Hohnstein-Brand-Gautschgrotte

The starting point of the hike is the market square in Hohnstein. When you think of a market square, you imagine an open, flat free space. However, this market square here is not flat but is part of the mountainside leading to Hohnstein Castle. This is not a disadvantage; since the market is surrounded by some small, friendly shops, you immediately feel comfortable here. Above the market is the medieval castle (probably built around 1200), which has had a very eventful history. In the Middle Ages, the castle was at times owned by Bohemian nobles and later became Saxon property through exchange deals. Over the centuries, it served as an administrative office, court, prison, and youth hostel. After 1933, the castle was briefly a concentration camp and from the beginning of World War II a prisoner camp. From 1949, the castle was used as the largest youth hostel in the GDR. Since 1997, it has been a Nature Friends House. At the lower part of the market square, State Road 165 crosses the town center. Here also stands the town church built according to plans by George Bahr.

We leave the market square heading east along the yellow stripe trail marker. Along Rathausstraße, the lovingly restored old town buildings impress. After a few minutes, we reach Brandstraße. After a short ascent, we see the former Hohnstein train station on the left. Until 1951, this was the terminus of the Schwarzbach railway. For half a century, Hohnstein was connected to the Deutsche Reichsbahn rail network via this narrow-gauge railway through the Kohlmühle (Großdorf) station. At this point, the circular hike from Altendorf through the Schwarzbachtal is recommended.

At the senior care home, Brandstraße leads into a mixed forest. After about 300 meters, on the left on a hillside clearing, there is an official fire pit. Here hikers are allowed to light a campfire (except during forest fire warnings). The fire pit consists of circularly arranged seating and a fire bowl. Unfortunately, firewood must be brought along and may not be taken from the surrounding forest areas.

Next, after about 300 meters, a circular arrangement of street trees catches the eye. Here on the right side of the path is the "Waldborn," where you can actually pump spring water using an old water pump. This pump is called the "Brandpumpe" because it ensured water supply for the buildings at Brand for many years since 1855. Later, on the left side of the path at the junction into Forstgraben, there is a so-called "Forstberg column" (only a copy), which is meant to remember the grisly death of a clergyman from 1795. The poor man probably drank a bit too much sacramental wine before he ran from Bad Schandau over the Brand cliffs to Hohnstein and fell to his death. Since we are still reminded of the incident today, it can be assumed that very few hikers have had accidents in this mountainous area. The further path to Brand confirms this observation since the path is well developed and almost without elevation changes. The numerous very old beeches along the path are impressive. The path to Brand is a nice excursion for mothers with strollers or mobility-impaired nature lovers.

After another 300 meters, you can take a short detour to the viewpoint at the Forstgraben wall on the left. Finally, we reach Brand with the inn and an excellent view from the visitors' terrace. The 180-degree view stretches from the left (southeast) over the Schrammsteine, then all the left bank table mountains up to the Bastei area near Rathen (northwest). The special feature of this panorama view is that, like the Bastei view, it is accessible in any weather and any season. In the immediate vicinity of the viewpoint to the south, a special climbing rock attracts attention. It is the "Brandscheibe" with climbing routes up to difficulty grade VIIIc. In dry weather, you can probably watch the sometimes very adventurous climbs on weekends. Since a binocular is installed on the viewing platform, observation is especially fun. The tables of the Brand inn are set right at the railing of the view. This invites a rest with a panoramic view. In particularly clear weather, one could linger here for hours. Therefore, the restaurateurs regularly organize cultural events outdoors on public holidays. Near the Brand view, there is also the viewpoint of the "Hafersäcke." The path is signposted and leads past the nearby goat pasture, exactly to the opposite side of the rock band with a view to the northeast. The sandstone rocks in the northern direction actually look like petrified and sagged sacks.

We now walk back part of our approach via Brandstraße. A section of Brandstraße is part of the Malerweg. We now have to walk this section back. With the Malerweg, we then turn left and follow the green stripe trail marker. Passing the Sauteich, we soon cross the path to Rathen (descent via the Neuweg into the Polenztal to Waltersdorfer Mill). On the right side of the path, we pass the Große Räumichtwiese. At this section, the Räumichtweg forms the boundary between municipal areas and the national park (left). This is also reflected in the care and management of the forest.

The Malerweg is part of an educational trail from Brandstraße to Hohnstein. The panels describe the systematic and long-term reconstruction of the forest on the Hohnstein plateau. Near the Große Räumichtwiese, forest images show the conversion of unstable, species-poor coniferous pure stands into stable, structured, and species-rich mixed stands. Now the path goes slightly downhill along Steinbruchweg. We reach a sharp right curve at a junction. Here you can reach the Kleiner Kuhstall via a climber's path to the left (black arrow marking) ... a short detour is definitely worth it. If you follow the Malerweg to the right from the junction, you will reach an information panel after a few steps that points to the former quarry and the resulting layered cave "Diebshöhle." This short detour is also recommended. Further, the path continues on a serpentine course around numerous rock ridges.

After another right curve, we reach below the climbing rock "Kleiner Halben" the rock gorge "Kaltes Loch." Following the signpost towards Felswinkel, one arrives at the Gautschgrotte. This grotto was formerly also called the "Kaltes Loch", but because of its uniqueness, it was commemorated in 1881 by the "Mountain Club for the Saxon Switzerland" with a plaque in honor of the lawyer and local historian Carl Friedrich Constantin Gautsch. Today, only the term Gautschgrotte is common. "The Gautschgrotte lies 110 meters above the valley floor of the "Kaltes Loch." It is covered by a 40-meter-wide rock overhang. In the rear part, there is a bowl-shaped cavity, probably a swirl hole from the Ice Age" (quote from information panel no. 41).

---> Link to the spherical panorama

Before the grotto was put under nature protection, it was a spectacular spot for bivouacking. Today wild camping at this spot is prohibited. Nevertheless, remnants of small campfires can occasionally be found. Especially on frosty winter days, the grotto develops an impressive natural spectacle: spring water flowing from the upper grotto wall freezes into a giant icicle, reaching down to the grotto floor during long frost periods. This ice column has already been climbed by the Saxon mountaineer Bernd Arnold.

Back on the hiking trail we pass the rock ridge with the climbing peak "Großer Halben." At the path junction below the rock, there is a very nice resting place with a view. The Polenztal here is very narrow and deeply incised ... the Polenz river is not visible from here. In spring, when there are no leaves, one can even glimpse the Hocksteinaussicht through the branches. The last hiking section leads us to the Bärengarten at Schindergraben. Here you can still find the remains of the former bear enclosure. From the 17th to 18th century, bears were kept here for electoral hunting drives.

At this point, the Malerweg turns left into the Polenztal. Opposite the bear enclosure remains, Hohnstein Castle rises on a high rock massif. From this view, it appears impregnable to medieval sieges. The castle actually withstood the Swedish siege of 1639. Directly below the castle begins the old town center of Hohnstein, and after about 100 meters, you are already at the town hall. From here, it is only a few steps to the starting point of the hike—the market square.

(c) The hike description is the property of the Elbsandsteingebirge Publishing House