Hiking on the edge around Hohnstein

We start in Hohnstein at the market and follow below the market the yellow stripe marking (Pechhüttenweg) northwards through the town. Soon we enter the forest and now hike along the slope on the Kälbersteig. After a while, we reach a small stream, turn left and descend into the Polenztal (yellow stripe). We reach Polenztalstraße, turn left here (red dot) and walk a bit along the road to the next junction. At it, we turn right, cross the bridge, and immediately turn left again (red dot).

We continue along the Polenz for a bit to the Polenztal guesthouse. Shortly behind the tavern, we turn left and hike up the Schindergraben (blue stripe, diagonal green stripe). On the way, we pass the remains of the former bear garden.

The wall remains were originally part of a bear enclosure, established to breed and care for bears used for hunt chases at the Saxon court – in the residential city, in the castle courtyard, at the Old Market, and in the Großsedlitz garden. Bears repeatedly escaped. The garden existed until 1756.

Upon reaching the top, we keep left, pass the bear garden remains again, and finally reach the first houses of Hohnstein. At the next road fork, we turn left and go uphill to the market square.