Hiking, climbing or on pilgrimage: the Hochsteinbaude stands on the summit, right next to an old quarry. Climbers will find eight summits and ten solid quarry walls, and in some of the quarries you can swim – don’t forget your towel.
The Königshain Hills west of Görlitz cover around 50 square kilometres and have been a protected landscape since 1974. Granite was quarried here for more than 200 years – the old quarries still shape the footpaths today.
King Frederick William IV placed the rocks of the Totenstein (Rock of the Dead) under protection in 1844 as a “Denkmal der Vorzeit” (monument of ancient times) – it is regarded as one of the oldest natural monuments in Germany. Several circular walks lead from the Totenstein to the Hochstein.
Legend has it that the Devil tore his trousers flying over the church tower of Nieder Seifersdorf and mended them up on the Teufelsstein (Devil’s Rock). The legend gives its name to “Der Teufel wirft den Stein” (The Devil Throws the Stone), the game played at our Kirmes, the annual fair.
Granite towers of Königshain granite some 300 million years old, topped by the 22-metre observation tower. The area around the Hochstein has been protected as a natural monument since 1930.
To the observation towerThe Way of St James and the European long-distance path E10 cross the Hochstein – pilgrims and long-distance walkers stop at the inn.
Eight climbing summits and ten quarry walls with more than two hundred routes. Quarrying ended in 1975, and today you can swim in some of the quarries.
By car you reach Königshain via the A4 – to protect the landscape, the motorway runs beneath the hills through the Königshain Tunnel. Destination for your sat nav: “Wanderparkplatz Königshain” (51.18891, 14.84621). From there it is a walk of about 30 minutes to the inn.
Large walking groups, please let us know in advance – by phone or by email: book in as a group.
From Görlitz bus station, route 65 towards Weißenberg runs via Königshain. It takes just under 30 minutes to the Königshain Oberdorf stop.
From the stop it is about ten minutes’ walk through the village to the walkers’ car park with the large information board, and from there around 30 minutes up to the inn. So from the bus it is a good three quarters of an hour on foot.
How often the bus runs depends on school terms and holidays. Check the timetable before you travel: ZVON timetable information.
The Hamannbruch – Thadenbruch loop from Wiesa at 4.5 km (about 1:19 h) and the Hochstein – Hamannbruch loop from Wiesa at 4.9 km (about 1:24 h).
At the walkers’ car park, Wanderparkplatz Königshain (51.18887, 14.84940). From there it is about 30 minutes on foot to the Hochsteinbaude.
Yes. All ten circular walks pass the Hochsteinbaude – open Wednesday to Sunday from 11 am to 6 pm, in winter until 5 pm.