"Post Distance Columns" Annaberg-Buchholz Off The Beaten Path Tip by Kathrin_E

Every Saxon town must have a Postmeilensäule. These were erected under the reign of August the Strong in the 1720s to mark the distances to towns along the post routes, usually right outside a town gate where the post carriages arrived and departed. Distances are given in hours, but they do not mean actual travel times. The "hour" is the distance a post carriage was supposed to cover in one hour, which is half a mile. 1 Saxon post mile = 9.062 kms.

Annaberg has even two of them. One is in Köselitzplatz, it lists two routes into Bohemia to Prague and Carlsbad (Karlovy Vary). The former post building in this square is also preserved - the pale pink house with the little post horn above the door. The two arches, now clsoed by walls and windows, must have been open passages that lead to the backyard and stables.

The other column is at Wolkensteiner Tor where the roads North leave the town. This place is still a transport hub. The successors of the post carriages as public transport carriers on country roads are the buses and Annaberg's bus station is a few metres further up this street.

Other roads that exited the town were also marked with smaller stones in a different shape. One such stone is preserved in Buchholzer Straße by the town wall. Here distances to neighbouring towns are given in miles.