Neumannmühle in Kirnitzsch Valley – Great Zschand – Zeughaus and back
In the footsteps of our royal ancestors you can cross the cool Zschand region to reach the traditional Zeughaus restaurant. The small troubles of the journey there will be forgotten on the very relaxed return trip.
The traditional Zeughaus restaurant / Photo: Archive National Park Management, K. Jäpelt
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Distance: 3.6 km
Narrowest point: no restrictions Obstacles: none Accessibility in wet conditions: yes Transport connections: Bus line 241 to Neumannmühle, by car to Neumannmühle car park Parking: Neumannmühle car park, subject to charge, no separate disabled parking Refreshments: Neumannmühle, Zeughaus |
The tour begins at Neumannmühle in Kirnitzsch Valley. From the car park opposite (subject to charge) follow the yellow line path toward Zeughaus. Going past the information panels of the National Park you will leave the Kirnitzsch Valley and enter the narrow Great (lower) Zschand. The paved road up to Zeughaus is, at times, relatively steep. This part of Great Zschand winds through narrow rocks, where you can find rare plants – described further down on this page.
Before reaching the Zeughaus, where the equipment for royal hunts used to be stored, the valley becomes broader. From the accessible national park information site, which you can reach via a small ascent, you have a beautiful view of the Teichstein rock. To get to the exhibition, unfortunately, you must climb a short but very steep ascent of about 15 m. In the exhibition you will find information on the historical hunts in the Zschand and the founding of the core zone within the national park.
To enlarge, please click on the map.
The dry valley of the Great Zschand stretches over six kilometers through the rear region of Saxon Switzerland up into Bohemia. It is a dry valley because only in wet weather conditions and after the snowmelt can you find small streams in it. The northern part of Great Zschand from Neumannmühle in Kirnitzsch Valley to Zeughaus is a narrow passage between rocks where there is a cool and damp cellar-climate. This is home to rare plants which are regarded as “ice age relics”. These include the clasping twistedstalk and the twoflower violet. In ancient times this valley was the most important commercial link between Saxon and Bohemian Switzerland. Timber was one of the most important resources that were often transported to Kirnitzsch Valley.
Hunting also used to play an important role here; members of the upper class would enjoy the forests of Great Zschand for this purpose. At the centre of the region lies the Zeughaus where the royal hunting gear used to be stored for stately hunts. Later the Zeughaus accommodated sign engravers. Their task was to mark territory borders in trees and stones.
