Schaben – Fortress, Chapel and Mineral Spring

Schaben combines architectural history, local vernacular architecture and a varied landscape. At its center is Šabina Fortress; in addition, there are St. Anne’s Chapel, House No. 9 and the Šabinská kyselka spring. This creates a choice for your travel planning between historical details and a landscape that extends from the valley floor to the slopes.

Å abina Fortress and Its Eventful History

Šabina Fortress is a two-storey, rectangular building, originally Gothic and remodeled in the Renaissance style under the Stolz of Simbsdorf; its coat of arms is located on the façade. This building therefore reveals both its original Gothic character and its later Renaissance-style alteration. In the 19th century, the fortress served as a school until 1891, then as a poorhouse and later as a warehouse. Its history therefore extends beyond its architecture and also encompasses several uses across different periods.

The site of Šabina Fortress is classified in the Czech state archaeological register as a significant archaeological site in category ÚAN I. Its archaeological importance adds another historical layer to the visible structural features. Those interested in the development of buildings and places will therefore find both a tangible form and a documented history of use here.

St. Anne’s Chapel and House No. 9

St. Anne’s Chapel is a four-sided building with a neighboring well. In 2001, it was built as a replica of the original chapel, which was demolished in 1960 during the widening of the road. The present chapel thus represents both an inherited form and its later reconstruction.

House No. 9 draws attention to another aspect of the village’s history. The residential building, constructed using log construction, has a half-timbered gable and a masonry stable. It is a typical example of local vernacular architecture from the late 18th century. Together with the fortress and chapel, it presents a differentiated picture of historical building forms, without all the surviving examples belonging to the same period or having the same architectural character.

River Bend, Slopes and Mineral Water

The village lies in a river bend on the valley floor and extends into steeply varied slopes. This landscape shapes the spatial impression of the village: the valley floor is followed by slopes with a distinctly varied structure. South of Šabina lies the restored Šabinská kyselka spring, a drinkable mineral-water spring with a pleasantly acidic and refreshing taste.

The Šabinská kyselka spring can be reached by bicycle via a path, although it requires some effort. For planning your cycling trip, this information helps put the destination into context. The spring complements the historic buildings with a landscape-related site possessing its own distinctive feature.

Discover More Places

Other destinations in the same selection include Habersbirk, Dotterwies, Wintersgrün, Katzengrün, Schlaggenwald, Rothau, Unterneugrün and Douglasgrün.

For the overarching travel overview: Falkenau an der Eger District.