Monument route over the Windberg and the Kleiner Windberg

4.77 km long
Round trip
Difficulty: easy
Condition: very easy
Great panorama
Hiking
  • 1:31 h
  • 4.77 km
  • 65 m
  • 56 m
  • 309 m
  • 357 m
  • 48 m
  • Start: Kohlenstraße, turnoff to the animal shelter
  • Destination: Kohlenstraße, turnoff to the animal shelter

The circular route in the shape of a figure eight offers wonderful views over Freital and a visit to the König-Albert Memorial as well as the Miners' Grave.

The easy path without major climbs is ideal for occasional hikers. It mostly leads through the forest and offers wonderful views over Freital at the König-Albert Memorial and on the Kleiner Windberg. For shorter walks, you can do only one lap of the figure eight as it crosses near the starting point.

The Miners' Grave commemorates the 276 miners who lost their lives in the largest mining disaster in Saxon mining history on August 2, 1869, in the underground connected shafts "Segen Gottes" and "Neue Hoffnung".

Three parking lots offer individual entry options to the loop.

Waypoints

Start
Start
Kohlenstraße, turnoff to the animal shelter
Destination
Destination
Kohlenstraße, turnoff to the animal shelter

Good to know

Best to visit

suitable
Depends on weather

Directions

The 5.1-kilometer hike begins at the small parking lot on the right of Kohlenstraße, where the path to the Freital Windberg animal shelter branches off. After 100 meters, we keep slightly right and follow the Forsthausweg towards Windberg. After almost 500 meters, we reach the animal shelter. In the 19th century, when coal was still mined in the Windberg area, the building was the pit house, meaning the central administration building of a mine.

We turn left and, always following the yellow and green trail markers, reach the König-Albert Memorial after another 700 meters. From the platform of this 17-meter-high obelisk, there is a beautiful view over almost the entire city of Freital. Now the trail goes uphill again. After about one kilometer, we leave the marked hiking trail and walk right along path No. 1. After about 200 meters, we see the main hiking trail again, which we had already walked on. The building is a saddlery.

Then we walk along a sandstone wall. This was once part of a bridge for rail tracks when coal was mined here in the 19th century. Continuing following the yellow trail and the path marker 1 up a few steps, we reach the “Kleiner Windberg.” You can rest on a bench here and enjoy a nice view over Niederhäslich and the Raschelberg. Always following the trail markers, we come to the Segen-Gottes shaft. This memorial commemorates a firedamp explosion on August 2, 1869, in which 276 miners lost their lives in the mine field. From there, we now walk about 300 meters along the small road and turn left onto an embankment where rails for coal transport once lay. On this section, we pass another parking lot, from which entry to the circular route would also be possible. After just under one kilometer, we reach our starting point again. Those who follow (or drive) Kohlenstraße to the left towards Dresden can refresh themselves after just over a kilometer in the Hopfenblüte inn.

Tour information

  • Loop Road

Equipment

Sturdy footwear is recommended but not absolutely necessary.

Directions & Parking facilities

From the A 17 motorway exit Dresden Südvorstadt, take the B 171 towards Bannewitz to Horkenstraße, turn right towards Freital. Follow the road to the parking lot.

Coming from Freital via Burgker Straße to Kohlenstraße, turn right towards Bannewitz. Follow the road to the parking lot.

Small parking lot, free of charge

Another medium-sized parking lot 500 meters further towards Bannewitz. Direct access to the route is possible from there

City bus line 164 stop "Am Birkenwäldchen", walk about 300 meters to the parking lot at Windberg.

City bus line 164 stop "Am Segen" for access at the Miners' Grave

Additional information

Weitere interessante Wanderrouten in und um Freital unter www.freital.de/wandern 

Author

Tilo Harder

Organization

Dresden Elbland

License (master data)

Tilo Harder
License: Attribution, ShareAlike

Author´s Tip / Recommendation of the author

Anyone interested in the mining history of the region should definitely also visit the Municipal Collections at Burgk Castle.

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