Affensteine

The Affensteine ​​is a rugged rock mass in the Elbe Sandstones, located east of the town of Bad Schandau in Saxon Switzerland. It is also one of the most attractive tourist areas in Saxon Switzerland and offers tourists countless hiking options of varying difficulty and length. The highest, most picturesque and most visited point of the rock group is the 458 m high viewpoint, named after the last Saxon queen, Carol Vasa-Holstein-Gottorp.

The Monkey Rocks are a very popular tourist destination, especially the upper Affensteinpromenade offers an excellent view of the Elbe Sandstones with small height differences. Access to the Affensteine ​​rock group is possible via hiking trails from the Kirnitzschtal valley from the Lichtenhaim waterfall, as well as from the Schrammsteine ​​or possibly from the village of Schmilka.

Häntzschelstiege

This is a secured climbing route (klettersteig) along the western slope of the Langes Horn ridge. The Affenstein contour path divides the promenade into two separate parts, both ending in jagged plateaus with beautiful views. The path was created – at that time illegally – in 1970 (according to other sources already in the 1950s) by Rudolf Häntzschel from Sebnitz. The lower part was completely renovated in 1998, the upper part in 2002. Probably the only real “ferrata” in the Saxon Switzerland region. It should only be used from the bottom up.

Twin Staircases

A secured trail at the end of the gorge, separating the Langes Horn from the neighboring western ridge, but unlike the Häntzschelstiege, without safety ropes, only with embedded metal holds and steps in the vertical rock face. The trail ends below the contoured Affenstein promenade, it does not lead to the summit plateau. The path was supposedly built in the 1920s. Unlike the Häntzschelstiege, it is used in both directions, often in combination with it as a circuit (i.e. for the descent).