Königstein (Sächsische Schweiz)

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The title of this article contains the following characters: ä and ö. Where they are unavailable or not desired, the name may be given as Koenigstein (Saechsische Schweiz).

Königstein is a town in the Free State of Saxony in Germany. Königstein lies in the Sächsische Schweiz District and has a population of 2,898 as of 2005. Near Königstein is the Festung Königstein fortress.

[edit] Geography

Königstein is located in the geographic region known as the Saxon Switzerland. 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.

[edit] 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.