Malerweg

The Malerweg, or "Painters' Way," is a journey through a landscape so surreal and romantic that it inspired a generation of 19th-century artists, including Caspar David Friedrich, and helped give birth to the Romanticism movement. The trail winds through the heart of Saxon Switzerland National Park, a unique region of deeply eroded sandstone mountains characterized by bizarre rock towers, deep gorges, and tabletop mesas. It is a landscape that feels more like a fantasy illustration than a real place, with every turn revealing a new and dramatic vista that seems composed for a canvas.  

What makes the Malerweg unique is this deep, tangible connection to art and history. The route is designed to lead hikers to the very viewpoints immortalized in famous paintings, with display boards showing the artwork in the exact location it was created. The hike itself is incredibly varied, following paths through spooky, narrow ravines, climbing steep metal ladders and staircases to airy viewpoints, and meandering through peaceful forests and along the banks of the Elbe River. It is not a high-altitude alpine trek, but a challenging and endlessly fascinating exploration of a truly one-of-a-kind landscape, where nature and art are inextricably intertwined.

The Malerweg is a circular trail starting and ending in the town of Pirna, located in the Saxon Switzerland region of Germany, near Dresden. Pirna is easily accessible by train (S-Bahn) from the major city of Dresden, which has an international airport (DRS) and excellent rail connections. The official trailhead is in the nearby village of Liebethal, which is a short bus ride from Pirna's main station. The region has an excellent public transport system, including buses (Wanderbus) and a historic tram (Kirnitzschtalbahn), making it easy to shorten stages or access different parts of the trail. Luggage transfer services are also available.