Meißner 8 - North Route
- 3:00 h
- 35.79 km
- 183 m
- 183 m
- 96 m
- 224 m
- 128 m
- Start: Meissen
- Destination: Meissen
The bike tour takes you along both paved and unpaved paths, some of which were used by the local narrow-gauge railroad until the 1970s but were later converted into a scenic bike path.
The tour starts in downtown Meissen on the right bank of the Elbe near the train station and offers a panoramic view of the historic city of Meissen—including Albrechtsburg Castle and the cathedral—as you cross the railroad bridge. As you continue, you’ll pass three churches: St. Nicholas Church, St. Benno Church, and Luther Church.
A detour to the world-famous porcelain manufactory is also possible as you ride out of town.
As you pass through the Triebisch Valley, you’ll catch sight of the Götterfelsen, which features a viewing platform perfect for a short hike. The route continues past the valley’s mills, which can also be visited by bike along the southern route of the Meissen 8.
The first remnants of the railroad line are visible here—the remains of the former viaduct in Robschütz, with its old concrete supports, bear witness to the line’s history. Over the next few kilometers of the route, you can explore this history through several preserved station buildings and even a narrow-gauge railway museum in Löthain.
The tour also delights with natural trails through forests and across the fields of the southern Lommatzscher Pflege region, which also offers a steady stream of small villages and points of interest, such as the Zöthain double bridge and the Prositz Germanic burial ground. If you veer slightly off the route in Mauna, you’ll discover the wine tavern at the“Cambium Compagnie” winery—a lovely spot for a break and a glass of Saxon wine (seasonally limited selection).
On the return trip toward Meissen, you’ll enjoy a wonderful view of the ruins of the Renaissance castle in Schieritz before the Elbe Cycle Route heads back toward Meissen. Here you’ll find another highlight—the“Heilig Kreuz” monastery ruins, built as early as 1217, where today the inner courtyard features, among other things, a restaurant inviting you to stop for a break (Klosterrast: open Thu–Sun, 12 p.m.–5 p.m.).
Numerous other places to stop for refreshments can then be found back in Meissen itself.
Waypoints
Good to know
Pavements
- Unknown (97%)Gravel (1%)Trail (2%)
Best to visit
- suitableDepends on weather
Directions
- The tour starts on the right bank of the Elbe, near the Meissen train station. From there, the route follows the yellow “Meißner 8” symbol—first across the railroad bridge, which leads to the other side of the Elbe and onto Obergasse. At the next intersection, turn left onto the main street and follow it past the traffic-light-controlled intersection by the church and across the Triebisch River, then take a sharp left onto Wettinstraße. Follow this road along the river until it eventually joins the main street after a short right-left turn.
Continue out of town along the Triebisch Valley until the route turns left in Garsebach over a small bridge. Turn right immediately at the cemetery and follow the path until you reach the main road again.
You’ll only be on the S 83 for a short while, because in Robschütz the route turns immediately right uphill. After the underpass, continue straight ahead to Löthain, where you’ll turn right onto Canitzer Straße at the narrow-gauge railway museum. At the next intersection, the route turns right onto the small forest path toward Mauna. You’ll just pass through the village; the route continues for a few more meters on natural trails until you reach Leutewitz. There, the route crosses the Obermühle and then turns right by the lake onto the small paved path, after which you follow the forest trail all the way to the village of Kabschütz. Here, keep to the right and climb the next hills via the paved path to Mettelwitz
.
Continue along the main road until the turnoff to the right toward Zöthain. Here, pass the double bridge on your right and continue straight ahead on the road to Daubnitz, where you turn right at the intersection in town. The route then continues straight through the towns of Wachtnitz, Prositz, and Piskowitz.
From there, ride back along bike paths with a view of Schieritz Castle to the Elbe Cycle Route, which you then follow eastward again to Meissen. Cross the river via the first bridge, the Elbtalbrücke, and finally return to your starting point.
Tour information
Cultural Interesting
Loop Road
Stop at an Inn
Equipment
- The tour is suitable for e-bikes, touring bikes, and gravel bikes.
There are very few places to eat along the route, so it's a good idea to bring your own food.
Directions & Parking facilities
- Getting thereFrom Dresden: A4, take the Dresden-Altstadt
exit and follow
the B6 toward Meissen, or take the A4, exit at Wilsdruff and follow the S177 toward MeissenFrom Leipzig: A14, take the Nossen-Ost exit and follow the B101 toward Meissen
From Chemnitz: A4, take the Dreieck Nossen exit and
follow
the B101 toward Meissen
From Berlin: A13, take the Radeburg exit and follow the S177 toward Meissen
ParkingParkingThe tour starts on the right bank of the Elbe, right next to the free Elbe parking lot.
Additional parking options: P+R parking lot at the Meissen bus station, parking lots on the left bank of the Elbe, and others in the surrounding area
Public transportationBy train:S-Bahn Line 1 from Dresden.
By bus:
Coswig: Bus line 401
Cossebaude: Bus line 404
Nünchritz: Bus line 407
Großenhain: Bus line 409
Nossen: Bus lines 412 and 418
Döbeln: Bus Route 416
Weinböhla: Bus routes 421 and 422
Wilsdruff: Bus Route 428
Riesa: Bus Route 446
Moritzburg: +477
Timetable Information: Upper Elbe Transport Association
Additional information
Literature
Author
Dresden Elbland Redaktion
Organization
Dresden Elbland
License (master data)
Dresden Elbland Redaktion
Author´s Tip / Recommendation of the author
- Combine this tour with the "Meißner 8 - South Route"!
Map
Download GPX file