Weddings
A wedding table in the hall or on the outdoor terrace, in the middle of the Königshain Hills. We plan the day with you – from the reception to the last dance.
Königshain Hills · Upper Lusatia · 406 m
Hochsteinbaude mountain inn in Königshain
Stop for a meal on the Hochstein near Königshain: traditional home cooking, coffee and home-baked cake, a beer garden among granite rocks and a 22-metre tower with views as far as the Zittau Mountains.
OpenWed – Sun · 11 am – 6 pm
Observation tower22 m · free entry · donation box at the tower
On footapprox. 30 min from the car park
PaymentCash only · no cards
We’re open Wed – Sun 11 am – 6 pm – just drop inLarge walking groups, please let us know in advance.
The dining room
The cosy parlour on the Hochstein
A rustic beamed ceiling, herringbone parquet and a white tiled stove that warms the whole room in winter: in the dining room of the Hochsteinbaude, walkers, families and regulars sit at wooden tables or on the long cushioned bench. The windows look straight out onto the beautiful Hochstein.
We cook everything fresh and largely do without ready-made products. There are always vegetarian dishes on the menu, along with beer from the region – and a high chair is ready for the little ones.
45seats
Tiled stovelit in winter
High chairfor the little ones
Weddings
Your wedding on the Hochstein
A day like this comes only once. We arrange it so that you can live it rather than organise it.
The reception on the terrace, the wedding table in the hall, the first photos among the granite rocks: here everything is just a few steps apart, up on the hill. No driving from place to place, no gaps in the day – and as evening falls, the sun sets over Upper Lusatia while the music starts up inside.
Our team takes care of everything else. We go through the day with you beforehand, from start to finish: timings, seating, menu or buffet, cake, decorations, drinks, music and your guests’ wishes. On the day itself we are in the house and keep things running, so that you have nothing to look after but each other.
Ask early – Saturdays between May and October are popular. Write to us with your preferred date and number of guests, and we will talk through the rest at leisure.
up to 80guests at the table
One teamkitchen, service and planning
on requestoutdoor marquee for 80
Hall & celebrations
Celebrating near Görlitz – in the hall, by the fire or in the open air
A hall with a parquet floor for up to 80 seated guests, the cosy Fireside Room for 12 to 16 people and grounds for open-air events with up to 300 guests – with kitchen and service all from one team.
Our service
What we can host for you
From a walking group stopping for lunch to a wedding with a full banquet: with us, kitchen and service come from one team, and planning is done in conversation rather than on a form. Write to us or give us a call – we will get back to you.
Catering
Buffet, finger food or a menu of several courses, put together to suit your wishes. For business meals, birthdays and celebrations held elsewhere.
Celebrations at the inn
The hall for 80 seated guests, the Fireside Room for 12 to 16, the dining room with 45 seats. For a works party, a birthday or a family celebration.
Food and drink
Largely without ready-made products. There are always vegetarian dishes on the menu, and the beer comes from the region.
Open-air events
The grounds can take large events. A marquee for 80 people can be hired as well – space and views come as standard.
Walking groups
We are happy to cater for large groups. An email beforehand is enough for the kitchen to be ready – we will also open outside our usual hours for you.
Write to us with the date, number of people and occasion – then we can confirm straight away instead of having to ask.
Kiosk at the Hochsteinbaude
The kiosk: self-service outdoors
Our outdoor kiosk is self-service: homemade lentil soup, vegan chickpea soup or a bockwurst sausage with home-baked bread – collect your order, find a seat and enjoy the view of the granite rocks. Open at weekends from May to October, weather permitting.
Sat & SunMay to October in fine weather
Soups& bockwurst
Cash onlypayment
Beer garden & outdoor terrace
A beer garden among granite rocks
Around 200 square metres of outdoor terrace in the middle of the forest, right beneath the observation tower. Children can let off steam in the playground with its swings and see-saw, or explore the “Hochstein” rocks, which are open to climb on. The terrace and toilets are also accessible to wheelchair users.
120seats on the terrace
200 m²wheelchair accessible
up to 300guests at open-air events
Kitchen & menu
Home cooking, coffee and cake
Food tastes best after the climb: Königsberger Klopse, braised beef with dumplings, pierogi or vegan curry – freshly cooked, with beer from the region. In the afternoon there is coffee and home-baked cake, by the warm tiled stove in winter and on the terrace in summer.
Königsberger Klopsemeatballs in a creamy caper sauce, with potatoes16,90 €
Braised beef (Rinderbraten)with Burgundy sauce, red cabbage and dumplings21,00 €
Cauliflower and pea curry (Blumenkohl-Erbsencurry) veganwith rice15,80 €
Hot apple strudel (Heißer Apfelstrudel)with cream4,70 €
Coffee and cake (Kaffee und Kuchen)home-baked – the selection changesafternoons
A day out near Görlitz
A day out for everyone: walking, climbing, eating
The Königshain Hills lie west of Görlitz and have been a protected landscape since 1974. Right in the middle, on the Hochstein, stands the Hochsteinbaude – a destination for walkers, families, cyclists and motorcyclists.
Walks with a stop at the inn
Ten circular walks from Königshain, Liebstein and Wiesa lead via the Totenstein (Rock of the Dead) and the Teufelsstein (Devil’s Rock) to the Hochstein. The Way of St James and the European long-distance path E10 also cross the summit.
See the walking routesA day out with children
A playground with swings and a see-saw, granite rocks to clamber over and 101 steps up the observation tower – followed by potato pancakes, a small schnitzel or a slice of cake.
To the observation towerCycling and motorcycle tours
The inn is a popular stop on tours through Upper Lusatia: bikes can be parked right by the beer garden, and at weekends the kiosk serves soup and drinks quickly.
Beer garden & kioskClimbing in the quarries
Eight summits and ten quarry walls with more than two hundred climbing routes – the Königshain Hills are Upper Lusatia’s climbing area, and the inn is where climbers meet afterwards.
Places to see around the Hochstein
Children’s playground
Swing, see-saw, scramble up the rocks
Right next to the beer garden is our children’s playground with a double swing, a climbing ladder and a see-saw. Just beside it, the granite rocks of the Hochstein are waiting to be climbed and explored – and parents can keep an eye on the children from the terrace.
Swingsfor swinging high
See-sawfor two or more
Climbing ladderfor climbing up
Hochstein observation tower
22 metres above the treetops
From the observation tower right beside the inn, the view stretches over the Königshain Hills and Upper Lusatia as far as the Zittau Mountains. You can climb the 101 steps during the inn’s opening hours, free of charge – the donation box is at the tower.
22 mtower height
406 mabove sea level
101steps · donation box at the tower
Our namesake · Königshain Hills
The Hochstein – the rock that gives the inn its name
The Hochstein (High Rock) is the second-highest point in the Königshain Hills. Its summit is formed by towers of Königshain granite, around 300 million years old and shaped by spheroidal weathering into the rounded, stacked blocks that people climb today. Unlike many rocks in the area, they were spared by the quarrying.
On 1 June 1844, King Frederick William IV of Prussia visited Königshain and the Hochstein. A memorial plaque set into the granite still recalls the visit – it was restored in 2022 by the Königshain local history society, the Königshainer Heimatverein, together with Erik Hamann. Fifty years after the royal visit, from 1895 to 1897, the Friedrich-Wilhelm-Baude was built – today’s Hochsteinbaude.
The European long-distance path E10 and the Way of St James cross the summit. Close by are the Totenstein, one of the oldest natural monuments in Germany, and the Teufelsstein with its legend: the Devil, enraged by the building of the church in Nieder Seifersdorf, tore his trousers while flying over the church tower and mended them up on the rock. The legend gives its name to the game played at our annual fair, the Hochsteinkirmes: “Der Teufel wirft den Stein” (The Devil Throws the Stone) – a contest in which heavy granite stones are thrown.
406 mabove sea level
300 millionyears of granite
1844royal visit
1895–97inn built
“Hier stand am 1. Juni 1844 der Koenig von Preussen Friedrich Wilhelm IV., der Freund und Beschuetzer vaterlaendischer Naturschoenheit.” (Here stood, on 1 June 1844, the King of Prussia, Frederick William IV, friend and protector of the natural beauty of the fatherland.)Cast-iron plaque set in the granite, restored in 2022 – right on the summit rock, a few steps from the tower.
Kuckuckstein · 400 metres from the Hochstein
The stone that catches the sun
A few hundred metres north of the Hochstein stands the Kuckuckstein (Cuckoo Rock). Its shape is reminiscent of a bird’s head – most people see an eagle. What stands out is an opening in the capstone that looks like an eye: the slab is broken, and the piece that split off has slipped by a few centimetres – the gap between them has remained.
Around the winter solstice, the midday sun appears exactly in this eye on several days. The alignment was first described in 2007 by Hilmar Hensel and Ralf Herold. A copper engraving by Carl Adolph Gottlob von Schachmann shows the rock as early as 1780 in the form in which it stands today.
Whether the stone served as a calendar has not been proved. In 1828 Karl Benjamin Preusker suspected that neighbouring stones were pagan sacrificial altars, and Stone Age finds show that people have been moving through the Königshain Hills for a very long time.
340 mabove sea level
400 mnorth of the Hochstein
1780first copper engraving
Hiking & getting here
How to get to the Hochsteinbaude
Ten circular walks from Königshain, Liebstein and Wiesa lead through forest, past granite quarries and rock formations – all with a stop at the inn, planned with komoot.
Hochstein – Hamannbruch loop
A short loop taking in the observation tower, old quarries and the quarry lake – for all fitness levels.
1:24 h · 4.9 km · 120 m ascentTeufelsstein – Hochstein loop
Via the Teufelsstein to the Hochstein; a good basic level of fitness is enough.
2:11 h · 7.4 km · 200 m ascentHochstein – Thadenbruch loop
The long loop: Hochstein, Thadenbruch and the quarries of the Königshain Hills.
4:37 h · 16.9 km · 270 m ascent
Way of St James · Via Regia
We are on the pilgrims’ way
The Ecumenical Pilgrims’ Way starts in Görlitz at the Altstadtbrücke, the Old Town Bridge, and runs as a Way of St James all the way to Vacha – 466 kilometres in 22 stages. The first of them climbs from Liebstein into the Königshain Hills, and its highest point is our hill: the Hochsteinbaude is listed as a stop on the route.
If you arrive with scallop shell and rucksack, you will find a pilgrim’s meal, the stamp for your pilgrim passport and a place to rest – and right next door the tower, with a view back towards Görlitz.
Pilgrim stampat the bar
Pilgrim’s mealone dish at a reduced price
406 mhighest point of the stage
Events & announcements
Hochsteinkirmes 2026 – The Devil Throws the Stone
Sun, 11 October 2026 · from 11 amFree admission
- 11:00Morning pint with brass band music from Bohemia
- 12:30Rock band Medium23 (until 2.15 pm)
- 15:00“Der Teufel wirft den Stein” (The Devil Throws the Stone) – granite-throwing contest based on the legend of the Teufelsstein (Devil’s Rock); sign up on the day
- all dayNagelbock, the hammer-and-nail game, in front of the kiosk
Heated marquee, fire barrels, kiosk with food and drinks.
Looking back · Kirmes 2025
All dates in the calendar
Photos
Impressions of the Hochstein
Five chapters, each with its pictures as a mosaic. Tap a picture to see it large – from there, swipe or use the arrow keys to move on.
Inn & views
The inn from outside, its dining room and the view from the hill.
Hall & Fireside Room
What it looks like when there is something to celebrate – in the hall, in the dining room and in the extension on the south side.
Kiosk & beer garden
Outside beneath the beech trees: the serving hatch, beer tables, the playground and the bikers’ meet.
Festivals & Kirmes
The Kirmes, a choir by the rocks, the Devil of the Hochstein – and guests who arrive in unusual ways.
Hiking & winter
Summit stamp, signposts, granite rocks and the inn in the snow.
Digital summit book
Made it to the top? Sign the book.
The paper book at the tower is history – the Hochsteinbaude’s summit book is weatherproof. Scan the QR code at the tower or write your entry right here: your name, a few lines, your mood, the weather and a photo from the summit. It takes half a minute, with no account and no registration.
Loading the summit book …
360° panorama
Take a look all the way round
The panorama runs right here on the page: drag with the mouse or swipe on your phone – the house, the terrace, the beer garden and the granite rocks all around. At the top right you can switch to full screen or close it again.
What our guests think
5 out of 5 stars – what our guests say
We are very grateful for every kind review.
We have ordered a buffet several times now, in various sizes, and have always been very pleased. I would particularly like to mention how creative the dishes were. They made every buffet a culinary experience. […] During the preparations there was a wide range of options, and we were well advised in putting it together.
An idyllic restaurant in the forest; a beautiful terrace invites you in; but you can also sit very comfortably indoors; the menu offers a variety of food and drinks at absolutely fair prices; the staff are very friendly; stopping here is well worth it.
Within a month I have now been up here twice, and I can only recommend the inn as a place to eat. Freshly cooked food, for vegetarians too, a variety of drinks and friendly service. All at reasonable prices.
These reviews have been translated from German.
Frequently asked questions
When is the Hochsteinbaude open?
We are open Wednesday to Sunday from 11 am to 6 pm, in winter until 5 pm – or by arrangement. Closed on Monday and Tuesday.
How long is the walk to the Hochsteinbaude?
About 30 minutes from the walkers’ car park, and around 35 minutes from the village of Königshain.
Is there an entry fee for the observation tower?
No. Climbing the 101 steps is free. If you like, you can put something in the donation box at the tower – we use it to keep the tower in good repair.
Can I book a table?
Yes. Ideally by email, with the date, time, number of people and your phone number so we can call you back – then we can confirm straight away. Large walking groups, please let us know in advance.
Can I pay by card?
No, please bring cash: we cannot accept debit or credit cards.
Do you serve coffee and cake?
Yes, in the afternoon there is coffee and home-baked cake – indoors by the tiled stove or outside on the terrace. The selection changes.
Is the Hochsteinbaude a good day out with children?
Yes: the playground, granite rocks to clamber over and the observation tower with its 101 steps are right beside the inn, and for smaller appetites there are potato pancakes and a small schnitzel.
Where is the Hochsteinbaude?
On the Hochstein in the Königshain Hills near Königshain, west of Görlitz in Upper Lusatia. From the Königshain walkers’ car park it is about 30 minutes on foot.
Can I hold a celebration at the inn?
Yes: the hall for 80 people, the Fireside Room for 12 to 16, the outdoor terrace for 120, and open-air events in the grounds for up to 300 people. A marquee for 80 people can be hired.