Hiking from Königstein to Kurort Gorisch
We hadn’t had time to actually visit the Fortress Königstein when we hiked past it the day before because it was a fairly long hiking day. Since we’d been seeing it from every angle and it was so dramatic we thought we really should check it out before we started our hike.
The hike up to Königstein probably added 4+ miles to our day but we really couldn’t NOT go. There was a lot to see but we had limited time so we focused on the views from the top since we’d seen it from every angle from below. We even spotted our accommodations from the night before and a kestrel of some kind. There was a lot to see up there and we really just got a brief glimpse of it as we didn’t have as much time to explore as we’d like. Our instructions said we had to check in to our accommodations by 6 that day.
We returned the way we came and tried to find out route for the day. It began with a steep and narrow cobblestone road past tightly packed cute houses. At the top of the hill, we found the path we were supposed to take after a bit of checking, rechecking, and re-rechecking. I lacked confidence for some reason that we were on the right route, but we were.
Walking through a nice woods with sandstone formations. We were looking for an unmarked path to a cave called Diebshöhle (Thieve’s Cave). It was supposedly the largest cave in Saxon Switzerland. Because of that, I thought it would be bigger but maybe it was deeper than I could see. I didn’t venture to the back of it. I get creeped out in caves. Heights are a little spooky but I can manage them for the most part. The dark depths are not for me. We ate our lunch in the less scary front part of the cave but I stayed alert for goblins and orcs and whatnot.
Next we climbed Pfaffenstein. At the top there was a small restaurant where we decided to stop for a snack. I had a Berliner Weisse with raspberry syrup and Brian had a radler. I’m a fan of both but I’m not sure I can get Kindlweisse at home. We also split a Flammkuchen which is my favorite food of Germany, though it may not really be that German.
After our snack we followed the trail to the Barbarine Pinnacle and then took a route along a series of lookouts and then descended via a steep stairs and ladders type trail down the mountain to a field.
From there we walked through a village and fields and the edge of a forest to Gohrisch and found our accommodations, Pension Villa Irene. We liked all of our hotels on this trip the the Villa Irene was our favorite.
The woman who runs the hotel was pretty great! If I say she reminded me of Gretchen from Malcolm in the Middle, I hope that can’t be taken as insulting in any way because Gretchen is sweet and funny and sincere. Her English was one million times better than my German so we proceeded in English.
She invited us in and sat us down, so we could fill out some paperwork and be interviewed about breakfast. Did we prefer coffee or tea? Butter or margarine? Do you like this postcard? Here is a postcard for you.
Then she gave us a tour of the place, showed us the big back yard with sunbathing chairs, and the Kneipe treading pool in the basement, and most importantly, the help yourself beverage refrigerator in the basement. You just write down what you take and pay her for it in the morning. We stayed in a place in Berlin once that worked this way but didn’t take advantage of it. Now we are converts.
She pointed us in the direction of the local restaurants for dinner and after a shower we set out to find food. I ended up having a couple of beers and a pork steak with pineapple and cheese at Gasthof Sennerhütte.
Afterwards we headed back to Villa Irene followed by a cat and a gaggle of happy retirees that were going in the same direction. I regret only that we didn’t stay longer to hang out in the back yard but we enjoyed some help yourself beers and fell asleep again watching some shows on the laptop. It was so quiet and peaceful, for me anyway. I guess they were having a 1 a.m. toast for an 80th birthday in the back yard but I didn’t wake up for it.
