Königstein: From the town to the fortress

The tour starts at the Königstein Reißiger Platz bus stop. From here, you first walk to the tourist information office. Follow the markings of the Malerweg and pass St. Mary's Church. The church was built after the town fire at the beginning of the 18th century by George Bähr, the builder of Dresden's Frauenkirche, and was re-consecrated after being destroyed again in 1823.

Shortly before a fountain, turn left at the corner of a house and follow the ascending Latzweg to the foot of Königstein Fortress. This historic stairway used to be part of the lower patrol path.

Passing the elevators of Königstein Fortress, which were built in the 1970s as a modern entrance to the fortress, the path on the west side runs along the imposing fortification walls and ramparts. The complex is one of the largest mountain fortresses in Europe: the plateau covers around nine hectares, the walls are up to 42 meters high and the ramparts stretch for almost two kilometers.

The path continues to the old fortress road. Keep left there and follow the Malerweg, which leads under the main road.

You leave the Malerweg on the Kanonenweg. The sandstone path, whose origins lie in a military context, connects the fortress with the Elbhäuser.

Downhill you reach the Elbhäuserweg. Several listed houses from around 1900 are lined up along the slope. Finally, you descend to the Elbe and follow the course of the river upstream back to the starting point at Reißiger Platz.