The Most Beautiful Stages of the Malerweg
Duration: 7 days
Trails: T2 trails
Distance: 10 - 15 km per day
Ascent per day: 250 - 500 m ascent per day
A week in Saxon Switzerland
> From Pirna via the Bastei Bridge to Schmilka
> Staying in pleasant guesthouses and hotels
Not far from Dresden, on the border with the Czech Republic and on the banks of the River Elbe, you will find one of the most beautiful examples of German nature. National Park Saxon Switzerland is home to the Elbe Sandstone Mountains and this is where the Malerweg runs, a 112-kilometer hiking trail that can be walked in 8 stages. <
On this 7-day hiking holiday, you'll hike the five most beautiful stages of the Malerweg and experience National Park Saxon Switzerland in all its glory. The Bastei Bridge is of course part of this adventure. Your stay in comfortable guesthouses and three-star hotels along the way is taken care of, and your remaining luggage is transported to the next place of accommodation. All you have to do is walk!
Note: It is important to mention that there are limited accommodation options along the Malerweg. This means that you may stay in a different village than originally planned. You can find the alternative villages listed below in the itinerary.
Itinerary
Day
1
Arrival in Pirna
Today you arrive in Pirna. After a long journey, take some time to relax at your hotel and prepare for the adventure ahead.
Pirnscher Hof Hotel Garni (Pirna)
Day
2
Pirna-Liebethal - Stadt Wehlen/Kurort Rathen
Duration: 04:40 h
Distance: 17.5 km
Ascent: 200 m
Descent: 200 m
The hike starts at the entrance of the romantic Liebethaler Grund. You can also choose to hike this part, which will take you an extra 1.5 hours. The path follows the Wesenitz and passes the monumental Richard Wagner monument (designed by Richard Guhr, 1933) and the remains of the former Lochmühle. You then pass through Uttewalder Grund, famous for its stunning rock gate. From here, the path winds through rocky terrain. You will pass the remains of one of the oldest castles in the region. The Malerweg runs along the Elbe to the end of this first day.
Ferienwohnung Langer (Stadt Wehlen)
Day
3
Stadt Wehlen/Kurort Rathen - Hohnstein
Duration: 03:42 h
Distance: 12 km
Ascent: 460 m
Descent: 300 m
You start by ascending the Schwarzbergweg, where you reach the resting place called "Steinerner Tisch". The building of the same name was once built by Prince Augustus der Starke as a resting place for when he went hunting. The path leads you to one of the most famous sights of the Elbe Sandstone Mountains: the Bastei. This is one of the absolute attractions of the region and from here you have a fantastic view of the landscape. You descend via a staircase. Then you will pass the Rathen rock plateau with its spectacular natural scenery. Once in Hohnstein, the castle and the Kasper Museum in the tourist office are definitely worth a visit!
Burg Hohnstein (Hohnstein)
Day
4
Hohnstein - Altendorf/ Bad Schandau
Duration: 04:56 h
Distance: 16.8 km
Ascent: 430 m
Descent: 540 m
This hiking day starts on a forest path and passes the Brandaussicht. On this "Balcony of Saxon Switzerland", 170 meters above the Polenztal, you have a fantastic panoramic view. Then you descend more than 800 stair steps to the "den Tiefen Grund". In the last part of today, you can enjoy the view of the Schrammsteine.
Ostrauer Mühle (Altendorf)
Day
5
Altendorf/ Bad Schandau - Neumannmühle/Lichtenhain
Duration: 04:47 h
Distance: 16.2 km
Ascent: 450 m
Descent: 410 m
Today is a slightly longer hiking day. You will walk down through the Dorfbachklamm into the Kirnitzsch valley. The path then ascends into the Schrammsteine, an elongated, sharply divided rock group. The Jägersteig ascent leads you via iron ladders to the Schrammsteingratweg where you can enjoy a spectacular view of the Schrammstein. You then pass Lichtenhainer Wasserfall and walk to the impressive Kuhstall rock cave.
Neumannmühle Berghütte & Wirtshaus (Neumannmühle)
Day
6
Neumannmühle/Lichtenhain - Schmilka/Hrensko
Duration: 04:27 h
Distance: 13.6 km
Ascent: 510 m
Descent: 590 m
You start this day in the Kirnitzschtal. The trail leads you past the archaeological remains of a medieval rock castle. A natural, steep path then leads you to the Großer Pohlshorn. You walk through the old silver fir stables to the Zeughaus, an old arsenal. From here you start ascending, to the top of Großer Winterberg. This 556-meter high mountain was created by basaltic erosion through the plateau of the Elbe Sandstone Mountains and is the second-highest mountain in Saxon Switzerland. The hiking day ends in Schmilka, where you can visit the Schmilka water mill. The mill was reconstructed in 2007 and is now fully functional again.
Haus Bergfriede (Schmilka)
Day
7
Departure
After breakfast, the program is over. We hope to see you again soon in Saxon Switzerland and wish you a pleasant journey back home!
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