Kuhstall – cave with view / Photo: Frank Richter
Hiking recommendation: Beuthenfall – Dittrichsgrund – Frienstein – Kuhstall- Lichtenhain Waterfall (return by bus or Kirnitzschtalbahn)
The massive rock arch at a height of 11 m and a width of 17 m is situated along an agrillaceous layer, where there are numerous caves and overhang formations. Thus was created the so-called “Kuhstallhöhle” (cowshed cave) as we know it today. From the cave one can enjoy a beautiful panorama view of the Affensteine mountains, best viewed in the morning and evening hours. If you climb the so-called “Himmelsleiter” (stairway to heaven), you will discover the remains of the former ancient castle of the Wildenstein reign. The highly fissured New Wildenstein – better known as the Kuhstall – is still a popular destination in rear Saxon Switzerland. In 1824 a small guest house was already established here. Hungry and thirsty travelers can still recover their strengths at the inn not far from the cave today. The host, however, should be a different one nowadays ……
Getting there:
Finding public transport connections: Link German railway
- Bus 241 (Pirna-Hinterhermsdorf) Bad Schandau to Lichtenhain Waterfall
- Bus 261 in connection with the bus 268 from Dresden to Hinterhermsdorf without transfer
- Kirnitzschtalbahn Bad Schandau to Lichtenhain Waterfall
- Bicycle: through Kirnitzschtal to Lichtenhain Waterfall
Historical notes: Above the rock arch there was the New Wildenstein castle complex in the 15th century, the headquarters of the Wildenstein rule, which then belonged to Bohemia. Remains of the castle are still visible today. Legends, stories and myths on the formerly inhabited castles in the Elbe Sandstone Mountains and its inhabitants can still be seen today. Thus, this cave and the nearby, jagged rocks served the residents of the surrounding villages and their animals as protection against raids and looting armies in former times of war. Because: For sufficient food supplies of fighting troops on their campaigns, it was normal then to simply confiscate existing food, livestock, wagons and grain, even by force if need be. Soldiers were hungry, after all, on empty stomachs one wins no battles! In some serious cases not even a cow or the seed for next year remained for the individual farmers. Under the influence of Romanticism the development of tourism began at the beginning of the 19th century. During this time the natural beauty of the Elbe Sandstone Mountains was “discovered”, famous painters and writers paid major contributions to the development of the area. The so-called Painter’s Path (Malerweg) was created and one stop on it was this cave with its beautiful views of the rock world.
