Route around the Front Saxon Switzerland

74.67 km long

Round trip

Difficulty: difficult

Condition: difficult

Cycling

© Sebastian Thiel, Tourismusverband Sächsische Schweiz

5:45 h
74.67 km
540 m
580 m
111 m
385 m
274 m
Start: Pirna
Destination: Pirna

This circular route leads through the Front Saxon Switzerland. The route requires some stamina but is also well suited as an e-bike route. The path runs along parts of the D4 (Central Germany Route) and the Elbe Cycle Route. As a shorter variant, it is possible to reach the starting point from Bad Schandau by S-Bahn.

The tour starts at the train station in Pirna. Follow the cycle path over the city bridge to the other side of the Elbe. At the end of the bridge, turn right onto Fährstraße and immediately after, turn right onto Praschwitzer Straße. Now follow the Elbe Cycle Route on the right bank past the gravel lake to Birkwitz. There, the D4 (Central Germany Route) branches off to the right. This cycle path accompanies you for many kilometers to Cunnersdorf and is well signposted. On the way, you will pass through Graupa, a district of Pirna, where a detour to the Richard Wagner Memorials is worthwhile. Further along, you will pass through the villages of Bonnewitz and Liebethal. In Mühlsdorf, follow the D4 to the left towards Porschendorf and Dürrröhrsdorf-Dittersbach. The route continues to Helmsdorf and then to the castle town of Stolpen. If you wish, you can take a short break here and visit the historic old market, the town church, and Stolpen Castle. Continuing along the D4, you pass the city swimming pool and then turn left onto the main road below Stolpen station. After almost one kilometer, the D4 branch to Cunnersdorf comes up on the right side. Those who want can extend the tour here and take a trip to RATAGS to admire the wood art or enjoy delicious food at the country inn. It is recommended to use the extended tour for this.

On this bike tour, you cross the S161 on the way to Cunnersdorf and pass through the Polenz valley. A stop at the Bockmühle is advisable here. If you ride by at the right time of year, you can admire the spring snowflake meadows.

Upon arrival in Cunnersdorf, you leave the D4 to the right and reach the idyllic farming village of Ehrenberg via Bockmühlenstraße and, after crossing the S156, via Neustädter Straße. At the height of the village center, the main street forks. At this point, cycle along the right-hand main street for a few meters and then turn onto Hofehainweg. Follow this short path until the next opportunity to turn left. After turning left, shortly after, you leave this path again to the right.

Follow this path until you reach Goßdorf but in between you have the chance to explore Gickelsberg (414m), a 25 million-year-old, now weathered volcanic pipe. From Goßdorf, continue via Kohlmühle. In Kohlmühle, turn right and cycle along the Sebnitz via Porschdorf and Rathmannsdorf to Bad Schandau. Here, you cross the Elbe via the bridge and can either return to Pirna by S-Bahn or follow the Elbe Cycle Route on the left bank to Pirna. On the Elbe Cycle Route section between Bad Schandau and Pirna, you can enjoy the charming landscape of the Elbe valley and have a great view, e.g. of the Lilienstein, the Bastei, or Königstein Fortress. There are also many opportunities to rest and explore.

Pavements

Street (28%)

Asphalt (44%)

Gravel (22%)

Trail (2%)

Path (4%)

Best to visit

suitable

Depends on weather

Directions

The tour starts in Pirna at the railway station. Follow the cycle path over the city bridge to the other side of the Elbe. At the end of the bridge, turn right onto Fährstraße and then immediately right onto Praschwitzer Straße. Now follow the right Elbe cycle path past the Kiessee lake to Birkwitz. There the D4 (Mittellandroute) branches off to the right. This cycle path accompanies you for many kilometres to Cunnersdorf and is well signposted. On the way there, you will pass Graupa, a district of Pirna, where a detour to the Richard Wagner memorials is worthwhile. Further on, you will pass through the villages of Bonnewitz and Liebethal. In Mühlsdorf, follow the D4 to the left in the direction of Porschendorf and Dürrröhrsdorf-Dittersbach. The further course of the cycle path takes you to Helmsdorf and then to the castle town of Stolpen. If you wish, you can take a short break here and visit the historic Old Market, the town church and Stolpen Castle. Continuing along the D4, you pass the town swimming pool and turn left onto the main road below Stolpen railway station. After just under a kilometre, you will see the D4 turn off to Cunnersdorf on the right-hand side. If you wish, you can extend the tour here and take a trip to RATAGS and admire the wood art there or have a delicious meal in the farmhouse. For this, it is recommended to take the extended tour.

On this cycle tour, you will cross the S161 on the way to Cunnersdorf and pass the Polenztal valley. Here you can take a break at the Bockmühle. If you cycle past here at the right time of the year, you can admire the meadows of mullein.

Once in Cunnersdorf, leave the D4 to the right and reach the idyllic farming village of Ehrenberg via Bockmühlenstraße and after crossing the S156 via Neustädter Straße. At the village centre, the main road forks. At this point, cycle along the main road on the right for a few metres and then turn onto Hofehainweg. Follow this short path until the next opportunity to turn left. After turning left, leave this path again to the right shortly afterwards.

Follow this path until you reach Goßdorf, but in between you have the chance to explore the Gickelsberg (414m), a 25 million year old volcanic vent that has weathered in the meantime. The route continues from Goßdorf via Kohlmühle. In Kohlmühle you turn right and cycle along the Sebnitz via Porschdorf and Rathmannsdorf to Bad Schandau. Here you cross the Elbe over the bridge and can either take the S-Bahn back to Pirna or use the Elbe cycle path on the left bank to Pirna. On the Elbe cycle path section between Bad Schandau and Pirna you can enjoy the enchanting landscape of the Elbe valley and have a great view of e.g. the Lilienstein, the Bastei or the Königstein fortress. There are also many opportunities to rest and explore.

Tour information