Steinschleuder is a distinctive rock climbing peak in Saxon Switzerland, forming the middle massif of the famous Bastei Bridge. This is a place where medieval history meets rock climbing adventure, rewarding visitors with striking views and a story carved right into the stone.

During the Middle Ages, this rock tower served as the western cornerstone of the Neurathen rock castle. Visible from the popular Basteiweg trail are weathered stone steps carved into the tower's north face, once used as access to the fortress above. On the summit, archaeologists found stone balls and grooves in the rock, long believed to mark the site of a trebuchet (blide). Modern research considers this unlikely, since there simply wasn't enough space to load such a siege engine, and the anchoring wasn't substantial enough. The stone balls found within the castle grounds are now thought to have come from trebuchets used by attackers during various sieges. The surrounding sandstone landscape, with its towering rock formations and dense forest, creates an atmosphere that shifts beautifully with the seasons - misty and moody in autumn, crisp and dramatic in winter.

• Basteiweg trail - clearly visible rock massif from here, moderate approach
• Mardertelle route - historic climbing path, rated III on the Saxon difficulty scale

• Reaching the actual summit requires climbing skills and proper equipment - this is a technical climb, not a hiking trail
• The first documented modern ascent took place around 1816 by Friedrich Traugott Auerswald

The name Steinschleuder (stone slingshot) refers to the once-suspected siege catapult, though historians now believe the stone balls found here came from attackers besieging the castle rather than its defenders.