To the landmark of the Saxon Switzerland National Park: the Lilienstein

5.44 km long
Round trip
Difficulty: medium
Condition: very easy
Great panorama
Hiking
  • 2:20 h
  • 5.44 km
  • 378 m
  • 378 m
  • 114 m
  • 409 m
  • 295 m
  • Start: Königstein station
  • Destination: Königstein station
The Lilienstein decorates the logo of the Saxon Switzerland National Park, founded in 1991. High above, the table mountain towers over the Elbe valley so strikingly and impressively that August the Strong, Elector of Saxony and King of Poland, climbed it in 1708. The steps carved into the rock specifically for this purpose are still used today on the south ascent.

Königstein station - ferry to Halbestadt - blue line marking towards Lilienstein - Ebenheit - south ascent - summit plateau - north descent marked with yellow/blue line - Kirchweg towards Königstein - ferry to Königstein - Königstein station

Good to know

Pavements

Unknown
Asphalt
Gravel
Path

Best to visit

suitable
Depends on weather

Directions

The hike starts in Königstein at the station. From there, we take the ferry over to Halbestadt and follow the blue line marking towards Lilienstein. After the first ascent, we pass through Ebenheit, continue across a field, and then take the south ascent through the forest to the plateau of the table mountain.

In an almost complete loop, the Elbe surrounds the 415.2 m high Lilienstein. The summit plateau offers a phenomenal panorama of the Elbe Sandstone Mountains. The visit of August the Strong is commemorated by the four-meter-high obelisk on the east side. It was destroyed by lightning in 1966 and replaced by a replica in 2008. On the cliffs of Lilienstein, upon closer inspection, white spots can be seen: the droppings of birds nesting on the rock ledges. Ravens, kestrels, or the rare peregrine falcon could be the causes. The peregrine falcon was reintroduced at Lilienstein in 1998 after it had become extinct in the 1970s. Peregrine falcons hunt exclusively in the air. Before grasping their prey, they reach speeds of over 300 km/h in a dive!

On the way down, we follow the north descent marked with yellow/blue lines. Once at the bottom, we keep right at a junction and continue on the Kirchweg, parallel to the Elbe, towards Königstein. Then we take the ferry back to the other side of the Elbe towards the starting point of the hike.

Tour information

  • Cultural Interesting

  • Loop Road

  • Stop at an Inn

  • Summit

Equipment

sturdy footwear - hiking boots are optimal

Directions & Parking facilities

On the B172 from Pirna

Some smaller paid parking spaces available. Few parking spots.

S-Bahn S1 to Königstein, ferry to Halbestadt

Additional information

Author

Amrei Voigt (NLPFV)

Organization

Tourismusverband Sächsische Schweiz

License (master data)

Amrei Voigt (NLPFV)
License: Attribution, ShareAlike

Author´s Tip / Recommendation of the author

The route is suitable for children, but only conditionally for dogs (ladders on the north descent, grating on the south ascent).

Safety guidelines

Die Tour ist für Kinder geeignet, jedoch nur bedingt für Hunde (Trittleitern im Nordabstieg, Gitterrost im Südanstieg).

Bitte beachten: Die Tour verläuft fast vollständig im Nationalpark Sächsische Schweiz. Hier dürfen die Wege nicht verlassen werden und Hunde müssen stets angeleint bleiben. Bei Zuwiderhandlungen können Geldbußen ausgesprochen werden.

Weitere Informationen über den Nationalpark, zum Beispiel über die dort geltenden Regeln und über die Wegemarkierungen, können Sie auf der Nationalpark-Internetseite beziehen.

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