanating from Königstein Biela Valley Railway ( in operation 1901-1904 ).
Romantic artists were inspired by the wild beauty of the rocks, so the painter Ludwig Richter or the composer Carl Maria von Weber, who settled his famous opera Der Freischütz with the Wolf's Glen scene near Rathen.
In the era of National Socialism, the German designation landscapes as " Switzerland " was frowned upon officially. For this reason, effective October 19, 1938 in the municipality of origin of Königstein, Obervogelgesang, Ottendorf, Porsch village, Rathen, Rathewalde, Rathsmannsdorf and Reinhardt village, the official auxiliary "Saxon Switzerland " by " Amtshauptmannschaft Pirna " and as of January 1939 "Circle Pirna " replaced.
National park
The Saxon Switzerland National Park created to protect the unique natural landscape character of the mountain - was in September 1990 - even before the German reunification. The 93 km ² large area comprises two spatially separated regions: in Rathen the area of the bastion with Polenztal, fire and Uttewalder reason and the entire rear Saxon Switzerland between the Elbe River and the border with the Czech Republic with the Schrammsteine , Great Winterberg, Big Zschand and Kirnitzschtal.
Rock Climbing
The Saxon Switzerland The landscape is characterized by many sandstone rocks. This is the popular pastime of rock climbing has developed. Is climbed by the Saxon rules created in the beginning of the 20th century as the world's first of its kind. Ropes and securing points such as rings may only for backup, but not used for locomotion. In other climbing areas spread aids such as magnesia, chocks or Friends are not allowed. Instead, nodes and tape loops are used.
Three exceptions Climbing is not allowed and massifs generally permitted only at designated free-standing climbing peaks, of which there are over 1100.
In addition to climbing peaks, there are also various stairs, which also scared of heights and sure-footed hikers using stairs, ladders, metal foot-and handholds at different locations can overcome the rather large differences in height. Among the most popular are the stairs Häntzschelstiege in the monkey stones, and the Holy Staircase, the staircase and the robins Rubezahl stairs north of Schmilka.
Boof
The night under a ledge, the so-called Boofe or the free About Make ever has a long tradition in the Saxon Switzerland. Many young people go to spend a weekend in the Saxon Switzerland to boof to. In the National Park the boof is now allowed only on designated by the National Park Authority courses and only in connection with the climbing. The problem is the growing number of Boofer and the wrong behavior of individuals (illegal fire pits, tearing out of young trees, soil erosion ), which always leads to arguments.
Attractions
- Bastion with the rock castle Neurathen
- Bärensteine and Rauenstein at Weißig
- Bielatal
- Stolpen
- Castle ruins castle Wehlen
- Rock arch at Wehlen
- Frienstein with the Idagrotte
- Mountain Gohrisch with shelter
- Imperial crown and Zirkelstein
- Kirnitzschtalbahn, a historic interurban tram in Kirnitzschtal
- Small Saxon Switzerland, a miniature park in village Wehlen
- Königstein Fortress, the largest mountain fortress in Europe
- Cowshed on the New Wildenstein
- Lily stone
- Schrammsteine
- Kleinhennersdorfer stone with the lights cave and the cave Hampel
- Upper lock, rowing in Hinterhermsdorf
- Rathen, an open air theater
- Papststein with observation tower and restaurant
- Pfaffenstein with the Barbarine
- Wolfsberg