Portal:Elbe Sandstone Mountains

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Portal:Elbe Sandstone Mountains

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The Elbe Sandstone Mountains (German: Elbsandsteingebirge, Czech: Labské pískovce) are a mountain range, formed mainly of sandstone, around the upper reaches of the River Elbe in the German state of Saxony and the Czech region of North Bohemia. They cover an area of about 700 km² and reach heights of up to 723 metres (2,372 ft) above sea level. The German part is generally known as Saxon Switzerland, the Czech region as Bohemian Switzerland (České Švýcarsko), hence the modern term "Saxon-Bohemian Switzerland" for the combined region (locally: Sächsisch-Böhmische Schweiz or Českosaské Švýcarsko).

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Saxon Switzerland is the name for the German part of the Elbe Sandstone Mountains in the state of Saxony. The landscape is known for its bizarre rock formations and lies southeast of Dresden on either side of the Elbe. To the east, Saxon Switzerland transitions into the Lusatian Highlands and, to the west, the Ore Mountains. The adjacent, Czech, part of the Elbe Sandstone Mountains is known as Bohemian Switzerland. The highest mountain in Saxon Switzerland is the Großer Zschirnstein at 562 m above sea level.

A large number of castles were built in Saxon Switzerland to protect the trade routes. Two that have survived to the present day are Königstein Fortress and Hohnstein Castle. Of the other sites only a few ruins are left, for example, the Kleiner Bastei or the castle on the Falkenstein (today a climbing peak). Several of the castles were used by medieval robber knights. Originally this region had been settled by Slavs and first came under Saxon rule in the 15th century, since when its borders have changed little.

Im September 1990 - even before German reunification – the Saxon Switzerland National Park was created to protect the unique natural character of the mountains. This park, 93 km² in area, covers two regions physically separated from one another: the first around Rathen, the Bastei and Polenz valley, Brand and the Uttewalder Grund; the second covering the Saxon Switzerland hinterland (Hintere Sächsische Schweiz) between the Elbe and the border with the Czech Republic with the Schrammsteine, Großer Winterberg, Großer Zschand and Kirnitzsch valley.

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Geography

Saxon Switzerland · Bohemian Switzerland

Mountains and rock formations

List · Barbarine · Bärensteine · Bastei · Brand · Cottaer Spitzberg · Děčínský Sněžník (Hoher Schneeberg) · Falkenstein · Frienstein · Gohrisch · Kaiserkrone · Kleinhennersdorfer Stein · Lampertsstein · Lilienstein · Lokomotive · Mariina skála (Marienfels) · Mönch · Nonne · Papststein · Pastýřská stěna (Schäferwand) · Pfaffenstein · Quirl · Rauenstein · Raumberg · Rudolfův kámen (Rudolfstein) · Růžovský vrch (Rosenberg) · Schrammsteine · Schwedenturm · Stoličná hora (Quaderberg) · Teufelsturm · Tyssaer Wände · Vlčí hora (Wolfsberg) · Wartturm · Großer Winterberg · Kleiner Winterberg · Winterstein · Wolfsberg · Zirkelstein · Zschirnstein

Viewing points

Belvedér (Belvedere) · Kleines Prebischtor · Kuhstall · Prebischtor

Geology and landscape

Cotta Sandstone · Elbe Sandstone · Grillenburg Sandstone · Karsdorf Fault · Lusatian Fault · Posta Sandstone · Reinhardtsdorf Sandstone

Waterbodies

Amsel Falls · Amselsee · Biela · Děčín Weir · Kamenice (Kamnitz) · Kirnitzsch · Lachsbach · Lichtenhain Waterfall · Obere Schleuse · Polenz · Sebnitz

Valleys, gorges and ravines

Amselgrund · Großer Zschand · Kamnitz Gorge · Liebethaler Grund · Wehlgrund

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Places

In Germany

• Towns: Pirna · Bad Schandau · Sebnitz · Königstein/Sächsische Schweiz · Stadt Wehlen
• Municipalities: Gohrisch · Hohnstein · Kirnitzschtal · Porschdorf · Rathen · Rathmannsdorf · Reinhardtsdorf-Schöna · Struppen
• Villages: Sonnenstein · Rottwerndorf · Cotta · Ebenheit · Saupsdorf · Waltersdorf · Hinterhermsdorf · Weißig

In the Czech Republic

• Towns: Děčín (Tetschen) · Krásná Lípa (Schönlinde)
• Municipalities: Arnoltice (Arnsdorf) · Bynovec (Binsdorf) · Doubice (Daubitz) · Hřensko (Herrnskretschen) · Janov u Hřenska (Jonsdorf) · Jetřichovice (Dittersbach) · Labská Stráň (Elbleiten) · Růžová (Rosendorf) · Srbská Kamenice (Windisch Kamnitz)
• Villages: Kyjov (Khaa) · Na Tokáni (Balzhütte) · Rynartice (Rennersdorf) · Kamenická Stráň (Kamnitzleiten) · Vysoká Lípa (Hohenleipa) · Všemily (Schemmel) · Mezní Louka (Rainwiese) · Mezná (Stimmersdorf)

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Structures

Castles and palaces

Altrathen Castle · Arnstein Castle · Chřibský hrádek (Unterer Karlstein) · Falkenštejn Castle (Falkenstein) · Šaunštejn Castle (Schauenstein) · Königstein Fortress · Hohnstein Castle · Krásný Buk Castle (Schönbüchel) · Kyjovský hrádek (Oberer Karlstein) · Neurathen Castle · Wildenstein Castle

Churches

St. John's, Bad Schandau · St. Jame's, Neustadt in Sachsen · Angel, Hinterhermsdorf · St Mary's, Pirna

Technical structures

Buttermilch Mill · Frinztal Mill · Liethen Mill · Neumann Mill · Bad Schandau Elevator

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History

1385–1402	Dohna Feud
1478–1686	Eisenkammer Pirna
1555–1558	Pig War
1756	Siege of Pirna
1790	Saxon Peasants' Revolt
1940/41	Sonnenstein Nazi Death Institute
2002	Elbe floods

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Culture and leisure

Attractions and cultural events

• Bergtest near Wehlen
• Rathen Open Air Theatre
• Rock chapel (Všemily)
• Saxon Switzerland National Park
• Kurt Schlosser's Saxon Mountaineers Choir

Sport

• Geibeltbad Pirna
• Saxon Switzerland Climbing Area
• Saxon Climbers Union
• VfL Pirna-Copitz

Walking and climbing trails

• Elbe Cycle Route
• Häntzschelstiege
• Heilige Stiege
• Kulmer Steig
• Malerweg
• Rübezahlstiege

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Transport

Road transport

• Bundesautobahn 17/Dálnice 8
• Bundesstraße 172
• Bundesstraße 172a · Bundesstraße 172b
• Dresden to Teplitz Post Road

Bus and rail

• Pirna-Sebnitz Upper Elbe Transport Company
• Saxon Switzerland Ring
• Biela Valley Trolleybus
• Gottleuba Valley Railway
• Kirnitzschtal Tramway
• Müglitz Valley Railway
• Schwarzbach Railway

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