This is the route through the Dippoldiswalde Heath!
Take the Weißeritz Valley Railway from Freital-Hainsberg to Dippoldiswalde, the starting point of the cycle tour. Once you arrive at Dippoldiswalde station, follow Bahnhofstraße to the right - crossing the Rote Weißeritz - uphill to Karl-Marx-Platz. On the left is Dippoldiswald Castle with the "Osterzgebirgsgalerie" museum; continue half-left uphill to the church square. Our tip: Visit the 13th century town church, the Luther monument, the prayer column, the well room and the statue of "Saint Dippold" in a niche behind glass. Turn right around the 15th century town hall to the market square. On the square you will find the Löwenapotheke pharmacy from 1645 and four fountains symbolizing the former water sources. Turn left next to the Sparkasse bank into Kirchgasse. On Niedertorplatz, there is another prayer column on the right at the crosswalk. Use the crosswalk and follow Niedertorstraße to the first crossroads. Continue half-left past a signpost on Heideweg to Nikolai-Ostrowski-Straße. Turn left onto Rabenauer Straße and follow it uphill to the right until you reach the junction with Hohe Straße. Cross the junction straight ahead to the Hotel "Heidehof" with the "König-Johann-Turm" observation tower (key available at reception). After approx. 600 m, turn left at a signpost into the forest path Rabenauer Straße. Cycle straight ahead until you pass a paved path. Here you will see the wolf column on the left. Turn right to the crossroads at the stone knife. Another signpost and a covered rest area invite you to enjoy a leisurely picnic. Refreshed, continue along Rabenauer Straße in the direction of the Barbara Chapel or Götzenbüschen. After another rest stop, you will find one of four salt licks in the Dippoldiswalde Heath on the left - somewhat hidden.
A little further on, a sign points the way to the Barbara Chapel - a worthwhile detour to the ruins from the 16th century on the Klausenweg (approx. 200m). Back on the main path, continue cycling in the direction of Rabenau and after a short distance you will reach the "Neuoelsa" garden section. Cross Seifersdorfer Straße and continue past the "Zum Götzenbusch" inn. Visit the "Götzenbusch" natural monument - a former sandstone quarry that is well worth seeing.
Counted enough stones? Continue along Rabenauer Straße until you reach the first houses in Rabenau. On Förstereistraße, you will find the Alte Försterei on the left about 100 m uphill. After a relaxing view, head back down to Dippoldiswalder Straße and turn left at the main road (Oelsaer Str.). Fancy a detour to the Stuhlbaumuseum? After a few meters, keep right on Lindenstraße up to the center of Rabenau. The museum is on the left in the bend to the right. If you prefer to continue cycling, follow Bahnhofstraße to the left down into the valley, where you will reach the railroad station at Rabenauer Mühle. The valley path leads between restaurants and the parking lot, which takes you along the river and railroad line on a bend-free ride (approx. 4 km) to Freital. Caution - the path runs directly alongside the tracks in places! Arched bridges worth seeing and a hydroelectric power station with a high cascade are well worth a look.
Tip: In the Rabenauer Grund, two shelters invite you to enjoy a cozy picnic. A flat bank at a bend in the Weißeritz is also a popular resting place.
At the end of the valley at the Wander-Pilz, cross the river to the right and reach the Freital-Coßmannsdorf stop, passing the "Hains" and the Weißeritz Park. Cross the railroad line and Hainsberger Straße at the level crossing and take the Weißeritzgässchen cycle path on the left. Back on Rabenauer Straße, turn right after the bridge onto the cycle path of the busy Dresdner Straße down to Freital-Hainsberg station. You've made it!
