The Nonne, also known as Nonnenstein, is a striking freestanding sandstone tower rising about 18 metres above the forest floor in Saxon Switzerland. It's a compact but characterful climbing summit with roots stretching back to medieval times, making it far more than just another rock formation.

The tower stands southeast of Rathen, just east of the Rauenstein rock chain, surrounded by the dense woods and dramatic sandstone scenery this region is famous for. In the 15th century, the rock served as a lookout post, much like the rock castle Neurathen across the Elbe. You can still spot traces of old stonework, a hollowed-out artificial cave once used as a guard room, and remains of an earthen rampart nearly 35 metres long — quiet echoes of its fortified past. The surrounding forest feels lively with climbers in warmer months, while autumn and spring bring a calmer, more atmospheric mood to the area.

How to reach the summit

• Rathen — approach through the forest toward Rauenstein; reaching the top requires climbing rather than hiking
• Alter Weg (Old Way, grade II on the Saxon scale) — the classic and most popular climbing route, well suited to beginners

Practical information

• The summit can only be reached by climbing — there is no walking trail to the top
• Alter Weg is one of the oldest and most frequented climbing routes in the region, popular with beginners
• Heavy foot traffic to the base has caused noticeable erosion on the surrounding forest slopes

The first clean sport ascent without ladders was made on 1 July 1888 by A. Matthäi, T. Lierke, H. Fischer and H. Kurze — before that, climbers had relied on ladders left over from the tower's medieval watchpost days.