Up to the Lilienstein

The highlight of the circular hike is probably the most striking table mountain in Saxon Switzerland: the Lilienstein. We leave Prossen from the castle in a northerly direction through the Gründel, initially ignoring the signs to Lilienstein. After the last houses, we cross the small bridge over the Gründelbach stream and keep to the right immediately afterwards. The path through the shallow ground leads us to the plain, where the majestic stone now greets us on the left. We walk directly towards the mountain on blue markings, pass the Franzosenborn, a covered spring, and finally climb up the northern ascent, with the path also leading over a steel ladder. The jagged, 415 metre-high summit offers several viewpoints in all directions - for example of the Schrammstein range and the Winterberg to the east. We can also make out our starting point, Prossen Castle, on the Elbe, which flows 300 metres below us. Königstein Fortress can be seen to the south-west. The impression is not deceptive: at 360 metres above sea level, the fortress mountain opposite is significantly lower than the table mountain on which we are standing. Until mid-December and from the end of March, the rustic rock hut up here is open for refreshments. We should definitely not miss the westernmost point of the summit plateau, even if the path there requires surefootedness and a head for heights. However, the panorama here is spectacular. We choose the southern descent for our way back. The path, still marked in blue, takes us down many steps into the forest. There we keep to the left towards Ebenheit, while the path to the car park continues to the right. The path now leads us along the edge of the forest with a view of the Königstein and takes us past the valley station of the goods lift back to the western side of the Lilienstein, from where we started the ascent. Here we follow the yellow markings in the direction of Prossen and pass the former Sellnitz sheep farm, which is now used as a training centre for the national park. The last section of the trail is steeper again, but uncomplicated along the Elbe slope. We reach Prossen at the old garden estate, which is already within sight of the castle.