Pfaffenstein & Barbarine
Pfaffenstein
A table mountain south of Königstein. Squeeze through the 'eye of the needle' rock crevice to the top to see the 40-metre-plus Barbarine pillar.
The Pfaffenstein lies south of Königstein. Its plateau is densely packed with rock mazes, caves and viewpoints, earning it the nickname 'the little maze within the table mountain'. Its most famous feature is the Barbarine, a freestanding column of rock over 40 metres tall at the plateau's edge, and one of the defining images of Saxon Switzerland. There are two routes up. The 'Eye of the Needle' is a narrow rock crevice you have to squeeze through sideways, while the other path is gentler. The summit has a lookout tower and a mountain restaurant. From the Pfaffendorf car park it takes about 30 minutes to the top. Entry is free.
Opening hours
All day
Nearby sights
- Königstein Fortress
- Lilienstein
- Bastei Bridge, Saxon Switzerland
- Felsenbühne Rathen
- Schwedenlöcher & Amselsee
- Brand Viewpoint
- Bad Schandau & Historic Lift
- Hohnstein Castle