Greifensteine
Encyclopedia
The Greifensteine is a rock formation in the Ore Mountains
, Germany
, between the towns of Geyer
, Ehrenfriedersdorf
and Jahnsbach. The highest of the seven granite
rocks reaches 731 m.
. During the Variscan orogeny
, magma
intruded along structural zones, but cooled and solidified before reaching the earth surface. When the Erzgebirge block
raised, the resulting granite formation raised with it. The surrounding softer material eroded and the harder granite remained, creating the tors of the rock formation. The deposition of ore
s associated with the intrusion gave the area its name (Erzgebirge, literally ore mountains).
to the "Grifenstein" castle. The castle is documented in 1372 as "Slosz Cryfenstein". The castle was destroyed in the 14th century by fire, and was rebuild afterwards. It was abandoned in the 15th century, the area was used as a quarry
and all traces of the former castle are removed. Of the originally 13 rock towers, six have been demolished and used for their granite over the years. This activity was stopped in 1928, and the area has become a nature reserve
.
and a popular tourist attraction. The areal has a restaurant, a small museum and an outdoor theater that uses the rock formation as a dramatic backdrop. Stairs lead up to the tallest rock, which offers a nice view of the surrounding Erzgebirge. The rock formations offer several rock climbing
paths. In the surrounding area are the Greifenbachstauweiher and the Röhrgraben.
of the Erzgebirge) had a hiding place in one of the numerous caverns of the Greifensteine area. This Stülpner-Höhle (engl.: Stülpner's cavern) can still be visited today.
Ore Mountains
The Ore Mountains in Central Europe have formed a natural border between Saxony and Bohemia for many centuries. Today, the border between Germany and the Czech Republic runs just north of the main crest of the mountain range...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, between the towns of Geyer
Geyer
Geyer is a town in the district of Erzgebirgskreis, in Saxony, Germany. It has a population of about 4000.- Geography :Geyer is situated northwest of Annaberg-Buchholz, and south of Chemnitz, in the valley of the Geyersbach creek...
, Ehrenfriedersdorf
Ehrenfriedersdorf
Ehrenfriedersdorf is a town in the district of Erzgebirgskreis, in the Free State of Saxony, Germany. It is situated 8 km northwest of Annaberg-Buchholz, and 21 km south of Chemnitz.- Theatre :...
and Jahnsbach. The highest of the seven granite
Granite
Granite is a common and widely occurring type of intrusive, felsic, igneous rock. Granite usually has a medium- to coarse-grained texture. Occasionally some individual crystals are larger than the groundmass, in which case the texture is known as porphyritic. A granitic rock with a porphyritic...
rocks reaches 731 m.
Geology
Geologically, the Greifensteine is the top of a plutonPluton
A pluton in geology is a body of intrusive igneous rock that crystallized from magma slowly cooling below the surface of the Earth. Plutons include batholiths, dikes, sills, laccoliths, lopoliths, and other igneous bodies...
. During the Variscan orogeny
Variscan orogeny
The Variscan orogeny is a geologic mountain-building event caused by Late Paleozoic continental collision between Euramerica and Gondwana to form the supercontinent of Pangaea.-Naming:...
, magma
Magma
Magma is a mixture of molten rock, volatiles and solids that is found beneath the surface of the Earth, and is expected to exist on other terrestrial planets. Besides molten rock, magma may also contain suspended crystals and dissolved gas and sometimes also gas bubbles. Magma often collects in...
intruded along structural zones, but cooled and solidified before reaching the earth surface. When the Erzgebirge block
Block Mountain
Block Mountain named in 1958 because vertical fractures which make up parts of the mountain look like they are composed of giant blocks. It is located in the Sawback Range in Alberta....
raised, the resulting granite formation raised with it. The surrounding softer material eroded and the harder granite remained, creating the tors of the rock formation. The deposition of ore
Ore
An ore is a type of rock that contains minerals with important elements including metals. The ores are extracted through mining; these are then refined to extract the valuable element....
s associated with the intrusion gave the area its name (Erzgebirge, literally ore mountains).
History
The first indications of a settlement on the Greifensteine are from around 1180, and in 1349 the von Waldenburg family are seignorySeignory
In English law, Seignory or seigniory , the lordship remaining to a grantor after the grant of an estate in fee simple....
to the "Grifenstein" castle. The castle is documented in 1372 as "Slosz Cryfenstein". The castle was destroyed in the 14th century by fire, and was rebuild afterwards. It was abandoned in the 15th century, the area was used as a quarry
Quarry
A quarry is a type of open-pit mine from which rock or minerals are extracted. Quarries are generally used for extracting building materials, such as dimension stone, construction aggregate, riprap, sand, and gravel. They are often collocated with concrete and asphalt plants due to the requirement...
and all traces of the former castle are removed. Of the originally 13 rock towers, six have been demolished and used for their granite over the years. This activity was stopped in 1928, and the area has become a nature reserve
Nature reserve
A nature reserve is a protected area of importance for wildlife, flora, fauna or features of geological or other special interest, which is reserved and managed for conservation and to provide special opportunities for study or research...
.
Tourism
Today, the Greifensteine is a nature reserveNature reserve
A nature reserve is a protected area of importance for wildlife, flora, fauna or features of geological or other special interest, which is reserved and managed for conservation and to provide special opportunities for study or research...
and a popular tourist attraction. The areal has a restaurant, a small museum and an outdoor theater that uses the rock formation as a dramatic backdrop. Stairs lead up to the tallest rock, which offers a nice view of the surrounding Erzgebirge. The rock formations offer several rock climbing
Rock climbing
Rock climbing also lightly called 'The Gravity Game', is a sport in which participants climb up, down or across natural rock formations or artificial rock walls. The goal is to reach the summit of a formation or the endpoint of a pre-defined route without falling...
paths. In the surrounding area are the Greifenbachstauweiher and the Röhrgraben.
Stülpner-Höhle
Karl Stülpner (1762–1842), a local renegade and folk hero (the Robin HoodRobin Hood
Robin Hood was a heroic outlaw in English folklore. A highly skilled archer and swordsman, he is known for "robbing from the rich and giving to the poor", assisted by a group of fellow outlaws known as his "Merry Men". Traditionally, Robin Hood and his men are depicted wearing Lincoln green clothes....
of the Erzgebirge) had a hiding place in one of the numerous caverns of the Greifensteine area. This Stülpner-Höhle (engl.: Stülpner's cavern) can still be visited today.