Czech-Saxon Switzerland

Village description

Kirnitzschtal (the parts of the village Altendorf, Lichtenhain, Mittelndorf, Ottendorf, Saupsdorf)

The valley of the stream Kirnitzsch is located in "the back Saxon Switzerland", it belongs among the most beautiful and popular valleys of the Labské sandstones, it is an ideal place for your holiday, the tourism and it is a paradise for rock climbers. On the right bank of the stream there is the track for the historical train and the narrow road.  On both sides there are well-preserved houses, in most of them you can be accommodated or at least refresh yourself. The south of Kirnitzschtal is bordered by Schrammstein (the chain of rock formations)
The valley is created by several villages:
Altendorf is situated about 3 km from Bad Schandau, from this place we can remind of the romantic climbing up the "raftsman trail" through the pass "Dorfbachklamm" and the wonderful view of Adamsberg from where you see lots of Labské sandstones.
On the panoramatic trail there is Mitteldorf that also has many viewing points: Birkenberg, Weinberg, Rämischbank or  Schaarwiese. From there you can quickly get down to the stream Kirnitzsch.
Lichtenhain is already located on the upper trail and you will discover there a nice view point Pffarberg and the spring of the stream whose flow creates the waterfall "Lichtenhainer Wasserfall" that became the touristic attraction.  Every year at the first weekend in September the "flower celebration" is held in Lichtenhain, the motives are made by approximately 15000 blooms of dahlias. At the end there is a unique parade.
If you long for the real silent place we recommend to stay in Ottendorf - the quiet part of the wood, the individual gorge  if you start in "Grosssteinkanzel" through "Ottendorf´s heather". From former "Jugendburg" to "Endlerkuppe" you get without any difficulties to "Grossstein" (that is also called Pulpit of the back Saxon Switzerland) where you can have a beautiful view of Kirnitzschtal and the rock world of back Saxon Switzerland.
The decoration of Saupsdorf is the church on the sunny hill Wachberg, from Wachberg you can have an amazing view of Krušné mountains, Bohemian Switzerland...

In well signed net of touristic trails you will find many destinations for trips:
The main attraction is definitely the historical electric railway "Kirnitzschtalbahn" that takes the tourists from Bad Schandau to the final station "Lichtenhain´s waterfall", from where the tourists can continue to "Kuhstall" (the cow-shed - the biggest cave in the rock in the area of Labské sandstones where the cattle was hidden when the weather was bad and also during the war).
The romantic path from Altendorf will take  you to the passes of Kirnitzschtal where you can follow the tracks of the raftsmen who floated the lumber on Kirnitzsch to the Elbe river. You can take a boat there, the ride lasts almost 3 hours!
The educational trail "the raftsman climbing" leads from Bad Schandau through Kirnitzschtal´ valley to Neuman´s mill, along the trail there are more than 100 boards informing the tourists about the work of raftsmen who floated the tree trunks from the local woods to the Elbe river. Neumannmuehle is the technical monument, the path to Grossen Zschand also starts there.
The view point Weigberg in Hinterherrmsdorf - since 2000 the village has been proud of the new touristic attraction  - the wooden view point Weifsberg to which you can walk in about 20 minutes from IC.  It offers an amazing view of the Saxon Switzerland and the Czech republic. It is open daily, the entrance is for free.