Sängerhöhe (497 m) is a modest but atmospheric summit in the Zittau Mountains, once known by the ominous name Unglücksstein - Rock of Misfortune. Its forested, rocky top hides an intriguing history and views that punch above its modest height.

The hill is the middle and second-highest peak of a ridge running from Ottoberg towards Kirschhügel, mostly covered in meadows. The summit of Sängerhöhe itself, along with the neighbouring Pfarrbach valley, is forested, giving the area a quiet, woodland character. The peak is formed by around 20-metre-high, partly recumbent columns of hornblende-bearing nepheline basalt - remnants of 19th-century quarrying. Southeast of the summit, at the forest edge, lies a viewpoint overlooking the Waltersdorf valley and the Zittau Mountains. In autumn and winter, once the leaves have fallen, the views open up even further.

How to reach the summit

• Waltersdorf - unmarked trail via the Arschkerbe, short walking time, easy to moderate difficulty
• Alternative: a branch from the valley path along the Pfarrbach leading directly up to Sängerhöhe

Practical information

• The trail to the summit is unmarked - bringing a local map is recommended
• The summit rocks were quarried for stone during the 19th century

The old name Unglücksstein comes from a legend about a maid who fell from the rocks while trying to retrieve an escaped goat. The current name, Sängerhöhe (Singers' Height), stems from choral performances held on the summit since the mid-19th century.