CORSO: The sporty hike

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

• 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.

• Day 1: Individual journey to Pirna
• You travel individually by train or car to Pirna (convenient parking facilities for cars are available in the multi-storey car park).
• Day 2: Pirna - Rathen/Hohnstein OT Polenztal spa town (approx. 16/23 km)
• The Malerweg begins at the entrance to the romantic Liebethaler Grund and leads to the monumental Richard Wagner memorial. Via Lohmen and the Uttewalder Grund, the Malerweg leads to the small town of Wehlen on the Elbe. Now it continues uphill over the Stone Table to the famous Bastei Bridge, the landmark of Saxon Switzerland. The day's stage ends in the spa town of Rathen or in the Polenztal valley, depending on hotel availability.
• Day 3: Kurort Rathen/Hohnstein OT Polenztal - Kirnitzschtal (approx. 24/19 km)
• The tour begins through the Amselgrund in the direction of Rathewalde. Cross the Devil's Bridge before the Hockstein viewpoint and follow the Malerweg trail down through the narrow Wolfsschlucht gorge into the Polenztal valley. The small town of Hohnstein towers over the Polenztal valley with the castle as its landmark, and from Hohnstein the Malerweg trail follows the Brandaussicht. The route descends over the Brand steps into the ‘Tiefen Grund’. Via Waitzdorf and the Ochselaussichten, the trail leads to the Kohlmühle mill and on to the Goßdorfer Raubschloss castle. You leave the Sebnitztal valley via the Mühlenweg up to Altendorf and reach the Kirnitzschtal valley along the Dorfbachklamm gorge.
• Day 4: Kirnitzschtal - Kirnitzschtal OT Lichtenhain (approx. 14 km)
• The Malerweg trail leads from Ostrau past the Falkenstein to the Großer Schrammtor and the imposing Schrammstein viewpoint. A real ridge walk at the ‘highest level’ offers you fantastic views. You reach the Affensteine area via the Schrammsteinweg and the Zurückesteig. A worthwhile branch-off from the Malerweg at this point is the path to the Carolaaussicht. Back on the route of the Malerweg, the descent is leisurely in the direction of Lichtenhain Waterfall via the Kleiner Dom and the lower Affensteinweg to the Kirnitzschtal valley. If the accommodation in Kirnitzschtal is already fully booked, you can take the historic Kirnitzschtalbahn railway or the scheduled hiking bus 241 back to your accommodation in Bad Schandau OT Kirnitzschtal (takes approx. 15-20 minutes; free of charge with the mobile guest card).
• Overnight stay in Kirnitzschtal OT Lichtenhain or in Bad Schandau OT Kirnitzschtal (depending on availability)
• Day 5: Kirnitzschtal OT Lichtenhain - Schöna (approx. 22 km)
• If you are planning to spend the night in Bad Schandau OT Kirnitzschtal, you will first return to the starting point of the hike. You hike along the Malerweg to the Kuhstall rock cave. Don't miss the somewhat hidden ascent to the new Wildenstein via the Himmelsleiter. From Felsenmühle, the Malerweg leads upstream along the Kirnitzsch to Buschmühle and on to Kleinsteinhöhle. Follow the road towards Räumichtmühle for a while and turn right into Mühlschlüchte shortly before. Walk past the old armoury via the Pohlshorn and the Goldsteinaussicht to the beech-covered basalt hilltop of the Großer Winterberg. The ‘Eishaus’ national park information centre and the Winterberg inn are located on the Großer Winterberg. You soon reach Schmilka via the steep mountain path.
• Day 6: Schöna - Königstein OT Halbestadt (approx. 27 km)
• The day starts up to the Wolfsberg and back down to the Krippengrund. This is followed by an ascent of the Papststein and the Gohrisch rock. Via the spa town of Gohrisch, the route ascends the Pfaffenstein with the legendary rock needle ‘Barbarine’, descends via the Kammerweg and continues to the Quirl with the Diebskeller cave. From Pfaffendorf, the Malerweg trail leads into the Elbe valley to Königstein. Take the ferry to change sides of the Elbe and reach the Halbestadt district.
• Day 7: Königstein OT Halbestadt - Pirna (approx. 20 km)
• After a short hike to Königstein Fortress, the route continues via Thürmsdorf to the Biedermann Mausoleum at the famous Thiele Aussicht. Continue via Weißig to the last summit of the Malerweg - the Rauenstein. You reach Stadt Wehlen via the rocky ridge. The view from the Königsnase offers a beautiful view of the Elbe valley. Shortly before Pirna, the Malerweg leads onto the Canalettoweg and finally ends at Pirna's market square.
• Day 8: individual departure
• Individual departure from Pirna by train or car.