The starting point is Hohnstein marketplace. From here, we first take the narrow Rathausstraße downhill – to our right is the castle – and then immediately turn right onto the “Bärengarten” path. The blue stripe markings take us down into the Schindergraben.
The name comes from the original profession of the “Schinder” or knacker, who euthanized sick animals and disposed of carcasses in remote areas – an important task for disease prevention.
The Schindergraben flows into the Polenz valley. After crossing the Polenz, we walk to the right (red dot marking). After a few minutes, we take the path up to the left to the Hockstein (blue and green stripe markings). This goes through the Wolfsschlucht – a very narrow and impressive crevice between the rocks. At the top, we reach the Hockstein, with a rest pavilion and an impressive viewpoint.
Previously, there was a castle on the Hockstein. The only access was a narrow rock crevice – the Wolfsschlucht. This made the fortress easy to guard and optimally defend in case of attack.
The further path leads over the stone Devil’s Valley bridge. At the next junction, we keep left and follow the Knotenweg (green stripe), which later crosses a road. We continue following the Knotenweg (at the next junction without color marking, turn left downhill) to the Koppelsgrund. Here we turn left (Füllholzelweg, red stripe), later crossing the road again and descending into the Polenz valley. At the bottom, we walk to the right to the Waltersdorfer mill. Behind the mill, cross the bridge and continue left to the Neuweg (red stripe). We walk uphill on it, through the forest to the edge of Hohnstein and further back to the starting point of the hike – the marketplace.
