Stolpen combines castle and town history. Stolpen Castle was first mentioned in 1222. Anna Constantia, Countess of Cosel, spent almost half a century behind its walls.
History
The historic town centre includes a restored passage through the market buildings, the steep market square, historic Dresdner Straße and the town church. The town museum provides insight into the town’s development.
The annual town festival tradition is also part of local cultural life: the Stolpen town festival combines traditional crafts, communal eating and drinking, music and games.
Geology
The basalt well at Stolpen Castle is more than 84 metres deep and is described as the deepest unlined basalt well on Earth. The basalt vent of Stolpen’s castle hill is recognised as a National Geotope.
Stolpen basalt formed around 25 million years ago, when a volcanic vent broke through the Earth’s crust and solidified into impressive columns. The permanent exhibition “Basalt is a Saxon” in the castle cellar documents the history and study of Stolpen basalt.
Getting Around
A signposted historical and natural-history hiking trail begins at the town museum, leads across the market square, through historic streets and to the castle, uses information boards and takes about an hour.
The local cycling circuit around Stolpen is about 23 kilometres long and leads through Lauterbach, Langenwolmsdorf, Altstadt and Rennersdorf-Neudörfel. Information boards, shelters and rest areas accompany the route; there are views along its consistently undulating course.
Stolpen also has a well-marked network of hiking trails. The routes pass historic sights and offer views of Saxon Switzerland. Stadtbad Stolpen is a weather-dependent outdoor swimming pool and is open during the warmer months.
Regional connections are provided by the RB71 regional express line between Pirna and Neustadt in Saxony.
Culture and Everyday Life
The Herbrig Organ Route begins in Stolpen-Altstadt and leads to nine churches with preserved Herbrig organs. At the Lietze estate in Stolpen, visitors can find demonstrations of traditional crafts, dining, cultural activities and museum exhibitions.
The Mäusesafari town game leads through Stolpen town centre to hidden wrought-iron mice, each of which has a story and a riddle. Three rounds are available, lasting approximately one to approximately two hours.
At the show dairy on the market square in Stolpen, soft cheese is made from raw milk; the courses are open to everyone.
Anyone wishing to rent a holiday apartment in Stolpen can continue their accommodation search afterwards.
