The starting point of our tour is the parking lot on the market square. We walk along Schützenhausgasse and cross Schützenhausstraße. Then we follow the former Kirchsteig (yellow-green marking) to the left of the bus stop along the allotment garden and turn right at the soon following junction in the direction of Rennersdorf/Fischbach (yellow marking). After a small grove, a beautiful view of the castle silhouette and the town reveals itself to us. On the other side, a carefully restored historical building complex, the former Brettmühle, can be seen in the distance.
At the next junction we turn left (green mark) and discover a picturesque little pond overgrown with water lilies. Our path continues to follow the green markings in the direction of Schmiedefeld/Großharthau. A few meters later we see the Wesenitz, which rises in the Lusatian Mountains and after 83 km flows into the Elbe near Pirna. From here we follow the Wesenitztal hiking trail with a red dot. At the Wesenitztalstraße we turn left and pass the district Rennersdorf-Neudörfel to the crossing at the main road. At the yellow house we turn right.
We follow the road, keep to the left and walk past the village pond with a small group of boulders. After the unfortunately very dilapidated manor house we turn left again and cross the Stolpener Landstraße. We continue along the Helmsdorfer Straße. After a small group of houses we turn left onto a path between pasture fences, recognizable by a bench. Here the Wesenitztalwanderweg leads through the romantic valley along the small river, which meanders gently. To the left we discover a wooden footbridge on which we reach the other side.
Crossing a small paved bridge, we take the small path straight ahead, which turns into an imposing hollow path surrounded by woods. This is the old Bishop's Way, the medieval connecting road between the main episcopal residence in Meissen and the secondary residence in Stolpen, which became such a deeply cut hollow way due to the once busy wagon traffic.
A bench with a floral rondel and a sandstone fountain invites you to take a rest before the final stage, before we turn left into the Obere Straße in the district of Stolpen-Altstadt. The Altstädter church is worth a visit. Continue along Obere Straße (blue marking) straight ahead until you reach Pirnaer Landstraße at the school.
A sign shows us the way left to the city center, which we soon reach via Dresdner Straße and the old city gate. Directly after the gate we keep right and turn right again into the Kirchgasse and reach by steps the town church of Stolpen. Passing the monument on the left, we walk along the promenade path and turn left to the view of the bastions. Continue along the foot of the castle and enter the castle through the gate on the left. After an extensive tour of the castle and the museum, it is not far back to the starting point. We only have to walk down the street from the castle and we arrive at the market place. Who has time and desire can still visit the city museum here.
