--- title: "🎟️ ️ Malerweg Complete Circuit: 9 nights per person" url: "https://www.saechsische-schweiz.de/en/booking/package-offers/malerweg-hiking-without-luggage/8-and-9-nights/course-the-great-hike-on-the-painters-path-variant-1" description: "✔️ 9 nights' accommodation ✔️ 1 dinner ✔️ 120 km hiking trail – Walk in the footsteps of great painters with CORSO. ➤ Secure your offer!" language: "en" breadcrumb: "Root > Saxon Switzerland > BOOKING > PACKAGE OFFERS > Malerweg: Hiking Without Luggage > 8 and 9 nights > Course: The Great Hike on the Painter's Path - Variant 1" --- **The GREAT walk along the Painters’ Way** ========================================== Experience the entire Malerweg hiking trail in the Saxon Switzerland region over eight varied stages. You hike from one accommodation to the next, each situated in the immediate vicinity of or directly on the Malerweg. Travellers, painters and poets were already extolling the natural beauty of Saxon Switzerland more than 200 years ago. On their way to Saxon Switzerland, the artists generally followed the same route. Today, the course of the Malerweg follows this historic route through the . To this day, this extraordinary landscape, unique in Europe, has lost none of its fascination. From Pirna, you hike along the right bank of the Elbe through the Vorderes Sächsische Schweiz National Park to its most spectacular section, Hinteres Sächsische Schweiz. The return route leads through the “Realm of Stones”, past the imposing fortress complex at Königstein and back to your starting point in Pirna. **Tour operator: CORSO… die reiseagentur** Proprietor: Michael Corso Jagdsteig 25 \* 01662 Meissen **Services and prices** Validity period: 01/04/2026 - 31/10/2026 Total distance: 115 km Difficulty level: moderate Minimum number of participants: 2 people (the surcharge specified below applies to solo travellers) - 9 nights in hiker-friendly accommodation in the selected category - 9 x buffet breakfast - 1x cold platter for dinner in Lohmen - Luggage transfer from one accommodation to the next - 1x CORSO water bottle per person - detailed description of each day's stage - Maps and information material - 24-hour telephone service during the trip - **applies only to category A** 1x four-course organic vitality menu in Schmilka View from the Carolaaussicht into the Kleiner Dom, with the Falkenstein rock in the distance Walking season 01.04.2026 - 30.04.2026 **Category A** (Guest houses and 3- and 4-star hotels) Double room €1,025.00 per person Single room €1,325.00 per person **Category B** (Guest houses and mid-range hotels) Double room €925.00 per person Single room €1,205.00 per person Solo traveller supplement €140.00 per person Peak walking season 01.05.2026 - 10.10.2026 **Category A** (Guest houses and 3- and 4-star hotels) Double room €1,070.00 per person Single room €1,370.00 per person **Category B** (Guest houses and mid-range hotels) Double room €970.00 per person Single room €1,250.00 per person Single traveller supplement €140.00 per person Walking season 11.10.2026 - 31.10.2026 **Category A** (Guest houses and 3- and 4-star hotels) Double room €1,025.00 per person Single room €1,325.00 per person **Category B** (Guest houses and mid-range hotels) Double room €925.00 per person Single room €1,205.00 per person Single traveller supplement €140.00 per person All applicable guest taxes are NOT included in the travel price and must be paid on site. Please note the **Requirements** ---------------- - For organisational reasons, this walking tour can only be booked up to 10 days before the arrival date. - For the tours, we recommend sturdy, ankle-high walking boots as well as a small rucksack for provisions and rainwear. - A good basic level of fitness, sure-footedness and a head for heights are required for this walking holiday. - The complete overview of the accommodation booked is provided on the travel confirmation/invoice and will only be sent to the guest by the tour operator together with the relevant documents after the trip has been booked. - Communication during the trip is available in the following language: German - This trip is not suitable for guests with reduced mobility. - German nationals must carry valid identity documents. All other travellers should observe the relevant passport and visa validity requirements. Your embassy will be pleased to provide further information. - Please also note the information in the - The Saxon Switzerland Tourism Association acts solely as an intermediary for this trip. **Tour description** -------------------- - **Day 1: Independent travel to Pirna** Thanks to its excellent transport links, Pirna is easily accessible by train or car. Discounted car parking spaces are available in the multi-storey car park for the entire duration of the trip. *Overnight stay in Pirna* - **Day 2: Pirna/Liebethaler Grund - Lohmen** (approx. 13 / 8 km) Your hike begins in Pirna, crossing the Elbe and continuing via Jessen to the starting point of the Malerweg trail at Liebethaler Grund. Alternatively, take the G/L regional bus from Pirna to Liebethal (approx. 20 minutes’ journey, included with the Gästekarte mobil guest card). If you choose to travel by regional bus from Pirna to Liebethal, the day’s walking distance is reduced by approx. 5 km. Liebethaler Grund is the gateway to the Malerweg trail. Following the lively Wesenitz river, the first stage leads through the romantic ravine, past the monumental Richard Wagner memorial and onwards to the Lochmühle. Hidden behind trees and shrubs, the long-abandoned quarries bear witness to centuries of sandstone extraction and its use as a building material and in the production of millstones. *Overnight stay in Lohmen* - **Day 3: Lohmen - Hohnstein/Polenztal** (approx. 15 km) After leaving Lohmen, you reach Uttewalder Grund. The gorge, covered in ferns and mosses, was a frequent subject in Romantic paintings. Caspar David Friedrich is said to have spent several days here capturing the distinctive atmosphere of the location. The Malerweg trail leads through the Uttewalder Felsentor rock arch and Wehlener Grund to Stadt Wehlen on the Elbe. This is also the site of Wehlen Castle ruins, from whose plateau there is a beautiful view across the town and the Elbe. From Wehlen, the Malerweg follows the Schwarzbergweg path past the Steinerner Tisch and onwards to what is probably Saxon Switzerland’s best-known viewpoint, the Bastei viewpoint. From here, you can gaze 190 metres down into the charming Elbe Valley and enjoy the spectacular panorama of the nearby and distant table mountains. The 76-metre-long Bastei Bridge takes you to the historic Neurathen rock castle. After descending from the Bastei to the small village of Rathen, continue along the Malerweg beside the Grünbach, passing the entrance to the Rathen Open-Air Stage and Amselsee lake on the way towards Rathewalde. Approximately 400 m after Amselsee lake, you will see the signpost for the Schwedenlöcher. This is a worthwhile short detour from the route, involving a brief walk into the narrow Schwedenlöcher valley. After returning to Amselgrund and making a short ascent, you soon reach the Amselfall waterfall. At the exit from Amselgrund, shortly before Rathewalde, are the partially restored Rathewalde mills. Shortly before the Hockstein viewpoint, cross the stone Teufelsbrücke bridge and follow the Malerweg down through the narrow Wolfsschlucht gorge into the Polenztal valley. The small town of Hohnstein and its castle stand high above the valley. *Overnight stay in Hohnstein/Polenztal* - **Day 4: Hohnstein/Polenztal - Bad Schandau** (approx. 18 km) Passing the remains of the walls of the former bear enclosure, the Malerweg leads directly into the small town, which is also renowned for its Hohnstein hand puppets. You hike to one of the finest viewpoints in Saxon Switzerland, the Brand viewpoint. The “Balcony of Saxon Switzerland” offers magnificent views across the front and rear regions of Saxon Switzerland. The steep descent down the numerous Brandstufen steps takes you to Tiefengrund, from where you follow the Malerweg to the picturesque village of Waitzdorf. In the centre of the village is the Waitzdorfer Schänke inn, with a beer garden and dining room. Continue along the route to Kohlmühle. From here, the trail runs parallel to the National Park Railway towards Grossdorfer Raubschloss. Follow the Mühlenweg out of the Sebnitz Valley and uphill to Altendorf. From Altendorf, follow the Panoramaweg to Schlossberg above Bad Schandau, before making a short descent into the town centre. *Overnight stay in Bad Schandau* - **Day 5: Bad Schandau - Lichtenhain district in the Kirnitzsch Valley** (approx. 13 km) For quick access to the starting point of the day’s stage, take the historic passenger lift to the Ostrau plateau (a reduced fare applies with the guest card). From Ostrau, the Malerweg leads past Falkenstein to the Grosser Schrammtor rock gate and the impressive Schrammstein viewpoint, which offers magnificent views across the front and rear regions of Saxon Switzerland and, in clear conditions, as far as Dresden. The ascent to the Schrammsteine is characterised by steps and ladders. The ridge path takes you to the Zurückesteig, which leads into the Affensteine area. A worthwhile short detour here is the path to the panoramic viewpoint on Carolafelsen, the highest summit of the rock formation. Back on the Malerweg, a leisurely descent via Kleiner Dom and the Unterer Affensteinweg takes you into the Kirnitzsch Valley and onwards to the Lichtenhain Waterfall. If accommodation in the Kirnitzsch Valley is already fully booked, take the historic Kirnitzschtal tramway or the 241 hiking bus back to your accommodation in Bad Schandau (journey time approx. 15- 20 minutes; free of charge with the Gästekarte mobil guest card). *Overnight stay in the Lichtenhain district of the Kirnitzsch Valley or in Bad Schandau (subject to availability)* - **Day 6: Lichtenhain district in the Kirnitzsch Valley - Schmilka** (approx. 17 km) From the Lichtenhain Waterfall, the Malerweg initially leads to the famous Kuhstall rock arch, the second-largest rock arch in the Elbe Sandstone Mountains after the Pravčická brána. If your overnight stay is planned in Bad Schandau, first return to the starting point of the hike. The Malerweg initially takes you to the Kuhstall rock cave. Do not miss the somewhat concealed ascent through the narrow crevice known as the Himmelsleiter. Remains of Wildenstein Castle can still be found on the rocky plateau. After the descent, the Malerweg follows the Haussteig back into the Kirnitzsch Valley. From the Felsenmühle, the Malerweg runs upstream alongside the gently babbling Kirnitzsch to the Neumannmühle and Buschmühle mills, and then onwards to the remarkable Kleinsteinhöhle cave. Follow the road towards Räumichtmühle and turn into the Mühlschlüchte shortly before reaching it. Passing the Altes Zeughaus, hike via Pohlshorn and the Goldstein viewpoint to the beech-covered basalt summit of Grosser Winterberg (556 m). The “Eishaus” National Park Information Centre is located here. The stepped Bergsteig path soon takes you to Schmilka, where a visit to the Schmilkaer Mühle, with its mill garden and bakery, is recommended. *Overnight stay in Schmilka* - **Day 7: Schmilka \| Gohrisch spa resort** (approx. 16 km) Take the ferry to the left bank of the Elbe and hike via the Aschersteig to Schöna. A short detour to the Kaiserkrone offers delightful views. Continue to Wolfsberg and Reinhardtsdorf. Discover a gem of Baroque ecclesiastical architecture in Reinhardtsdorf. The church in Reinhardtsdorf is one of the oldest and most beautiful churches in the area. From Reinhardtsdorf, the Malerweg continues into Krippengrund. Two “highlights” await you later in this stage: at 451 and 440 metres respectively, Papststein and Gohrisch are the highest points on the Malerweg after Grosser Winterberg. Our insider tip for this stage is to stop for refreshments at the mountain inn on Papststein. Follow the Muselweg to the Gohrisch spa resort. *Overnight stay in the Gohrisch spa resort* - **Day 8: Gohrisch spa resort \| Weissig** (approx. 13 km) From Gohrisch, follow the Malerweg route via Heideberg to Pfaffenstein. Those wishing to avoid the steep ascent through the Nadelöhr can follow the hiking trail around the right-hand side of Pfaffenstein to reach the easier ascent. On the table mountain, you can look out over the legendary “Barbarine”, a rock pinnacle said to be a maiden turned to stone. Descend from Pfaffenstein via the Kammerweg and hike towards Quirl. This table mountain is home to the largest cave in Saxon Switzerland, the Diebskeller. From Pfaffendorf, the Malerweg takes you into the Elbe Valley and through the narrow lanes of Königstein’s old town. From here, hike via the Latzweg to the famous Königstein Fortress. Allow approx. 2 hours for a visit to Königstein Fortress. After a short section on the Malerweg, you reach the Biedermann Mausoleum. The Thiele viewpoint here offers a panorama across the Elbe and Lilienstein, as well as back towards Königstein Fortress. Those with a sweet tooth should not miss the opportunity to visit the chocolate workshop at Thürmsdorf Castle. It is now only a few kilometres to the destination for this stage, the small village of Weissig. *Overnight stay in Weissig* - **Day 9: Weissig \| Pirna** (approx. 13 km) The final stage of your hiking holiday offers relaxed walking. At Rauenstein, the hiking trail climbs the final summit of the Malerweg. In Naundorf, the Robert Sterl House is well worth a visit. The museum, one of the few artists’ residences in Germany to have been preserved in its original state, safeguards the artistic legacy of the Impressionist painter Robert Sterl. Passing former quarries, the Malerweg takes you to Königsnase, which offers another beautiful view across the Elbe Valley. Shortly before Pirna, the Malerweg joins the Canalettoweg and ultimately ends at Pirna’s market square. Stroll through the picturesque historic old town, with its elaborately decorated town houses, and discover distinctive details such as the Devil’s and Angel’s oriel windows. The market square is also home to the Canaletto House, named after the creation of the painting “The Market Square at Pirna”. The Saxon court painter Bernardo Bellotto, known as Canaletto, immortalised Pirna in his works as the only small town he ever depicted. A total of eleven large cityscapes were created between 1753 and 1755. Pirna’s historic old town offers a good selection of restaurants serving regional culinary specialities and Saxon wines. *Overnight stay in Pirna* - **Day 10: Independent return journey** Impressions from the walking holiday ------------------------------------ - Bastei Bridge - View of Hohnstein from the Hockstein - Rest by the Kirnitzsch - On the Schrammstein ridge trail - View from the Gohrisch rock - Sunset on the Papststein **Request a booking** --------------------- Please provide us with all the information required for your booking enquiry: