Lichtenhain Waterfall, Waterfall attraction in Kirnitzsch Valley, Germany

Lichtenhain Waterfall is a small waterfall of the Lichtenhainer Dorfbach brook, dropping over sandstone ledges in a gorge-like notch just above its mouth on the Kirnitzsch, south of the Lichtenhain district of Sebnitz. A short hillside channel raises the fall, and a retractable weir releases the water in surges. The water runs down a moss-covered, dark rock face in several thin white streams over rounded boulders.

The waterfall was first documented in 1812 by William Lebrecht Götzinger in a publication about Schandau, giving it regional prominence. From that time onward, people have controlled the weir to manage water flow and shape this natural spectacle for visitors.

Since 1830 a villager leased the post of "Wasserfallzieher" (waterfall puller), who kept a small tavern and, for a fee, opened the weir so the brook surged down for a few minutes. Restored in 1994, the release is staged every half hour, building slowly to a final chord. The wooden hut still carries the historic sign listing fares of 2 to 5 marks for guides and chair carriers.

The site is accessible by the Kirnitzschtalbahn, a historic tramway, from Bad Schandau. The terminal stations have elevated platforms and mobile ramps to accommodate wheelchairs and visitors with reduced mobility.

The weir is pulled every half hour, and the "Wasserfallzieher" lets the water come slowly before releasing it in a torrent on the final chord of the music. The post was leased to a Lichtenhain resident, who also ran a drinks counter. The wooden waterfall hut still displays the historic sign listing fares of 2 to 5 marks for guides and chair bearers.