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Hiking through Bielatal, Pirna, and in search of lynxes.

Nai-publish: 05.07.2020

We started the day with a trip to Bielatal. There are numerous bizarre rock towers and needles there. We decided on a three-hour circular hike from the Schweizermühle parking lot.


Tower in Schweizermühle
Tower in Schweizermühle


We were supposed to follow the hiking trail marked with a 'Yellow Dot', which we also found at the start of the hike above the parking lot with the help of our map. However, at the first junction, there was no more marking, and we had to guess with the map.


Hiking in Bielatal
Hiking in Bielatal


At the next junctions, we noticed that not all paths were marked on our hiking map, and we had taken the wrong path. However, we eventually found our way back to our selected hiking trail.


at the Nachbarstein
at the Nachbarstein


First, we reached the Nachbarstein, from where we could enjoy the view of Bielatal for the first time.


View from the Nachbarstein
View from the Nachbarstein


Next, we went to the Sachsenstein, a high rock formation with an observation platform on top.


Sachsenstein
Sachsenstein


You can climb the Sachsenstein using iron ladders. However, the passages in the rock were sometimes so narrow that we got stuck with our backpack. So we had to leave the larger backpack on the intermediate level to get to the top.


Ascent to the Sachsenstein
Ascent to the Sachsenstein


The ascent was a bit adventurous as we occasionally had to change the ladder. Fortunately, there was usually a handrail, even if the iron was partially rusted...


View from the Sachsenstein
View from the Sachsenstein


Once we reached the top, we had a beautiful view of the surroundings.


View from the Sachsenstein
View from the Sachsenstein


Unfortunately, we had to take the same way back down. At least, we didn't encounter any oncoming traffic...


Ascent to the Sachsenstein
Ascent to the Sachsenstein


The next viewpoint we headed to was Johanniswacht. When we arrived there, many children and adults were already there. Today, there seemed to be climbing lessons for children taking place, where they climbed larger or smaller rock walls depending on their age.


Johanniswacht
Johanniswacht


From the viewpoint, we also saw some adult climbers ascending the high rock formations. Bielatal is one of the most popular climbing areas in the region with more than 1100 climbing rocks.


View from Johanniswacht
View from Johanniswacht


We were satisfied with the view from the easily accessible viewpoint and continued our way down to the former Ottomühle in the valley.


Johanniswacht
Johanniswacht


After a short break in the restaurant there, we crossed the Biela river on the other side and went back uphill.


Large Tortoiseshell
Large Tortoiseshell


At first, our path didn't offer any spectacular views, although we passed by some beautiful rock formations.


Rock formations along the way
Rock formations along the way


A beautiful viewpoint was also quite crowded: A group of men and children were gathered there, playing with remote-controlled cars. These cars were quite large and could even drive on rocky terrains. When a car wasn't being operated, people talked extensively about it...


View of Bielatal
View of Bielatal


But the most interesting formation was the so-called 'Herkulessäulen' (Hercules columns), which we finally reached.


Herkulessäulen
Herkulessäulen


Although they appear rather fragile, they are solid enough for climbers to climb them.


On the way to the Herkulessäulen
On the way to the Herkulessäulen


The path to the columns was narrow and rough. But eventually, we were able to enjoy our packed lunch with a view of these rocks and the surrounding valley landscape.


Near the Herkulessäulen
Near the Herkulessäulen


A bit further, we reached the viewpoint Bielablick, also known as 'Kaiser-Wilhelm-Feste'.


Bielablick - Kaiser-Wilhlem-Feste
Bielablick - Kaiser-Wilhlem-Feste


However, this picturesque tower doesn't resemble a real fortress: it is an artificial bastion built in 1880. The idea for its construction supposedly originated from a beer-fueled tavern discussion...


View from
View from 'Kaiser-Wilhelm-Feste'


We were already approaching the starting point of our hike again. Besides several smaller viewpoints, just before descending, we saw a small tower that stood decoratively by the wayside.


Tower ruin near Schweizermühle
Tower ruin near Schweizermühle


As a change from hiking, we then drove to Pirna, which the travel guide referred to as the 'little sister of Dresden' with an 'Italian piazza atmosphere'.

We might not describe it exactly like that, but the market square with the city hall did indeed offer a very picturesque view.


At the market in Pirna
At the market in Pirna


We also visited the St. Marien church from the 16th century, whose interior with delicate paintings on the vault provided a beautiful sight.


St. Marien Church
St. Marien Church


We made a short detour to the Schifftorvorstadt. In the past, this neighborhood was home to sailors, stonemasons, fishermen, raftsmen, and boat pullers, living in slightly smaller houses.


Plangasse in Pirna
Plangasse in Pirna


The market square 'Am Plan' in this part of the city was much quieter but also presented a pretty picture.


Am Plan
Am Plan


On some houses, we saw markings of the Elbe flood levels, which had destroyed parts of the cities, as we had seen in other cities before. Neither in 2002 nor in 2013 could we have stood here...


Elbe flood in Pirna
Elbe flood in Pirna


As the weather was so nice, we wanted to have ice cream and went back to the more lively part of the city.

Unfortunately, there were so many people out and about that it wasn't easy to find a table in a café. Finally, though, we got an ice cream sundae after waiting in line for quite a while.


Fountain on the market square
Fountain on the market square


We still had some time left, so we continued to Bad Schandau, the most important spa town in Saxon Switzerland. There were beautifully landscaped promenades and many restaurants with a view of the Elbe river.


Bad Schandau
Bad Schandau


But we wanted to go in search of lynxes. After being eradicated in Germany, some of these wildcats have now migrated back from neighboring countries.


View of the Elbe near Bad Schandau
View of the Elbe near Bad Schandau


We started our search at the parking lot by the Elbe river and followed the tracks depicted as paws in stones embedded in the ground.


View of the Elbe near Bad Schandau
View of the Elbe near Bad Schandau


The 'Luchsweg' led us to an elevator that was designated as a 'technical monument' (which didn't inspire much trust in us). We used it to go up and were able to admire the view of Bad Schandau.


View of Bad Schandau
View of Bad Schandau


Then, we finally spotted what we had been looking for: a wildlife enclosure housing two lynxes (though separated, as they are solitary animals).


Lynx in Bad Schandau
Lynx in Bad Schandau


As it was still mid-afternoon, both of them were resting. We sat on a bench by the enclosure, hoping to see some movement - but unfortunately, in vain. The lynx only turned its back to us and showed no signs of life except for an occasional twitch of its ears:


Lynx in Bad Schandau
Lynx in Bad Schandau


So we continued walking, past a viewpoint (which was already somewhat overgrown), through the spa park, and back to the Elbe river, where our car was waiting for us.


Bad Schandau
Bad Schandau


Sagot (2)

Ina
Die Steine sehen ja interessant aus. Schade, dass ihr keine Luchse in freier Wildbahn gesehen habt. Liebe Grüße

Ina

Alemanya
Mga ulat sa paglalakbay Alemanya
#bielatal# wandern#sachsen#deutschland#sächsische_schweiz#elbsandsteingebirge#pirna#bad_schandau#luchse