Arising 419.5m above sea level in a residential area called Biesnitz, the Landeskrone is the widely visible landmark of the city. Its diverse nature offers both recreation-seekers and those interested in geology and botany stimulation and enjoyment of nature. The hiking trails are well signposted, and at the summit the Burghotel Landeskrone restaurant and the lookout tower invite you to take a break.
History:
The Landeskrone was formed about 34 million years ago from a volcano. In 1440, the city of Görlitz was able to acquire the Landeskrone from its noble owners and obtained timber there, not least to replace the damage caused by the numerous city fires. As a result, the mountain lost most of its forest cover.
The lower, somewhat flatter granite base was later used for agriculture, the upper, steep basalt base was used for pasture.
In the 18th century, a refuge and a tower were built on the western summit of the Landeskrone. The eastern, lower summit bears a so-called Bismarck Tower, built in 1901 by the architect Wilhelm Kreis. Fires were lit on it at social and political heights, visible from afar.
A small restaurant was built on the mountain in 1844, and the large mountain inn with its towers and colonnades offered all kinds of entertainment from 1863 until it burned down in 1946. The new building as seen today dates from 1951.
As the interest of the citizens in their mountain grew, it was also developed, paths, stairways, railings and plantings were created. The first benches invited people to linger in the mid-19th century. An avenue of lime trees planted in 1840 begins at the foot of the Landeskrone and meets the road at the basalt cone; 178 steps lead upwards. To the right and left, the mountain base was planted with copper beech in 1883. A very comfortable ascent is possible via the road from the west side.
In this way, a mountain covered preferentially with deciduous trees gradually developed, which was declared a nature reserve in 1953 because of its rich natural features. The conservation objective was reformulated in a legal ordinance of 1999, and it is also under European protection as a Natura 2000 area.
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