Königstein: Via Thürmsdorf to the Bärensteine

In front of the castle, continue on the path to the left. Once you have crossed the road, you are soon in front of the Götzinger Cave, where you can find a dry picnic spot even in drizzly weather. It is about 25 m deep. In various maps it is also called "Diebskeller" (thieves' cellar).

Now follow the signs and climb the Kleiner Bärenstein, which is higher than the Großer Bärenstein. In 1847, a mountain inn was built up here. Around 1902, two bears were even kept here in a kennel. Unfortunately, the inn fell into disrepair after the war and today you can only guess at its foundation walls, but the stunning view in a south-easterly direction with the majestic Lilienstein makes up for it.The same path leads downhill again. At the fork in the path, however, continue straight ahead. After about 300 m, the hiking tour continues unmarked to the right along the edge of the forest, crosses a path and then leads up to the Großer Bärenstein. Small trails lead to several vantage points at the top. For the descent, you can choose the adventurous variant via the Riegelhostiege (climbing; in wet and cold weather, descending via the Riegelhofstiege is not advisable) or go back along the path and turn right at the edge of the forest. With the first option, you descend the Riegelhofstiege over partly large boulders with larger intervals. At the bottom, the trail continues to the right under high climbing peaks and meets a comfortable forest path.

Alternatively, you can also take the route from the "Schneiderweg" junction in the direction of "Hermann-Schneider-Weg" and walk the Riegelhostiege from the bottom to the top.

Here, turn right in a large arc along the foot of the Großer Bärenstein and continue straight ahead at the larger crossroads. Cross Landtsraße and then walk first along the edge of the forest and later along the field path back to Thürmsdorf. Behind the castle you meet the Malerweg (painter's path), which you follow to a long-forgotten view.

This is named after the painter Johann Alexander Thiele, who created a painting here with a view of the Elbe and Königstein Fortress. Surprisingly, there is also an old round building here, which has been reconstructed and converted into a Malerweg chapel. The so-called Biedermann Mausoleum was built as part of the castle ensemble. Here the rock face drops steeply to the Elbe for a hundred metres and, after a clear cut, offers a deep view of the Elbe bend.   

Walk back a little and turn left downhill past an orchard to the village road. Keeping to the right, follow the road slightly uphill and turn sharp left at the fork in the road. Here you meet the Malerweg again. After the last house, a path on the left leads down into the forest into a rustic valley with a small forest stream. The last stretch is uphill to the right and, after crossing the road, you come back to the first section of the tour, reaching the fortress car park and thus the end point of the hike.

Stop "Am Königstein" (Fortress)

Line 246 ((Pirna-Copitz -) Pirna - Naundorf - Weißig - Leupoldishain - Königstein)

Line 241 (Pirna - Königstein - Bad Schandau - Hinterhermsdorf)

or from the town of Königstein

S-Bahn S 1 and Fortress Express Start Reisigerplatz to Königstein multi-storey car park