Malerweg in Germany: Hiking in Saxon Switzerland

The Elbe Sandstone Mountains stretch on both sides of the Elbe River from the Saxon town of Pirna in the northwest to the Bohemian Decín in the southeast. The highest peak at 723m is Decinský Snezník on the Czech side. The mountain range connects the Ore Mountains in the west with the Lusatian Mountains of the Sudetes in the east.

Saxon Switzerland and the Zittau Mountains of the Lusatian range form the Saxon-Bohemian Cretaceous Sandstone Range. The eroded sandstone landscape of this region was formed from deposits accumulated at the bottom of the sea millions of years ago. Rough quartz sand, clay, and fine marl sank and were hardened layer by layer. This explains the unique landscape of Saxon Switzerland with its flattened peaks.

Malerweg is German for Painters' Path and it has everything to do with the fact that Saxon Switzerland was a favorite destination for many artists in the 19th century to find inspiration. The Malerweg is Germany's most beautiful hiking trail and that is because it simply has everything to offer. A varied hiking trail, a rich history highlighted along the way, and the most stunning views Germany has to offer. The landscape is not typically German. This is not the Black Forest, the Eifel, or the Alps. The Elbe Sandstone Mountains are unique and that is exactly why painters, writers, and poets were drawn to this part of Germany during the Romantic period.

The name Saxon Switzerland also originated in the 18th century. The two Swiss artists Adrian Zingg and Anton Graff studied at the art academy in Dresden in 1766. From their new home, they saw mountains to the east. According to them, it showed a strangely flattened panorama, with table mountains and no real pointed mountain peaks. The landscape reminded them of the Swiss Jura, and in letters, they wrote about the difference between their Switzerland and this particular "Saxon Switzerland".

The National Park of Saxon Switzerland covers an area of almost 100 km² over the core areas of the Elbe Sandstone Mountains. The national park was established on October 1st, 1990 by the former GDR. In the neighboring Czech Republic, the protected area continues as the Bohemian Switzerland National Park. Naturally, the national park lends itself perfectly to hiking, both for small excursions and long-distance hikes. The National Park of Saxon Switzerland has around 400 kilometers of marked trails, and it is not only the Malerweg that runs through the park. European Hiking Route E3, which runs from Santiago de Compostela to the Black Sea, also passes through Saxon Switzerland.

The Malerweg is one of the long-distance paths in Germany that can be walked all year round. Of course, there is a high season and it is no surprise that this is in the summer. Please note that places like the Bastei attract not only hikers but also a lot of other tourists. Between May and October, some of the hotspots along the Malerweg can be extremely busy. The most colorful seasons for the Malerweg are spring and autumn. Temperatures are mild but expect the occasional rain shower. In winter the Malerweg can also be hiked, however, in case of high snowfall the hiking paths may become inaccessible. Fortunately, this does not happen very often.

The Malerweg is one of the most popular long-distance hiking trails in Germany. This, in combination with the beauty of Saxon Switzerland and the attraction of the Elbe Sandstone Mountains, ensures that you will find numerous accommodation options along the Malerweg. Be it a hotel, a guesthouse, a B&B, or a so-called Zimmer Frei. You will find it all along the Malerweg trail. The Gasthöfer, Pensions, and Hotels along the Malerweg are mostly family-run businesses, often accompanied by an in-house restaurant and bar, and play a central role in the community life of the village or town.

Wanderfreundlich am Malerweg

Numerous accommodation facilities along the Malerweg are certified with the title "Wanderfreundlich am Malerweg" (Hiker-friendly along the Malerweg). Besides that they are offering accommodation, they can also help you with packed lunches, and assistance with luggage transport.

The Malerweg packages from Bookatrekking.com always include luggage transport, overnight stays, and breakfast.

A typical example of a Gasthof along the Malerweg:

The Malerweg is not just around the corner. On the contrary, the trail is located near the Czech border, in the far east of Germany, near Dresden. The starting and finishing point of the Malerweg is in the town of Pirna, directly on the Elbe.

Arriving by plane

You can book a flight to Dresden. From there you can take the bus or train to Pirna.

Arriving by car

You can drive via Osnabrück-Hannover-Magdeburg-Leipzig or via Dortmund-Kassel-Leipzig.

Arriving by train

You can take the train to Berlin. From Berlin, take the international IC to Decin Hl.n. and get off in Dresden. From here an S-Bahn runs directly to Pirna.

Arriving by bus

International bus companies such as Flixbus and Eurolines run from Utrecht to Dresden. From here, the S-Bahn is a stone's throw to Pirna. You can also board the bus in Belgium at several places.

By bus along the Malerweg

The Malerweg starts in Pirna-Liebethal, on the other side of the Elbe, just north of Pirna itself. This means that the Malerweg cannot be walked in a precise circle. Of course, you can walk to Liebethal, but most hikers just take the bus from the bus station to Liebethal. The bus goes every half hour and runs directly.

Along the rest of the Malerweg, buses also run regularly. The regular buses have been renamed Wanderbus by the local transport company (RVSOE) and so they are easily recognizable by hikers. In the season, from April to November, there are more buses than usual. It is very convenient.