Kuhstall (Saxon Switzerland)
Encyclopedia
The Kuhstall is the second largest natural arch in the Elbe Sandstone Mountains
after the Prebischtor
. It is located on the Neuer Wildenstein, a 337 m high rock outcrop in the hinterland of Saxon Switzerland
, south of the Lichtenhain Waterfall
and above the Kirnitzsch
valley. It is crowned by the 15th century castle of Wildenstein. The arch is 11 m high, 17 m wide and 24 m deep.
. The second is that the occupants of the medieval castle, that towards the end became a haven for robber knights, kept the cattle here that they had stolen during their raids.
The first developer of Saxon Switzerland, Wilhelm Lebrecht Götzinger, suggested that the natural arch should be called the Wildenstein Rock Hall (Wildensteiner Felsenhalle) instead of the traditional and folksy Kuhstall, but was not able to prevail. From the time when the area was first developed for tourism, there are many old inscriptions, that that been written on the walls and roof of the Kuhstall with soot and paint or scratched into the rock.
, about 900 metres away; here during the Cretaceous
era, the older granite was pushed over the younger sandstones.
The rock massif has numerous caves and overhangs, some with legendary names like Schneiderloch and Wochenbett.
Since 1824 there has been a mountain inn by the rock arch that has been rebuilt and extended several times. With the opening of the Kirnitzschtal Tramway to the Lichtenhain Waterfall
in 1898 the Kuhstall has been even more accessible.
In 1837 Helmina von Chezy
made an entry in the guest book at the Kuhstall whilst on holiday which translates loosely as follows: "Here, where beautiful nature enchants and enthralls us, terrible jokes are scrawled that appal us." And reaps a reply along the lines of: "Aye, Mrs von Chezy, with her verses so sleazy. Ad. v. Th., 27 July 1837."
Even today the Kuhstall is a popular family destination. From the observation terrace south of the arch the climbing areas
of the hinter Saxon Switzerland are visible over a wide panorama. Above the Kuhstall are the ruins of the former castle, accessible through the narrow rock tunnel of the Himmelsleiter.
On Bohemian engraved glass the Kuhstall is one of the most popular motifs of Saxon Switzerland.
Elbe Sandstone Mountains
The Elbe Sandstone Mountains, also called the Elbe sandstone highlands is a mountain range straddling the border between the state of Saxony in southeastern Germany and the North Bohemian region of the Czech Republic, with about three-quarters of the area lying on the German side...
after the Prebischtor
Prebischtor
The Pravčická brána is located in the Bohemian Switzerland in the Czech Republic. The narrow rock formation is the largest natural sandstone arch in Europe...
. It is located on the Neuer Wildenstein, a 337 m high rock outcrop in the hinterland of Saxon Switzerland
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....
, south of the Lichtenhain Waterfall
Lichtenhain Waterfall
The Lichtenhain Waterfall is a waterfall formed by the Lichtenhainer village brook and is situated in the Kirnitzsch Valley in the Saxon Switzerland of Germany.-Overview:...
and above the Kirnitzsch
Kirnitzsch
The Kirnitzsch, in Bohemia also called the Kirnischt , is a right tributary of the River Elbe, which passes through the Czech Republic and the German Free State of Saxony.- Geography :...
valley. It is crowned by the 15th century castle of Wildenstein. The arch is 11 m high, 17 m wide and 24 m deep.
Name
The name Kuhstall has two possible origins. The first posit is that the local population hid their cattle in the very wide natural archway from marauding Swedish soldiers during the Thirty Years' WarThirty Years' War
The Thirty Years' War was fought primarily in what is now Germany, and at various points involved most countries in Europe. It was one of the most destructive conflicts in European history....
. The second is that the occupants of the medieval castle, that towards the end became a haven for robber knights, kept the cattle here that they had stolen during their raids.
The first developer of Saxon Switzerland, Wilhelm Lebrecht Götzinger, suggested that the natural arch should be called the Wildenstein Rock Hall (Wildensteiner Felsenhalle) instead of the traditional and folksy Kuhstall, but was not able to prevail. From the time when the area was first developed for tourism, there are many old inscriptions, that that been written on the walls and roof of the Kuhstall with soot and paint or scratched into the rock.
Geology
The rock fenster lies on a clay-containing, intermediate layer. On the boundary walls is smooth polished, petrified rock. The cause was tectonic movements of the Lusatian FaultLusatian Fault
The Lusatian Fault , formerly Lusatian Overthrust , is the most important geological disturbance zone between the Elbe valley and the Giant Mountains. It is a fault that separates the granite of Lusatia from the Cretaceous sandstones of North Bohemia to the south...
, about 900 metres away; here during the Cretaceous
Cretaceous
The Cretaceous , derived from the Latin "creta" , usually abbreviated K for its German translation Kreide , is a geologic period and system from circa to million years ago. In the geologic timescale, the Cretaceous follows the Jurassic period and is followed by the Paleogene period of the...
era, the older granite was pushed over the younger sandstones.
The rock massif has numerous caves and overhangs, some with legendary names like Schneiderloch and Wochenbett.
Tourism
In the early 19th century the Kuhstall developed into one of the main attractions of Saxon Switzerland. It was an important station along the Artists' Way (Malerweg). August von Goethe visited the rocks in June 1819 and reported: "a friendly hospitality with beer, strawberries, lemonade and rum made this spot a place of rest for the hungry and tired body."Since 1824 there has been a mountain inn by the rock arch that has been rebuilt and extended several times. With the opening of the Kirnitzschtal Tramway to the Lichtenhain Waterfall
Lichtenhain Waterfall
The Lichtenhain Waterfall is a waterfall formed by the Lichtenhainer village brook and is situated in the Kirnitzsch Valley in the Saxon Switzerland of Germany.-Overview:...
in 1898 the Kuhstall has been even more accessible.
In 1837 Helmina von Chezy
Helmina von Chézy
Helmina von Chézy , born Wilhelmine von Klencke, was a German journalist, poet and playwright, most famous for writing the libretto for Carl Maria von Weber's opera Euryanthe and the play Rosamunde, for which Franz Schubert provided incidental music.This article uses material from the German...
made an entry in the guest book at the Kuhstall whilst on holiday which translates loosely as follows: "Here, where beautiful nature enchants and enthralls us, terrible jokes are scrawled that appal us." And reaps a reply along the lines of: "Aye, Mrs von Chezy, with her verses so sleazy. Ad. v. Th., 27 July 1837."
Even today the Kuhstall is a popular family destination. From the observation terrace south of the arch the climbing areas
Saxon 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...
of the hinter Saxon Switzerland are visible over a wide panorama. Above the Kuhstall are the ruins of the former castle, accessible through the narrow rock tunnel of the Himmelsleiter.
On Bohemian engraved glass the Kuhstall is one of the most popular motifs of Saxon Switzerland.