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Stage 8 is once again a treat for hiking enthusiasts! The paths are not too challenging, the views are fantastic, the studio of a famous Impressionist artist waits for your visit and the final destination is a historic old town with romantic alleys and nooks.
The 8th stage of the Malerweg Trail is 13.8 kilometres long and a pleasant finish of the complete Malerweg Trail hiking tour.
For the 8th Malerweg Trail stage a walking time of five hours is scheduled, not including breaks and detours.
UPHILL. The 8th stage is considered to be one of the moderately difficult sections of the Malerweg Trail. This means that it is easily manageable for occasional hikers with an average fitness level.
DOWNHILL. At least three times hikers have to walk down to the level of the Elbe River during the last Malerweg Trail stage.
Route description
Starting in the village of Weißig, the Malerweg Trail leads to the stretched out table mountain called Rauenstein. During the hike along the path running over the complete mountain ridge of almost one kilometre length, you can enjoy grand 360 degree panoramic views of great scenery including cliffs, table mountains, the Elbe River valley, woods, fields and villages.
Culture lovers should definitely not miss a detour to Robert Sterl’s House in the village of Struppen-Naundorf, Saxon Switzerland’s most important art museum. After that, you follow the marked Malerweg Trail along the upper edge of former quarries to a look-out point called Königsnase (King’s Nose)
From the S-Bahn train stop in Obervogelgesang Village you continue along the Elbe Cycling Path and further on Canalettoweg Path to the town of Pirna. The final destination is the Canaletto House at the market square.
It houses the tourist information point where you can submit your stamped Malerweg Trail Pass and receive your certificate. Congratulations!
Accommodation along the Malerweg Trail
Hosts listed on this page are certified to be “Hiker-friendly at the Malerweg Trail”, they are prepared for Malerweg trail hikers. If you look for hotels, guest houses, hostels or camp sites along the 8th stage only, click on this button.
Detailed route descriptions with maps and GPS data are available here:
Connection route from Kurort Rathen to the Malerweg Trail (2.5 km | 1 h)
Ferry to Oberrathen Village, direction to Bärensteine Mountains
Arrival to 8th stage:
Train (S-Bahn) S1 Kurort Rathen; Bus No 246 (Monday - Friday) bus stop: „Weißig, Wanderweg zum Rauenstein” (Weißig, Hiking Trail to Rauenstein Mountain)
Bus No. 24, bus stop “Thürmsdorf, Abzw. Weißig“
Departure from 8th stage:
Train (S-Bahn) S1 and S2, station: Pirna
several bus lines from central bus terminal “ZOB Pirna”
Tourist service point Pirna
Canaletto-Haus
Am Markt 7
01796 Pirna
fon: +49 3501 556447
An alternative route to avoid Rauenstein Mountain is along Forstweg Path (marked at its start by a red bar) and the Pudelstein Mountain Geotope.
Here you find out which artists are related to the 8th Malerweg Trail stage and which of the free collectable picture postcard motifs is available along this stage.
Recommendations on the 8th Stage of the Malerweg
Rauenstein Mountain Inn
Rauenstein Mountain Inn, just a few steps off the Malerweg Trail, started its history as a simple milk bar. Since then, it had been the home of the family that runs the catering business and developed it into a popular trip destination. On the pleasant patio or in the authentic yet modern indoor room delicious local specialities of organic quality spoil the visitor. And the icing on the cake is the terrific panoramic view from there.
Felsgaststätte Rauenstein
Auf dem Rauenstein 1
01796 Struppen
Phone: +49 35021 64446
Robert Sterl’s House
Not far from the Wehlen train station is the former residence of one of the most important German Impressionist artists. Today it is a museum displaying 100 works, drafts and sketches by Robert Sterl. The rooms give an insight to the life style in the years around 1900.
(Distance 0.3 km |10 min)
Robert Sterl Haus
Robert-Sterl-Straße 30
01796 Struppen OT Naundorf
Phone: +49 35020 70216
Pirna Show distillery
How about bringing a fiery gift to the stay-at-homes from your Malerweg Trail adventure?
In the show distillery “Geist von Rathen “(Spirit of Rathen) in the Pirna brewery “Zum Gießer” (At the Foundryman) local fruit and herbs are refined to create exclusive brandies and distillates. Visitors can watch the Master Distiller crafting his specialties or book private guided tours including tastings.
(Distance 3 km)
Schaudestillerie Pirna
Basteistraße 60
01796 Pirna
Phone: +49 3501 464640
Canaletto Restaurant
Why not collect your last Malerweg Trail stamp while having coffee and a well-deserved piece of cake in the Canaletto Restaurant? Also the last of the free Malerweg Trail collectable postcards is available there and features the exact same historic view that you are just enjoying from this place. What a treat!
(Distance 0.1 km | 3 min)
Restaurant Canaletto
Schuhgasse 16
01796 Pirna
Phone: +49 3501 7799970
Detours and Highlights along the Malerweg Trail
Rauenstein Mountain
Rauenstein Mountain ridge trail, an interesting path including many steps, takes you to impressive look-out points. Grand panoramic views to the Elbe Valley and to Bastei Rocks on the opposite bank of the river, to Lilienstein and Bärenstein Mountains open up here.
Canaletto Path
Just before reaching the town of Pirna, Malerweg Trail crosses Canaletto Path. This loop path runs above the old town centre of Pirna and underneath the former Sonnenstein Fortress between tall old trees. The Venetian painter Bernardo Bellotto, better known as Canaletto, made paintings of Pirna for the Dresden Court in 1752.
(Loop path km | 1 h – easy)
Town of Pirna
This town boasts a large well-maintained and magnificently restored historic town centre and plenty of great impressions for all interested in the arts. A particular highlight is Marienkirche Church in its late Gothic style and the museum of local history in the former Dominican monastery.
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