We begin our hike at the bus stop "Eiche" in Hohnstein or at the parking lot of the same name. First, we walk below the cemetery before turning into the paved street "Am Waldbad" (green mark). We follow a slightly ascending field path, underneath a stone arch bridge, until we reach our first viewpoint, the Napoleonschanze. Here a bench invites you to take a first break.
Already during the ascent, we can recognize the Lilienstein and the Königstein Fortress; at the highest point of the Napoleonschanze, the Rauenstein, the Bärensteine, and the Bastei stand out clearly on the horizon. The Napoleonschanze (also called "Schanzenberg") is an up to 4-meter-high artificial earth wall, which had to be built in 1813 by the inhabitants of the Hohnstein-Lohmen authority under the most difficult conditions to secure the Napoleon road from the Königstein Fortress to Stolpen Castle. One day after completion, the French army occupied the position. Heavy battles followed on both sides of the warring parties. After Austria allied with the Russians and Prussians against the French and Saxon troops in August 1813, Napoleon's defeat was sealed with the Battle of the Nations at Leipzig.
After visiting this historically significant site, we turn right, go downhill over the meadow, and shortly before the forest border, turn left. The path leads into the forest; at the next signpost, we turn left towards Waitzdorf and follow the green mark (Ringflügelweg). During the hike, the natural rejuvenation of the forest is easily seen in the form of young beech and spruce trees growing to replace their predecessors, which died due to bark beetle infestation. At the next intersection, we go straight ahead (yellow mark) towards Waitzdorf. The Brandweg leads us gently serpentine downhill into the valley of the Tiefen Grund.
We cross the street and follow the Holländerweg uphill to Waitzdorf, where an agricultural scent wafts to our noses – in the vicinity of the forest village of about 50 inhabitants, Galloways, sheep, horses, and goats graze. A detour to the Waitzdorfer Höhe (414m) is recommended; for this, we turn left at the second bench onto the Leichenweg. Once at the top, a seating area invites you to rest. A sign also shows which mountains can be seen in the distance. Particularly impressive is the imposing Lilienstein with its distinctive west edge, but the Zschirnsteine, Laasensteine, Kohlbornstein, Kleinhennersdorfer Stein, Gohrisch, and Papststein also stand out clearly. The Schneeberg, at 722 meters above sea level, forms the highest elevation on the horizon. The descent leads along the meadow, opening the view to the Schrammstein chain.
Back on the Holländerweg, we turn left. Soon we reach the Holländerweg bus stop and turn right into the street "Am Dorfgrund" (Malerweg). The Waitzdorfer Schänke (www.schaenke-waitzdorf.de) invites you to stop for refreshments. Shortly after the small pond, we turn left into the Dorfgrund, which leads us down steps into the Tiefen Grund. We walk about 300 meters downhill along the street before climbing steeply up the Brandstufen (right, blue and red mark, Malerweg) to the "balcony of Saxon Switzerland" – the Brandaussicht. From the exposed viewing platform, you can enjoy a panoramic view from the Schrammsteine in the east to Rathen in the west!
At the Brand, a visit to the National Park info point Blockhaus Brand is recommended. Interesting information about depicted mountains, waters, and sights can be accessed via interactive screen presentations. Furthermore, you can learn about the Polenztal and its special features. The "children's corner" of the exhibit entices with a tour through the bird world. Children learn in a playful way at the screen and with animal preparations how strongly our native bird species are tied to very specific habitats.
For the short return to Hohnstein, we follow the Brandstraße to the green mark junction; here, we turn left, later pass a small pond, and after a few minutes meet the path with the red mark. Here we go right. At the next intersection, we continue straight ahead and soon arrive again in Hohnstein. Via Brandstraße and Max-Jacob-Straße, we return to the starting point of the hike - Hohnstein Eiche.
