Saxon Switzerland climbing region

Saxon Switzerland (German: Sächsische Schweiz) is the largest and one of the best-known rock climbing regions in Germany, located in the Free State of Saxony.

It includes the western part of the Elbe Sandstone Mountains and is the oldest non-Alpine rock climbing region in Germany.

Its history of climbing dates back to the first ascent in modern times of the Falkenstein by Bad Schandau gymnasts in 1864.

Ring bolts can only be found in routes of the Saxon grade V and higher (with a few exceptions) but are only placed when no other protection is possible.

Only the person who makes the first ascent of a route is allowed to install ring bolts during the climb from the ground up.

In exceptional cases, later additions of ring bolts are decided by a commission of the Saxon Climbers Federation (SBB) when natural protection features have been destroyed or a route proves to be too dangerous.

When all members of the climbing party have reached the top, the summit register is signed and all climbers usually rappel.

[5] The Saxon-Switzerland offers a large variety of single and multipitch routes of all difficulties and techniques such as chimneys, cracks, slabs and face climbing.

Climbers should be confident to master a grade before starting a climb because resting on a weighted rope or retreating might not be safe or easy options.