Frienstein
Encyclopedia
The Frienstein, also called the Vorderes Raubschloss, is a rock formation, about 130 metres high, in Saxon Switzerland
. It lies on the northern slopes of the Großer Winterberg
in the Affensteine
rocks. On the rock there was once a watchtower
of the Barony of Wildenstein. Today the Frienstein is a popular climbing peak
.
. By this means it was possible for Frienstein to make contact with the surrounding watchtowers on the Winterstein
, the Neuer Wildenstein and the Alter Wildenstein. In 1451 the Frienstein together with the rest of the barony went to the House of Wettin and thus to the Electorate of Saxony
. In the period that followed, robber knights lodged on the Frienstein, even in 1479 one of their workers conceded that "item near Frienstein is a trap..., where those who are caught are tormented" (item beym Freynstein ist eyn loch ..., do man die gefangen eynfurt zu peynigen). On the first cartographic record in Saxony, a map dating to 1592 by Matthias Oeder, the rock is marked as Freystein.
On the present-day climbing route called the Alter Weg ("Old Way") one can still see the rebates and steps cut out of the rock that were once used to climb it. Even on the summit area there are traces of the watchtower in the shape of rebates for anchoring a wooden observation post.
On the eastern side at the foot of the rock is the Ida Grotto (Idagrotte), a large crevice and bedding cave, that is nowadays a popular destination. It can only be reached over a narrow band of rock. In the grotto there are still traces of its medieval use as a living area.
Because of its size and the fact that it is easy to get to, the Ida Grotto is a popular goal for Boofers, a Saxon term for hikers who sleep out in the open. However, in recent years, there have been repeated cases of hikers who have fallen and been seriously injured or killed as a result of being intoxicated with alcohol.
, but its summit is not accessible to hikers and walkers. The first recreational ascent of the peak took place in 1873, although it had been conquered before with the help of artificial aids. The route known today as the Alter Weg is classified as climbing grade III. There are also more difficult routes of up to grade XIb. Climbing history was written on the Königshangel when grade IX was reached for the first time in Saxon Switzerland. In 1965 it was successful climbed for the first time by Fritz Eske, after several unsuccessful attempts by other noteworthy climbers.
Saxon Switzerland
Saxon Switzerland is a hilly climbing area and national park around the Elbe valley south-east of Dresden in Saxony, Germany. Together with the Bohemian Switzerland in the Czech Republic it forms the Elbe Sandstone Mountains....
. It lies on the northern slopes of the Großer Winterberg
Großer Winterberg
Großer Winterberg is a mountain of Saxony, southeastern Germany....
in the Affensteine
Affensteine
The Affensteine are a long chain of deeply fissured rocks in the Elbe Sandstone Mountains that are located east of Bad Schandau in the German region of Saxon Switzerland. They are bounded to the north by the Kirnitzsch valley, to the south by the Elb valley and in the east by the two Winterberg...
rocks. On the rock there was once a watchtower
Watchtower
A watchtower is a type of fortification used in many parts of the world. It differs from a regular tower in that its primary use is military, and from a turret in that it is usually a freestanding structure. Its main purpose is to provide a high, safe place from which a sentinel or guard may...
of the Barony of Wildenstein. Today the Frienstein is a popular climbing peak
Climbing peak
A climbing peak may refer to a mountain or hill peak or a rock formation that has to be ascended by climbing. The term is common in Germany where it is specifically used of free-standing rock formations in the climbing regions of Saxon Switzerland, Zittau Mountains and other nearby ranges in the...
.
History
Around 1410 a watchtower was erected on the Frienstein as a signal station by the Barony of Wildenstein that was owned by the family of Berka z DubéBerka z Dubé
Berka z Dubé was a medieval Bohemian aristocracy line established by Hynek Berka z Dubé .-Domanial:Houska, Bělá, Bezděz, Lemberk, Dubí, Zákupy, Milštejn, Tolštejn, Kokořín, Kuřívody, Berštejn-Notable aristocrats:...
. By this means it was possible for Frienstein to make contact with the surrounding watchtowers on the Winterstein
Winterstein (Saxon Switzerland)
The Winterstein, also called the Hinteres Raubschloss, is an isolated, elongated rock massif in the hinterland of Saxon Switzerland in East Germany...
, the Neuer Wildenstein and the Alter Wildenstein. In 1451 the Frienstein together with the rest of the barony went to the House of Wettin and thus to the Electorate of Saxony
Electorate of Saxony
The Electorate of Saxony , sometimes referred to as Upper Saxony, was a State of the Holy Roman Empire. It was established when Emperor Charles IV raised the Ascanian duchy of Saxe-Wittenberg to the status of an Electorate by the Golden Bull of 1356...
. In the period that followed, robber knights lodged on the Frienstein, even in 1479 one of their workers conceded that "item near Frienstein is a trap..., where those who are caught are tormented" (item beym Freynstein ist eyn loch ..., do man die gefangen eynfurt zu peynigen). On the first cartographic record in Saxony, a map dating to 1592 by Matthias Oeder, the rock is marked as Freystein.
On the present-day climbing route called the Alter Weg ("Old Way") one can still see the rebates and steps cut out of the rock that were once used to climb it. Even on the summit area there are traces of the watchtower in the shape of rebates for anchoring a wooden observation post.
On the eastern side at the foot of the rock is the Ida Grotto (Idagrotte), a large crevice and bedding cave, that is nowadays a popular destination. It can only be reached over a narrow band of rock. In the grotto there are still traces of its medieval use as a living area.
Because of its size and the fact that it is easy to get to, the Ida Grotto is a popular goal for Boofers, a Saxon term for hikers who sleep out in the open. However, in recent years, there have been repeated cases of hikers who have fallen and been seriously injured or killed as a result of being intoxicated with alcohol.
Climbing peak
The Frienstein is a popular climbing peak in the Saxon Switzerland Climbing RegionSaxon Switzerland climbing region
Saxon Switzerland is one of the best-known climbing regions in Germany. The region is largely coterminous with the natural region of the same name, Saxon Switzerland, but extends well beyond the territory of the National Park within it. It includes the western part of the Elbe Sandstone Mountains...
, but its summit is not accessible to hikers and walkers. The first recreational ascent of the peak took place in 1873, although it had been conquered before with the help of artificial aids. The route known today as the Alter Weg is classified as climbing grade III. There are also more difficult routes of up to grade XIb. Climbing history was written on the Königshangel when grade IX was reached for the first time in Saxon Switzerland. In 1965 it was successful climbed for the first time by Fritz Eske, after several unsuccessful attempts by other noteworthy climbers.
Sources
- Peter Rölke (publ.): Wander- & Naturführer Sächsische Schweiz, Vol. 1, Verlag Rölke, Dresden 1999, ISBN 3-934514-08-1