CORSO: The great hike

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

• 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/Liebethaler Grund - Lohmen (approx. 8 / 13 km)
• The Malerweg begins at the entrance to the Liebethaler Grund. This stage leads along the small Wesenitz stream through the romantic Grund to the monumental Richard Wagner memorial. Hidden behind trees and bushes, the long-abandoned quarries bear witness to the long tradition of using sandstone as a building material and millstone.
• Day 3: Lohmen - Hohnstein (approx. 15 km)
• You hike from Lohmen through the Uttewalder Grund to Stadt Wehlen. From Stadt Wehlen, the Malerweg follows the Schwarzbergweg past the ‘Stone Table’ to the most famous landmark of Saxon Switzerland, the Basteiaussicht. From the Basteiaussicht and Bastei bridge, you can look 190 metres down into the Elbe valley. After descending from the Bastei, you reach the small village of Rathen. The Malerweg follows the Grünbach stream past the entrance to the Rathen rock theatre in the direction of Rathewalde. You walk uphill along the Amselsee lake to the Amselfall and Amselloch, which soon appear. At the end of the valley just before Rathewalde, you pass the partially restored Rathewalde mills. Shortly before the Hockstein viewpoint, you cross the Teufelsbrücke bridge and follow the Malerweg trail down through the narrow Wolfsschlucht gorge into the Polenztal valley. The small town of Hohnstein towers above the Polenztal valley with the castle as its landmark. Passing the remains of the wall of the former bear garden, the trail leads directly into the small town, which is also famous for the Hohnstein hand puppets.
• Day 4: Hohnstein - Bad Schandau (approx. 16 km)
• From Hohnstein, the Malerweg leads to one of the most beautiful views in Saxon Switzerland, the Brandaussicht with the Brand-Baude restaurant. You reach the ‘Tiefen Grund’ via the steep and stepped descent of the Brand steps. To reach the picturesque village of Waitzdorf, the Malerweg follows the ascent along the so-called ‘Sense’. We recommend stopping off at the Waitzdorfer Schänke inn for a break. Via the Ochselaussichten, the hiking trail follows the Mühlweg and the Kohlichtgraben to the Kohlmühle. The Malerweg now runs parallel to the railway line of the national park railway in the direction of Großdorfer Raubschloss. You leave the Sebnitztal valley via the Mühlenweg up to Altendorf. From Altendorf, the Malerweg trail follows the wildly romantic rocky gorge of the Dorfbachklamm gorge down into the Kirnitzschtal valley and along the Mühlweg trail to Bad Schandau.
• Day 5: Bad Schandau - Kirnitzschtal OT Lichtenhain (approx. 13 km)
• Use the historic passenger lift to the Ostrau plateau for quick access to the starting point of the day's stage (reduced fare applies with a guest card). The Malerweg trail leads from Ostrau past the Falkenstein to the large Schrammtor gate 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 (depending on availability)
• Day 6: Kirnitzschtal OT Lichtenhain - Schmilka (approx. 17 km)
• If you are planning to spend the night in Bad Schandau, you will first return to the starting point of the hike. The Malerweg trail first takes you to the Kuhstall rock cave. Don't miss the somewhat hidden ascent to the new Wildenstein via the Himmelsleiter. From Felsenmühle, the Malerweg runs 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 7: Schmilka - spa town of Gohrisch (approx. 16 km)
• Take the ferry to change sides of the Elbe and hike along the Aschersteig trail to Schöna and on to Wolfsberg in Reinhardtsdorf, where the Malerweg trail continues from Wolfsberg to Krippengrund. Two real ‘high-carat’ peaks follow: the Papststein and the Gohrischfels, at 451 metres and 440 metres respectively, are the highest points on the Malerweg after the Großer Winterberg. You reach the spa town of Gohrisch on the Muselweg.
• Day 8: Gohrisch spa town - Weißig (approx. 14 km)
• From Gohrisch, follow the Malerweg to the ascent of the Pfaffenstein. A view of the legendary ‘Barbarine’ awaits you, which, according to legend, is a petrified virgin. Descend from the Pfaffenstein via the Kammerweg and hike towards the Quirl. The Quirl is home to the largest cave in Saxon Switzerland, the Diebskeller. From Pfaffendorf, the Malerweg leads you into the Elbe valley and the beautiful old town of Königstein and on to the famous Königstein Fortress. After a short hike along the Malerweg, you reach Thürmsdorf. At the Biedermann mausoleum in Thürmsdorf you will find the famous Thiele viewpoint with a view over the Elbe valley and Königstein. After just a few kilometres, you will soon reach Weißig.
• Day 9 Weißig - Pirna (approx. 13 km)
• The last stage of the Malerweg offers relaxed hiking. The hiking trail climbs the Rauenstein, the last summit of the Malerweg. The Robert-Sterl House in Pötzscha is well worth a visit. The museum preserves the artistic legacy of the impressionist painter Robert Sterl. 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 the Pirna market square.
• Day 10 Individual departure
• Individual departure from Pirna by train or car.

• 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.