The Falcon Gorge and other surprises around Gohrisch

Shortly afterwards, we come to the Malerweg, which we follow, turning left. At the foot of the Gohrisch, we can choose between two different ascents. The ascent through the Falkenschlucht gorge leads through a narrow rocky gorge that requires some climbing skills. The second option is to stay on the Malerweg trail. Once at the top, we first want to reach the weather vane view. To do this, take a small path to the left on the rocky plateau, between rocks and up a short passage secured with an iron chain.

Return the same way and continue over the Gohrisch to the pavilion view. After the eastern descent to the saddle between Gohrisch and Papststein, we come across the soapstone gallery, which is connected to the basalt quarry. In the immediate border area of sandstone and basalt, there is a layer of brown iron and a layer of decomposed basalt, which is known as "soapstone". The exact age of the gallery is not known. Older records refer to the mine as "Hülffe Gottes" at Gohrisch as early as 1583. The chronicler Wilhelm Leberecht Götzinger states that the soapstone gallery was created around 1750 in search of hard coal. It is still unclear whether the tunnel was originally used to mine soapstone or whether it was actually intended to tap coal deposits (created by driftwood in the sandstone). Since the 1990s, the tunnel has served as a winter roost for bats.

We cross the road at the Galgenschänke tavern. Immediately after the parking lot, we take a sharp left onto the Alte Jäke hiking trail. We descend steeply into the valley, cross Schandauer Straße again at the beginning of the spa town of Gohrisch, walk past the forest cemetery and straight on to the sports field. Turn left along the Lindenweg to the Hörnelweg. Now follow the "yellow dot" markings in the direction of Hörnelteich (boulder from the Ice Age). Continue along the path around the Folgenfelder fields, past the caravan site, to the starting point of the hike in Gohrisch.

The name of the village "Gohrisch" is derived from the old Slavic word gora, which means "mountain". It was first mentioned in a document in 1437 as Gorusch and a year later as Gorisch. It remained a very small village for centuries, as there were only limited opportunities to cultivate fields on the flatlands. 200 years ago, only around 100 people lived in 20 farmhouses. It was only with the development of tourism that the village flourished and was soon allowed to call itself a high-altitude climatic health resort. In 1910, around 700 people were already living in Gohrisch. It has been allowed to bear the title "health resort" since 1936.

Parking lot Neue Hauptstraße inn Gohrisch (subject to charge, about 20 spaces)

Hiking bus line 244 from Bad Schandau National Park train station or from Königstein in the direction of Papstdorf/ Cunnersdorf to the Gohrisch/Parkplatz stop

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