Saxon Wine Hiking Trail – Sample Excellent Wines on the Way

Route of the tour :

1. Pirna - Dresden-Pillnitz (about 13 km)
2. Dresden-Pillnitz - Dresden-Wild Man (approx. 18 km)
3. Dresden-Wilder Mann - Radebeul-Zitzschewig (approx. 15 km)
4. Radebeul-Zitzschewig - Oberau (about 14 k,)
5. Oberau - Meissen (about 13 km)
6. Meissen - Diesbar-Seußlitz ( about 16 km )

1st stage: From Pirna to Dresden-Pillnitz

Where once the first extensive vineyards appeared on the Elbe, the Saxon Wine Trail begins: in Pirna. Today, there are only small vineyards here, but there are numerous testimonies of the historical wine cultivation. Cultural highlights on the 1st stage of the wine hiking trail are the Richard Wagner memorials in Graupa as well as Pillnitz Castle and the vineyard church in the middle of the Pillnitz Royal Vineyard.

2nd stage: From Dresden-Pillnitz to Dresden-Wilder Mann

This stage runs on mainly asphalted roads with hardly any traffic and passes all the vineyards in the Dresden city area as well as stately villas and wine-growing related gems. Fantastic views of the Elbe valley, the Carl-Maria-von-Weber memorial, the Wachwitz Rhododendron Garden and the Dresden Elbe castles are definitely worth this "urban" section of the route.

3rd stage: From Dresden-Wilder Mann to Radebeul-Zitzschewig

One of the most beautiful sections of the wine trail begins in Radebeul: Lovingly renovated winegrowers' houses, small castles, the longest staircase in Saxony in the middle of the vineyards and the historic vineyard of the Hoflößnitz are true pearls along the way. Finally, Schloss Wackerbarth, the first adventure winery in Europe, invites you to events and daily guided tours.

NOTE to ETAPPE 3 - Eggersweg:

Due to the storm on Monday, August 10, 2020, various hiking trails have been damaged. The Eggersweg, for example, has also been washed out, but the stairs have not been affected. Until the city of Radebeul closes the wash-outs, please exercise the necessary caution on hiking trails.

4th stage: From Radebeul-Zitzschewig to Oberau

On this stage you will only pass a few vineyards in Coswig and Weinböhla, but instead you will see magnificent viewpoints - some of them from historic towers - on the Weinböhla heights. The Gellerthaus, Oberau Castle and Germany's oldest railroad station in Niederau are to be discovered as architectural highlights.

5th stage: From Oberau to Meißen

After passing through the village of Niederau with its small tower windmill and the Nassau landscape conservation area, one reaches the Spaargebirge, a mountain range between the wine village of Sörnewitz and Meissen. The hiking trail leads past vineyards, wineries and historical evidence of wine growing, but also to unique vantage points on the Elbe. Finally, you reach the wine and porcelain city of Meissen with the Wine Experience World of the Meissen Winegrowers' Cooperative.

Stage 6: From Meissen to Diesbar-Seußlitz

If you want to visit the historic old town, Albrechtsburg Castle and the cathedral or the world-famous porcelain factory, you have to change the Elbe side, because the wine trail stretches along the right side of the Elbe. The last stage is mainly above the vineyards. Proschwitz Castle, renovated pretty village churches and numerous wine taverns line the path, which also features a Bronze Age rampart and other panoramic views of the Elbe landscape. The picturesque Elbe wine village Diesbar-Seußlitz is the end of the Saxon wine trail.

ATTENTION - STEP 6 (start/end): Until the end of 2020 the staircase to the Heinrichsburg in Seußlitz is closed due to construction work!

As an alternative access to the Saxon Wine Hiking Trail, please use the Elbe Cycle Route from Seußlitz to Weingut Jan Ulrich and from there follow the original route to Löbsal etc. Or you can walk from Seußlitz along the forest road and the Seußlitzer Grund to the Radewitzer Straße (Gut Radewitz) and from there on "Am Brummochsenloch" to the Weingut Jan Ulrich, where you will find the original route Rtg.

A4 to Meißen and Diesbar-Seußlitz up to Dresden Altstadt, then continue on B6.

• Visit vineyards and cosy traditional wine inns along the route to sample Saxon wines.

• Don’t miss magnificent vantage points in Pillnitz (“Leitenweg“) and Radebeul (“Spitzhaus“, “Wasserturm“, “Jakobstein/Sternwarte“, “Sörnewitz/Bosel“, “Meißen/Bennokanzel“, “Seußlitz/Heinrichsburg“) and enjoy Elbe valley views.

• Go on a steamboat ride on the Elbe. Timetables: https://www.saechsische-dampfschiffahrt.de/en/

• Book tip: "Sächsischer Weinwanderweg" hiking guide (German only), published by Tourismusverband Sächsisches Elbland, EUR 4, order at Tourismusverband Sächsisches Elbland

The route is not barrier-free.

* 7-part hiking map set "Sächsischer Weinwanderweg" (6.50 euros) - order via bookshops (ISBN 978-3-86843-124-7) or via www.sachsen-kartographie.de (map store, hiking tour guide) or via www.meierwerbung-dresden.de (map sets)

* Hiking and cycling map "Sachsischer Weinwanderweg", Dr. Barthel Verlag (8.90 euros) - order from bookshops (ISBN 978-3-89591-227-6) or via www.verlag-dr-barthel.de (cycling and hiking maps, zig-zag folding)

* Oberlausitzer Bergweg - Sächsischer Weinwanderweg, Hikeline hiking guide (11.90 euros) - order from bookshops (ISBN 978-3-85000-935-5) or via www.esterbauer.com