Königshain mountains @museum.de

Before we turn our attention to the people who worked here, I'd like to talk briefly about the wonderful area in which the quarry is located. We are in the Königshain Mountains, the smallest low mountain range in Germany. Granite rocks used to tower far above the treetops here. Today, many of them have disappeared, as granite has been used for building houses and roads since the Middle Ages.

The 373-metre-high Totenstein still exists today. It was already an important place of worship in the Bronze Age, over 3000 years ago. However, this rock was only named Totenstein later, after a young miller's daughter who jumped down here while fleeing from a knight named Kuno. She was saved by an angel and returned home safely, while Kuno fell off his horse and drowned in the swamp. At least that's how the legend goes. You can visit another granite rock, the Firstenstein, later. It is only a stone's throw away from the museum.

Cat's leap, cat's leap. Just hearing that. No cats live here. And of course nobody thinks about us foxes again. But we can jump much higher. Two meters is nothing for us. Did you know that?

Today, the Königshain mountains are a popular excursion destination. You can go climbing, diving and hiking here. But be careful! The crystal-clear lakes are also quarries that have filled up with rainwater over time. Just don't jump in at full speed. The bottom is made of hard granite stone and the impact can be life-threatening.