Affensteine

50.91111111111114.255555555556Koordinaten: 50 ° 54 ' 40 " N, 14 ° 15' 20" E

The monkeys stones are an elongated, highly fissured rock group of the Elbe Sandstone Mountains, located east of Bad Schandau in Saxon Switzerland. In the north they are by the Kirnitzschtal, bounded on the south by the Elbe valley and to the east of the two winter mountains. The highest point is 458 m high, named after the last queen of Saxony Carola of Vasa -Holstein -Gottorp Carolafelsen.

Hiking

The monkeys stones are a very popular tourist destination; particularly the Upper Affenstein promenade offers an excellent view in the Elbe Sandstone Mountains at low elevation changes. Will gladly hiked the Carolafelsen, one of the best known landmarks in the massif of the Apes stones.

Additions to the Affensteine ​​is available both from Kirnitzschtal and by the Schrammsteine ​​and from the direction Schmilka.

Rock climbing

Even climbing the monkey stones are used. The großbankige and quite solid sandstone has led to the development of many climbers summit, where a large proportion of challenging climbing routes of the climbing area Saxon Switzerland can be found. The peaks are compared with other fields of Saxon Switzerland is relatively high. Among the most important rock towers in the subregion include the so-called Nonnenfelsen with Bloßstock, cross tower and battlement Morscher and other peaks like Domwächter, Rohnspitze, Wild head, Rococo Tower, Frienstein, Main Drilling and flashy Brosi needle.

The climbing sports development began in 1873 with the first ascent of the sporting Friensteins. As of 1890, almost all the major peaks were first climbed. Around 1910, the climbers began with the development of increasingly more difficult routes. 1918 was achieved for the first time at the Wilder head with the west edge of the present-day difficulty VIII of the Saxon scale.

During the period of National Socialism used in active resistance Red climbers a cave at the head of Satan in the eastern part of the Affensteine ​​as illegal meeting and for the reproduction of leaflets. Even after 1945, there were on the tops of the Affensteine ​​important new climbing routes. First time in 1958, the striking 90-meter towering north face of the bare floor was climbed. 1965 Fritz climbed Eske with the Königshangel on Frienstein the first time a path of difficulty IX. In the 1970s and 1980s were added mainly by Bernd Arnold paths in the uppermost levels of difficulty, such as wall of the sunset (IXb ) on nuns gardener or garden of Eden (Xc ) at Rococo tower.

In the monkey stones found with the Häntzschelstiege also the only fully developed ferrata Saxon Switzerland.

Naming

About the Name of Affensteine ​​two variants are common. According to a variant of the name is due to the spectacular escape of a young nobleman, who was imprisoned in the Middle robbery castle. According to legend, he had a pet monkey. The servants of the nobleman tied the monkey a rope around the body and let him climb the steep rock at night. The young man roped off and fled to Bohemia. From there the story spread in the Saxon Switzerland.

The more likely explanation attributes the name of the rock group back to the eagle owl, the nested here. The old German word for owl is on and the name Aufensteine ​​smoothening itself over the years to Affensteine ​​.