CORSO: The MOST BEAUTIFUL hike

CORSO... die reiseagentur
Propietor: Michael Corso
Jagdsteig 25
01662 Meißen

• Day 1: Individual journey to Lohmen
• You travel individually to Lohmen. Lohmen Castle is enthroned on a rugged rock above the town. The small rural village between Pirna and Stadt Wehlen is an ideal starting point for a first short hike on the Malerweg, into the Liebethaler Grund: in Daube you descend to the Daube mill and arrive in the centre of the picturesque Grund. The small Wesenitz stream quickly makes its way through narrow rocky gorges, giving the valley its wild and romantic character. The Richard Wagner monument is just a few steps away from the once popular Lochmühle mill.
• Day 2: Lohmen - Rathen spa town (approx. 10 km)
• On the Brückwaldweg and through the ‘Schleifgrund’ you hike directly into the ‘Uttewalder Grund’. The cool ground leads you through narrow gorges, past evidence of the formation of the Elbe Sandstone Mountains and a rich variety of ferns, to the town of Wehlen on the Elbe. Past the castle ruins, over the ‘Stone Table’ you reach the most visited place in Saxon Switzerland, the ‘Bastei’. Breathtaking views and the impressive Bastei bridge high above the Elbe valley offer a magnificent view over the national park. Surrounded by rock formations such as the ‘Kleine Gans’, ‘Lokomotive’ and ‘Talwächter’, the path leads down to the ‘Amselgrund’. In the evening, there is an opportunity to visit the Rathen rock theatre or take a short walk to the ‘Amselsee’ (500m).
• Day 3: Rathen spa town - Gohrisch spa town (approx. 17 km)
• In the morning you climb up to Weißig and hike above the Elbe to Thürmsdorf, from where you have a view of a popular 18th century motif, the Elbe arch with the ‘Lilienstein’ and ‘Königstein’ table mountains. The patrol path leads you down to Königstein and immediately uphill to the next magnificent view. From the plateau of the ‘Pfaffensteine’, with the famous ‘Barbarine’ rock needle in the foreground, you have a magnificent view. You now enter the ‘realm of stones’ on the Königsweg. Seven striking stones - the ‘Papststein’, the ‘Gohrisch’, the ‘Kleinhennersdorfer Stein’, the ‘Lasensteine’, the ‘Kohlbornstein’ as well as the ‘Katzstein’ and the ‘Spitze Stein’ in the south characterise the image of the municipality of Gohrisch.
• Day 4: Gohrisch spa town - Bad Schandau (approx. 9 km)
• Your last stage on the Malerweg begins with the crossing of the ‘Gohrischfelsen’ and the ‘Papststein’. After descending to Papstdorf and continuing through Kleinhennersdorf, you reach Krippen. With a bit of luck, you may spot the rare dipper, kingfisher or grey wagtail along the Krippenbach stream. After a few steps, the view of the Elbe and the silhouette of Bad Schandau opens up to you, with the mighty rock massif of the ‘Schrammsteine’ to the east.
• Day 5: Bad Schandau round tour (approx. 10 - 15 km each way)
• Bad Schandau is an ideal starting point for a circular tour through the ‘Hintere Sächsische Schweiz’ region. One option: After a short ride on the historic passenger lift built in 1904, you can quickly reach the Ostrava plateau (reduced price with guest card approx. 1.40 euros per person). At the end of the village, follow the signs for Klüftel to Zahnsgrund, where you will find the Schrammsteinbaude inn. To get to the Großer Schrammtor, follow the hiking trail through the wild and romantic Lattengrund. Once you reach the Schrammtor, you will come to the signposted ‘Malerweg’ trail. A real ridge walk at the ‘highest level’ offers you fantastic views. Descend from the Schrammstein massif (approx. 300 metres in altitude) to the Kirnitzschtal valley or hike a little further into the bizarre rocky landscape of the ‘Affensteine’. A historic tram, the Kirnitzschtalbahn, will take you back to Bad Schandau in comfort (ticket included in the mobile guest card)
• Day 6: Bad Schandau - Hohnstein (approx. 17 km)
• From Bad Schandau you hike along the panorama trail to Altendorf. Continue along the Malerweg across Sebnitzer Straße and along the Mühlenweg to Großdorfer Raubschloss. The Otto-von-Thümmel-Weg now runs parallel to the national park railway to the village of Kohlmühle. Through the ‘Kohlichtgraben’ and the ‘Schindergraben’ you reach the picturesque village of Waitzdorf. For the next ascent, to the ‘Brand’, you first have to cross the ‘Tiefe Grund’. You will be rewarded with a breathtaking view from the ‘Balcony of Saxon Switzerland’. The Malerweg continues along the Brandstraße past the ‘Diebskeller’. The small town of Hohnstein soon awaits you. The impressive castle complex, situated high above the Polenztal valley, now houses a castle museum and a hotel after a long and eventful history.
• Day 7: Hohnstein - Lohmen (approx. 13 km)
• Your hike begins today with a descent into the Polenztal valley. The subsequent ascent to the Hockstein through the wild and romantic ‘Wolfsschlucht’ gorge ends at the Hockstein viewpoint and with a sweeping view of the canyon-like Polenz valley. The route continues leisurely past old beech trees, with a beautiful distant view of the ‘Lilienstein’, to the small village of Rathewalde. In a romantic location at the entrance to the ‘Amselgrund’, the Rathewalde mill awaits you for a break. Shortly afterwards, several small waterfalls and the legendary ‘Amselfall’ at ‘Amselloch’ follow. Probably the most spectacular part of this stage is the narrow path through the ‘Schwedenlöcher’. The imposing rock walls of the narrow valley rise over 50 metres into the air. After seven hundred steps, you reach the view from the ‘Kleine Gans’. You will soon reach Lohmen via the ‘Reingrund’.
• Day 8: individual departure from Lohmen

• For organisational reasons, this hike can only be booked up to 10 days before the date of arrival.
• We recommend sturdy ankle-high hiking boots and a small backpack for food and rain gear.
• A good level of fitness, sure-footedness and a head for heights are required for this hiking tour.
• The complete overview of the booked accommodation is noted on the travel confirmation/invoice and is sent to the guest by the tour operator only after the travel booking with the documents by post.
• Communication during the trip in the following languages: German
• The trip is unsuitable for guests with limited mobility.
• For German citizens, the current identification documents apply. All other persons should note the respective passport and visa deadlines. Your embassy will be happy to provide you with information on this.
• Please also note the information in the terms and conditions of the tour operator CORSO... die reiseagentur.
• The Saxon Switzerland Tourism Association only acts as an agent for this trip.