#pfaffenstein

. . . | uwhe-arts

Barbarine am Pfaffenstein, 1940. From the Budapest Municipal Photography Company archive.

(sächsische schweiz, germany)

2020-09-13_18-29-37_NIKON Z 6 by marschel3000 https://flic.kr/p/2jHbhMb

There is definitely some kind of magic in this landscape. Some of the rock is dark and rugged, some of it light and straight as a razor, as if some giant creature had shaped these rocks to its will. We felt dwarfed by the size and in awe of all the different formations. The rock pillar is known as ‘Barbarine’, or ‘Maiden Rock’ and has been used for rock-climbing for over 200 years and reminded me of the Old Man of Hoy on the Orkney Islands. However, due to the climbing activity and the weathering process, the top of the pillar had to be fixed with concrete and one is not allowed to climb it any longer. I first came to this region as a child and I remembered it fondly, so I was very happy to go back as an adult and be able to see it again and appreciate it even more. A holiday well spent.