The starting point of the tour is the bus stop Hohnstein Markt. From there, head across the small marketplace to Rathausstraße. Here, turn right to the Bear Garden and follow the green line. The Bear Garden was established in 1609 as a cage for bears and used until 1756; later, Caspar David Friedrich stayed here and made sketches.
Soon you cross an old stone arch bridge spanning the Schindergraben, and follow the Halbenweg on the Painter's Path, a quiet forest trail and also part of the Hohnstein nature trail with information boards on nature and geology. Before reaching the prominent rock summit of the Großer Halben, a short detour to a viewpoint above the Nasses Loch is worthwhile. About 150 meters further, you can branch off to the Gautschgrotte, an impressive rock cave known for its enormous ice column in cold winters.
Afterwards, the path leads past the Thieves' Cave and a former quarry. Via the Quarry Path and Räumichtweg, you reach a crossroads. Here, turn left onto the red line and follow the marking into the town of Hohnstein until Rathausstraße. Along the way, a detour to the Ritterfels, a viewpoint overlooking Hohnstein Castle, is worthwhile. In Hohnstein itself, the baroque town church dominates the scene – it was built after the town fire of 1724 according to plans by George Bähr, the builder of the Dresden Frauenkirche.
In town, you then choose one of the two bus stops: either back to the market or to the bus stop Eiche, where the hike ends.
