Königstein, Saxony

Königstein (Upper Sorbian: Kralowc) is a town on the Elbe river in Saxony in Germany. Königstein lies in the Sächsische Schweiz-Osterzgebirge District and had a population of 2,089 in 2018. It includes land on both banks of the Elbe, but the centre and most of the town lies to the south of the river. The Königstein Fortress is situated above and to the south-west of the town.

Königstein
Town
Coat of arms of Königstein
Coat of arms
Location of Königstein within Sächsische Schweiz-Osterzgebirge district
Königstein is located in Germany
Königstein
Königstein
Königstein is located in Saxony
Königstein
Königstein
Coordinates: 50°55′8″N 14°4′17″E
CountryGermany
StateSaxony
DistrictSächsische Schweiz-Osterzgebirge
Municipal assoc.Königstein/Sächs. Schweiz
Subdivisions2
Government
 • Mayor (2022–29) Tobias Kummer[1] (CDU)
Area
 • Total26.93 km2 (10.40 sq mi)
Elevation
212 m (696 ft)
Population
 (2021-12-31)[2]
 • Total2,085
 • Density77/km2 (200/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
Postal codes
01824
Dialling codes035021
Vehicle registrationPIR
Websitewww.koenigstein-sachsen.de
Königstein in 2007
Street sign - "Königstein - Kreis Sächschische Schweiz"

Geography

Königstein is located in the Elbe Sandstone Mountains. The town lies in between Pirna and the Czech border at the confluence of the Biela with the Elbe. Königstein was damaged during the flooding of the Elbe in 2002.

History

The town of Königstein was first mentioned in 1379 as a settlement near the castle of Königstein. It was named after a King of Bohemia, but eventually passed to the Saxon Margraves of Meißen. However, Königstein still retains the double-tailed lion of Bohemia in its coat of arms. During World War II the prisoner-of-war camp for Allied officers, Oflag IV-B, was located in the castle.

Transport

Königstein (Sächsische Schweiz) station, on the Dresden S-Bahn and the Dresden to Prague railway, is located in the centre of the town. Königstein is also a stop for the Sächsische Dampfschiffahrt ships, including historic paddle steamers, operating on the Elbe between Dresden and the Czech border.[3][4]

Bus services in the Königstein area are operated by the Regionalverkehr Sächsische Schweiz-Osterzgebirge, who also operate the Königstein to Halbestadt passenger ferry that crosses the river to the Halbestadt quarter on the north bank.[5]

References
  1. Gewählte Bürgermeisterinnen und Bürgermeister im Freistaat Sachsen, Stand: 17. Juli 2022, Statistisches Landesamt des Freistaates Sachsen.
  2. "Bevölkerung des Freistaates Sachsen nach Gemeinden am 31. Dezember 2021" (XLS) (in German). Statistisches Landesamt des Freistaates Sachsen. 2022.
  3. Eisenbahnatlas Deutschland [German railway atlas] (in German) (2009/2010 ed.). Schweers + Wall. 2009. ISBN 978-3-89494-139-0.
  4. "Piers". Sächsische Dampfschiffahrt. Retrieved 20 July 2022.
  5. "Elbe ferries". Verkehrsverbund Oberelbe. Retrieved 20 July 2022.
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