Scheibenberg

The Scheibenberg rises south-east of the town of Scheibenberg in the western Erzgebirge. It is one of three great basalt mountains in the region, alongside the Bärenstein and Pöhlberg. The mountain’s columnar basalt forms striking vertical pillars known locally as ‘organ pipes’, reaching nearly 30 metres high. These pillars are the remains of an ancient lava flow that once filled a valley, later exposed by erosion. The site was recognised in 2024 as one of the world’s most important geological heritage locations by the International Union of Geological Sciences.

The Scheibenberg played a key role in the history of geology. In 1787 and 1788, mineralogist Abraham Gottlob Werner studied the mountain and concluded that basalt had formed from ocean sediments, a theory called Neptunism. A Basalt Nature Trail with 15 information boards explains the mountain’s geological features. The site also includes remnants of historic basalt and clay quarries, where stone was once extracted for road building and pottery. The mountain was protected as early as 1937 and now lies within a European conservation area.

Visitors reach the summit via a road that ends at the Berggasthof, where a modern observation tower stands. The tower’s octagonal shape echoes the basalt columns below. From the viewing platform at 22.44 metres, there are wide views across the Erzgebirge. A circular path around the lower slopes links to several summit trails, including the Zahmsteig, built between 1931 and 1934 by Ottomar Zahm. The mountain’s slopes support mixed woodland with rare plants such as mezereon and alpine bartsia, while birds like the peregrine falcon nest on the cliffs.