Around 1410 a watchtower was erected on the Frienstein as a signal station by the Barony of Wildenstein that was owned by the family of
Berka of Dubá. By this means Frienstein could make contact with the surrounding watchtowers on the
Winterstein, the
Neuer Wildenstein and the
Alter Wildenstein. In 1451, the Frienstein, together with the rest of the barony, went to the
House of Wettin and thus to the
Electorate of Saxony. In the period that followed,
robber knights lodged on the Frienstein, even in 1479 one of their workers conceded that
"item near Frienstein is a trap..., where those who are caught are tormented" (
item beym Freynstein ist eyn loch ..., do man die gefangen eynfurt zu peynigen). On the first cartographic record in Saxony, a map dating to 1592 by
Matthias Oeder, the rock is marked as
Freystein. On the present-day climbing route called the
Alter Weg ("Old Way"), one can still see the rebates and steps cut out of the rock that was once used to climb it. Even on the summit area, there are traces of the watchtower in the shape of rebates for anchoring a wooden observation post. On the eastern side at the foot of the rock is the Ida Grotto (
Idagrotte), a large crevice and bedding cave that is nowadays a popular destination. It can only be reached over a narrow band of rock. In the grotto, there are still traces of its medieval use as a living area. Because of its size and the fact that it is easy to get to, the Ida Grotto is a popular goal for
Boofers, a Saxon term for hikers who sleep out in the open. However, in recent years, there have been repeated cases of hikers who have fallen and been seriously injured or killed due to being intoxicated with alcohol. == Climbing peak ==