The best running trails around Demitz-Thumitz

The canteen of the nearby Basalt AG quarries stood at this point. After a long period of vacancy and a fire in 2011, it was finally demolished and the rest area was created.

Railway viaduct on the Bischofswerda - Bautzen line. Impressively spans the valley. Worth seeing

"Old Stone Saw": Very interesting guided tour with a 20-minute film about the history of granite quarrying. Opening hours (as of 09/2023): May-September, every 1st Sunday of the month 10 a.m.-5 p.m

"Feldspar, quartz, and mica, I'll never forget those three," a schoolmaster once rhymed to help his students memorize the components of this plutonic rock. From the mid-19th century onward, granite had become a building material with steadily increasing demand. Building construction required bricks, window and door frames, steps and landings; road construction required paving stones and curbs; and railways required ballast and stones for bridge construction. Granite covers an area of 4,600 km² in Lusatia alone. This is the reason why countless quarries emerged between Kamenz and the Königshainer Hills. The area around the Klosterberg between Demitz-Thumitz and Schmölln quickly developed into the most important and largest mining area in Saxony. The steadily increasing demand for granite products led to the development of many quarries. These, in turn, attracted workers who settled in the villages surrounding the Klosterberg. In the 100 years between 1850 and 1950, the population of Demitz-Thumitz increased nearly tenfold. Source: https://www.demitz-thumitz.de/

Presumably, a border inspection took place in 1776 or forest areas on the Klosterberg, which belonged to the St. Marienstern monastery, were transferred to the Thumitz and Döbschke manors (near Göda). The coats of arms of the manors and the monastery (with the year 1776) are carved into the granite boulder.

Historical museum, shows how the granite was worked.

You can learn a lot about the history of granite from then to now on a well-signposted circular route in the village. it is very suitable not only for adults but also for children from 5 years.

Just a few hundred meters from the summit lies the Dreisesselstein, an unusually shaped granite block with three large notches (“chairs”), which is part of the legendary treasure trove of Upper Lusatia. According to the information plaque on this stone, the legend goes as follows: "Once upon a time, a mountain spirit lived in the caves of the Jungfernstein with his three daughters. Whenever dancing took place in the taverns of Thumitz and Schmölln, the three girls would also appear. They were admired by the boys for their beauty and grace. The only regret was that they always left the dance hall before midnight. They were often accompanied by boys on their way home. A rest was taken at the Dreisesselstein. The girls told their companions that they liked sitting there to enjoy the beautiful view. But shortly before midnight, they always said goodbye and declined any further company. Once, the boys decided to explore the home of the three beautiful girls. With lively conversation, they kept the three girls at the Dreisesselstein longer than usual. Suddenly, the Schmölln church clock struck midnight. The three girls let out a horrible scream – then they disappeared. Their companions stood in horror, as the forest rustled terribly. A short time later, the boys heard a bloodcurdling scream from the valley, from the Galgenteich pond in Birkenrode, followed shortly after by a second and a third. The beautiful girls were never seen again. It is said that the mountain spirit of the Jungfernstein drowned them in anger because they had violated his command to be home before midnight.