Falkenstein

The Falkenstein is one of the best-known climbing peaks in Saxon Switzerland. It is situated near the rocky Schrammsteine ridge southeast of the town of Bad Schandau. The Falkenstein is nearly 90 m high and consists of sandstone. In the Middle Ages there were fortifications on top of the rock. Even today, the steps carved into the rock are still visible. History The Falkenstein was probably built on and used as a castle lookout from the middle of the 14th century. Like almost all of Saxon Switzerland on the right bank of the Elbe, it belonged to the Barony of Hohnstein with its seat at Hohnstein Castle, which was given to the Bohemian noble family of Berka von Dubá in 1353 by Emperor Charles IV as a Bohemian fiefdom. In 1409 Hinko von der Duba divided the territory among his five sons. The Falkenstein went to his son Henry as part of the new Barony of Wildenstein. He set up his seat of power in the castle at New Wildenstein. In addition to the surrounding villages and towns, the lordship also included other watchtowers, e.g. on the Rauschenstein and the Frienstein. From about 1425, Henry von der Duba was repeatedly feuding with the Lusatian League and the Saxon Electors. His nephews, who inherited the barony around 1435, continued the feuds and attacked villages and merchant trains as robber barons. However, with the exception of the Elbe, there were no trade routes in the immediate vicinity of the Falkenstein. An old communication route from Postelwitz to Sebnitz gave the watchtower strategic importance in these feuds and access to the Elbe and the Kirnitzsch valley. It also secured access from the Elbe to Wildenstein Castle. Elector Frederick II of Saxony finally besieged the Berkas on the Wildenstein from autumn 1439 to put an end to the feuds. The watchtower on the Falkenstein was probably destroyed during this campaign. The Berkas finally agreed in 1451 to an exchange of the Barony of Wildenstein for part of the Barony of Schluckenau in Bohemia. With this, the Falkenstein finally became Saxon property. In the list of castles created in 1456, the Falkenstein was already one of the watchtowers described as derelict.