Tour 3: Cycling Tour through Saxon-Bohemian Switzerland

Our tour starts at the market square in Bad Schandau. From here we cycle to the Elbe cycle path, which takes us in the direction of Schmilka. We cycle directly along the river below the Schrammstein massif. In Schmilka, we change to the road and cross the German-Czech border. In Hřensko, we turn left and follow the road through the lively town. We pass old mills and wind our way uphill bit by bit, while hikers walk alongside us on the footpath towards the Prebisch Gate.

The tree stumps that remained standing after the forest fire in 2022 are striking. Lots of greenery winds its way through. It is probably only since then that we have had a clear view of the back of the Prebischtor above the turn-off for the hikers. A first beer garden awaits us in Mezní Louka, and there are more places to stop for refreshments in Vysoká Lípa a few kilometers further on. Here we have almost reached the highest point of the tour. We turn left at the Hotel Kortus and leave the road. Cycle route 3029 is well paved and takes you into the Bohemian Switzerland National Park. The view of the Šaunštejn rock castle is impressive. The cycle route is also part of the Bohemian Road nature trail and numerous information boards bear witness to life in Bohemian Switzerland in past centuries. For example, we pass an old charcoal burner's hut directly under a rock.

At Hühnerstein, we do not turn right, but change to cycle route 3030 and continue through the forest on excellent gravel. We follow the cycle route and turn right at a large crossroads towards Hinterhermdorf or Bad Schandau. Directly at the green border, we come across the Kirnitzsch below the Rabensteine. A narrow bridge takes us from the Czech Republic to Germany, from Bohemia to Saxony.

At first, the national park cycle path along the Kirnitzsch is still quite narrow, but soon changes to better terrain. At the next junction, we turn left and follow the Kirnitzsch cycle path further and further, passing the Niedere Schleuse lock, which tells of earlier rafting days. Continuing along the stream, we reach the Kirnitzschtalstraße after a while, where we turn left. This leads us through the valley of the same name towards Bad Schandau. Buschmühle, Neumannmühle, Mittelndorfer Mühle - there are plenty of places to stop for refreshments and rest while we let ourselves roll down to the Elbe. Our tour ends at the market square in Bad Schandau.

Suitable for trekking bikes, gravel bikes and mountain bikes.

• Line 241 (Pirna - Königstein - Bad Schandau - Hinterhermsdorf)
• Line 252 (Schmilka - Ostrau - Bad Schandau - Krippen - Reinhardtsdorf-Schöna)

Stop: National Park railway station Bad Schandau - the starting point can be reached by ferry Bad Schandau

• S-Bahn S1 (Meißen-Triebischtal - Dresden - Bad Schandau - Schöna)
• National park railway U28 (Rumburk - Sebnitz - Bad Schandau - Děčín)
• RE 20 (Dresden - Bad Schandau - Litoměřice)
• Various bus lines in the region

Timetable information

Take your ID with you!

There are numerous places to stop for refreshments along the route in Hřensko, Mezní Louka and Vysoká Lípa as well as in the Kirnitzschtal valley, Schmilka and Bad Schandau.

The Elbe cycle path ends in Schmilka and you have to cycle on the road to Hřensko and on to Mezní Louka and Vysoká Lípa. Especially up to the turn-off to the Prebisch Gate, a lot of car traffic must be expected at weekends. There is no separate cycle path or cycle lane.

The Kirnitzsch Valley Railway runs in the Kirnitzsch Valley from the Lichtenhain Waterfall in the direction of the Bad Schandau spa gardens. The tracks run on the other side of the road. Here, too, there is no separate cycle path and car traffic.