Zschirnsteine

Zschirnsteine
The Zschirnsteine. Left: Kleiner Zschirnstein, right: Großer Zschirnstein
Highest point
Elevation	561 m above sea level (HN) (1,551 ft)
Coordinates	50°52′16″N 14°10′13″E
Geography
Zschirnsteine Saxony (Germany)
Parent range	Saxon Switzerland
Geology
Mountain type	Table hill
Type of rock	Sandstone

The Zschirnsteine are two prominent table hills in the German part of the Elbe Sandstone Mountains. They are located in the municipality of Reinhardtsdorf-Schöna, about 7 km south of the German resort of Bad Schandau. They lie west of the River Elbe and not far north of the Czech border.

The 561 m high Großer Zschirnstein ("Great Zschirnstein") is the highest hill in Saxon Switzerland.

The Kleiner Zschirnstein ("Little Zschirnstein") is also a sandstone table hill. It is 473 m high and lies north of the Großer Zschirnstein.

Both tables lie in the midst of a forest and may be climbed on foot. They offer extensive views of the Elbe Sandstone Mountains and beyond. A good base for walking to the hills is the Panoramahotel Wolfsberg near the village of Reinhardtsdorf.

Literatur

• Zwischen Sebnitz, Hinterhermsdorf und den Zschirnsteinen. Edition no. 1 Akademie-Verlag Berlin, Berlin 1959 (Werte der deutschen Heimat. Vol. 2).

The Zschirnsteine from the side of the Großer Winterberg (Kipphorn viewing point). Left: the Great Zschirnstein; right: the Little Zschirnstein. In the foreground is the Zirkelstein