Hainewalde – Oberoderwitz – Goethekopf and Oderwitzer Spitzberg

We pass the Baroque Canitz-Kyaw family crypt, visit a hideout of the notorious bandit Karasek, and cross the scenic peaks of Goethekopf and Oderwitzer Spitzberg. ▶ From Train Station 01, the tour follows the Querweg and heads down Bahnhofstraße into town. There, we cross Talstraße and the Mandaubrücke and turn right onto Kleine Seite, a narrow alley lined with numerous half-timbered houses (red dot). After house No. 23, we take a sharp left uphill and walk around the Baroque church 02 from 1711. The Canitz-Kyaw Crypt (1715) in the cemetery is well worth seeing. A few steps further along the country road, the trail keeps to the left and, 150 m further on at the signpost, turns right onto a small road (red dot pointing toward “Karasekhöhle”). From the edge of town near the beverage store, we now follow the path as it winds in wide curves across the field. Only after just under 1.5 km does the hike reach the edge of the forest at a bench 03, the “Mitfahrbank.” Here, the route keeps to the right (!) without any visible markings, soon encounters a red dot again, and turns into the forest. After a short while, turn left at the crossroads near the Weiser and continue uphill (red dot). We now hike along a wide path, using the red dot for guidance. At the intersection at Lindenberg (Weiser), our hike joins the blue-marked Upper Lusatian Mountain Trail. Continue straight ahead toward “Höhle.” The red dot eventually leads past the “Weisser Stein 04,” a quartzite rock. This is where the infamous robber Karasek is said to have hidden his loot. We pass the nearby Weiser (with an information sign) and keep to the right 10 m further on (red dot). At the road, the route veers sharply to the right and follows the row of trees (marker!) and then passes the pond on the right to the main road in Spitzkunnersdorf. On this road, head left uphill to the intersection at the Wilder Hirsch Inn 05. Here, turn right onto the bike path next to Straße der Republik (red dot). After 400 meters on the bike path, the route turns left onto the dirt road toward the hilltop, which is visible from afar. We stay at the base of the hill for now and then, following the signs, turn right and head uphill. A marked trail leads up to the scenic Großer Stein 06. The summit is also known as the Goethekopf, as people believed they could make out the profile of the “Prince of Poets” on a rock. The trail leads us back down. A directional sign points the way across the open field and then to the right at the edge of the field (toward “Folge”). We now continue along the grove, turn left onto the paved path, and then turn right at the nearby signpost. The trail soon becomes the small asphalt road “An der Zeile.” Here, the red dot leaves us—we now follow the blue line straight ahead toward “Sorge.” Soon we cross the main road through Leutersdorf; the hike continues straight ahead on the opposite side along the Sorgeweg (blue line). On the hill, we pass a small section of the former Bohemian enclave of Niederleutersdorf, where our very own Karasek once caused his share of trouble.Finally, in the Sorge 07 district, at house No. 4 and the mighty Wettin oak, the hike turns right onto the yellow-marked trail toward “Oderwitzer Spitzberg.” The route follows an easy dirt path to a bench at the edge of the forest. Behind (!) the bench, the ascent continues to the right (!). Soon, the trail veers left at a signposted junction (yellow line) and reaches the summit of the Oderwitzer Spitzberg 08 with its mountain hut. After taking in the view from the lookout rock, we begin the descent toward “Oberoderwitz” via the steps at the signpost. The path descends steeply to the edge of the forest. From there, we hike straight ahead (!)—first on an indistinct trail, then on a field path—downward. The field path eventually veers right toward the summer toboggan run 09 and joins the road there. The route follows this road down to the left. At the nearby through road, it keeps to the right and then turns right again toward the Oberoderwitz train station 10.