Hohnstein - Brand - Rathen - Bastei

The starting point for this tour is Hohnstein. Pass the cemetery and head towards the outdoor pool, which remains on the left. Immediately behind it, the path becomes narrow and crosses under the Hohnstein viaduct of the Schwarzbachbahn. The path leads across a meadow where the Napoleonschanze viewing point is located. The path continues to the edge of the forest, past a high stand and onto a wide forest path. Keep slightly to the right, past a small, inconspicuous quarry until you reach Brandstraße. Follow this until you reach the Brandbaude. After a few meters, the forest ditch branches off to the left into the Tiefen Grund. The "Die Hand" monument stands at the junction.
Once at the Brandbaude, hikers can enjoy food and drink and a wonderful view of the Brand. The trail continues through the Schulzengrund into the Polenztal valley via the Polenz to the Waltersdorfer Mühle mill. Continue along the Polenztalweg to the Füllhölzelweg parking lot. Follow this to the spa town of Rathen and climb up the Basteiweg. There are almost 200 meters difference in altitude to the summit. During the ascent, we enjoy the magnificent view of the Elbe flowing through the valley and the landscape of Saxon Switzerland. We pass the Rathen rock castle, which was already known as a defensive structure around 1500. Here we can take a walk around the castle and experience views in the other direction of the sandstone mountains. Now we cross the 76 m long Bastei Bridge and once again enjoy the views in all directions. You have a fantastic view of Rathen, the Elbe bend, Königstein, Lilienstein, Rauenstein and the other stones and mountains of Saxon Switzerland.