Wondering what stories this old stone could tell? This is the Wegweisersäule. It is more than just a stone. The Wegweisersäule is a historical signpost. These columns were made of stone. They showed travelers the way for decades. Wegweisersäulen are historical monuments. Many are already listed as protected monuments.
These Wegweisersäulen are often smaller than other stone landmarks. They are distinguishable by their form. They stand as historical witnesses. They are in line with post milestone columns, road maintenance stones, and boundary stones.
Let’s talk about Saxony. Municipal signposts became common later. This happened after state-ordered postal columns. The Saxon government issued a decree on January 29, 1820. It concerned the construction of signposts and place-name signs. This decree was valid until 1934. Municipalities then erected Wegweisersäulen. They were first made of wood. Later they were made of stone.
Square shapes were very common in Saxony. Round columns or repurposed columns were less common. The round Wegweisersäulen are a transition. They bridge wooden post columns and municipal Wegweisersäulen. They connect the post milestone columns to the Royal Saxon mile markers.
Distance information was often given in official Wegstunden. This was between 1721 and 1840. One Wegstunde equaled 4.531 km. Around 1900, distances were given in kilometers. Sometimes both units were on the column. Some columns do not have distance information. Occasionally, the location’s name was given. For example, “Commun” for municipality. The year of construction was also sometimes noted. The material was usually local sandstone, granite, or porphyry. The design was typical for the region.
In 1840, the postal tax regulations adjusted the length units. They changed it to the “Kleine Meile”. The Meile was shortened from 9.062 kilometers to 7.5 kilometers. The old Saxon post milestone columns were no longer usable. They fell into disrepair. The Wegweisersäulen did not always have distance information. They remained useful. Over the decades, road construction made these stone witnesses obsolete. They were damaged or removed. New and improved signposts replaced them.
The Gemarkungssäule Chemnitz-Ebersdorf is at the entrance to Lichtenwalde. It is still on Ebersdorf territory. This column is also a classic Wegweisersäule. It bears information about the adjacent fields. Therefore, it is called a Gemarkungssäule. The column is a copy that differs significantly from the original. That is quite curious.
In 1833, a round column was erected in Grüna. Distance information was in Wegstunden. Directional arrows were added. Later, kilometer information was added.
In the Rabensteiner Forest, there was a tall, slender column. It was made of Hilbersdorf porphyry tuff. It stood at the Langen Flügel 2 since 1869. In 2005, it was replaced by a sandstone copy.
So, next time you see a Wegweisersäule, remember its long history. It is a silent guide from a time when travel was different.