On the trail of Gottfried Semper

3:00 h
11.64 km
188 m
188 m
214 m
314 m
100 m
Start: Belvedere Schöne Höhe, Dürrröhrsdorf-Dittersbach
Destination: Belvedere Schöne Höhe, Dürrröhrsdorf-Dittersbach

The famous architect Gottfried Semper (1803 - 1879) also left his mark on the foothills of Saxon Switzerland. The circular walk begins at the Schöne Höhe Belvedere in Dürrröhrsdorf-Dittersbach. After the death of the master builder Joseph Türmer, Semper completed the building and contributed decorative designs for the ceiling painting, among other things.

From the Belvedere Schöne Höhe, the path leads down into the Wesenitzgrund to Dittersbach Castle Park. Here you will find another work of art from the Semper era: at the entrance to a stone grotto, a nymph fetching water, created by Ernst Rietschel (1804 - 1861), turns towards the viewer. The route now leads out of the castle park and runs through the Lieblingstal valley (yellow dot), past the Hubertus Chapel, the King Anton Monument (founder of the first Saxon Constitution) and the Constitution Column. At the edge of the forest before the Teufelsbrücke bridge, leave the marked path and take a sharp right turn. Now continue through the forest and the adjacent field up to the S161 country road, then in a westerly direction to St. Barbara's Church. This medieval building was partially remodeled in the 19th century and was fitted with a Herbig organ, for which Gottfried Semper created an impressive façade decorated with figures. The cycle and hiking trail, which runs along the embankment of a former railroad line and offers wonderful views, takes you to the Herrmann-Glöckner fountain in Wünschendorf, then up to the Kohlberg (green line) and finally back to the Schöne Höhe belvedere.

Best to visit

suitable

Depends on weather

Jan
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Tour information

Cultural Interesting
Loop Road

Directions & Parking facilities

B172 to Pirna and then in the direction of Lohmen/Stolpen or via the B6

Dürrröhrsdorf-Dittersbach parking lot, town center

Arrival/departure:

Regional train RB71 (Pirna - Neustadt), stop: Dürrröhrsdorf station

Bus line 226 (Dresden Bühlau - Dürrröhrsdorf-Dittersbach - Pirna, Mon-Fri)

Bus line 234 (Pirna - Neustadt, Mon-Fri)

Additional information

www.schoenehoehe.de

www.duerrroehrsdorf-dittersbach.de

Literature

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Author´s Tip / Recommendation of the author

The Belvedere Schöne Höhe is one of the earliest places of worship for Goethe. After the death of the Dresden architect Joseph Thürmer (1789-1833), Gottfried Semper oversaw the construction until completion. Semper was involved in the interior decorative design, especially of the festive hall with the frescoes, including the impressive wooden beam ceiling. Since 2012, the Stone of Good Luck has been located at the rear staircase. It is a slightly smaller replica of the original that Goethe dedicated to his revered friend von Stein and had erected near his garden house in Weimar. It shows a large stone ball resting on a massive cubic base: the ball as a symbol of fluctuating grace (Goethe), the pedestal as a symbol of calm and constancy (Frau von Stein). The simple monument quickly became a popular attraction for bridal couples, hikers and other visitors. Ernst Rietschel's nymph in the castle park of Dittersbach was lost and was recreated in 2012 from the remains of the model. Since 1837, the figure had been walking along the banks of the rushing Wesenitz to fetch water from a stone-lined grotto. Since the Second World War, it had disappeared without a trace and the grotto had fallen into disrepair. On the initiative of the Quandt Association, in collaboration with other partners, it was possible to recreate the nymph in its original size from the remains of the life-size plaster model and a preserved small original Rietschel model.Other architectural highlights include:Hubertus Chapel, King Anton Monument and Constitution Column in the LieblingstalSt. Barbara Church in Eschdorf: a small late Gothic church with an organ facade designed by Semper himselfHermann Glöckner Fountain in WünschendorfSource: Quandt Association

Safety guidelines

Please note: in the Saxon Switzerland National Park, only marked trails may be used in the core zone! Fines may be imposed for non-compliance.

Path markings

Map

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Place of interest