The mountain inn Hirtsteinbaude is located on the highest mountain in the Central Erzgebirge, the 890m high Hirtstein.
The Hirtstein itself is a basalt mountain massif, whose slopes are covered with evergreen spruces and ancient beech forests, attracting many visitors and hikers, especially in spring and autumn. On clear days, you have a great view of the most famous mountains of the Erzgebirge. Looking north, you can see the proud, four-towered Augustusburg. To the east, two clearings offer views of the neighboring villages of Reitzenhain and Kühnhaide, the Schwartenberg, and finally the "Bohemian Basberg" (Sebastiansberg).
However, the Hirtstein has become known not only for this magnificent view but also for its peculiar basalt deposit. This geological rarity is unique in all of Germany and IS LOCATED DIRECTLY ON THE CREST TRAIL AND THE EUROPEAN LONG-DISTANCE PATH E3.