We begin our day section at the corner of Gerhart-Hauptmann-Straße/Mittlere Bergstraße (above the tram stop Gerhart-Hauptmann-Straße). We walk left and turn right into Kynastweg, cross Hausbergweg/Rietzschkegrund (a detour into the Rietzschkegrund leads after about 800 m to Winzerhof Rössler with holiday apartment), and continue on Talkenbergweg – now on Coswig territory – to the Talkenberger Hof (inn and guesthouse) above the Paulsberg.
At Geschwister-Scholl-Platz, we keep right (Spitzgrundstraße) where the vineyard of Weingut Matyas with a seasonal wine tavern can be seen. In a familiar atmosphere, we enjoy the wines and sparkling wines produced here. After the break, we follow the trail markings (Friedewaldstraße, Am Ameisenhügel, Anton-Günther-Straße) into the Spitzgrund to the Spitzgrundmühlteich.
A detour, a short way down the street, leads to the Historic Spitzgrund Mill (hotel, restaurant, beer garden), inviting you to stop in.
We cross Moritzburger Straße/Spitzgrundstraße and follow the pond dam path to the right into the forest and reach Weinböhla. This officially recognized resort town claims to be the only town to have 'Wein' (wine) in its name.
On Spitzberg, we have a good view of the Elbe valley and Coswig before continuing toward the Forsthaus Kreyern.
Over the Fuchsberg with shelter and information panel, G-Weg, Neuer Weg, and Bergsiedlung path, we reach Schloss Lauben, a former winery from the 17th century (now residential apartments).
Following the trail markings (Bergsiedlung, Am Vogel, Bäckersche Hofstraße (Restaurant „Laubenschlösschen“), Wilhelm-Wiesner-Straße), we now reach the first of the three Weinböhla towers, the Friedensturm. Built in 1902/03, it offers a panoramic view from Meißen to the Eastern Ore Mountains. At the tower's foot is the Drais stone, dedicated to the inventor of the bicycle.
The next tower (via Hohe Straße, Moritzburger Straße, Karlstraße), the König-Albert-Turm, built at the end of the 19th century and restored in 1999, allows a magnificent 60 km panoramic view. For access to the towers, you can find information on opening hours and key rental stations at: https://www.weinboehla.de/de/weinboehlas-tuerme.html
As a small detour, finally tower no. 3 after a further asphalt stretch (Barthshügel-, Nizzastraße, Sachsenplatz, Steinbacher Straße) and paths (Helle, Am Börnchengrund): the Wartturm – built in 1900, popularly called the “ruin” – is the highest point of Weinböhla (over 200 m above sea level). From here, we look over the Ratsweinberg and the Elbe Valley. The restored ruin is accessible year-round.
After turning right onto Nordstraße, we enter the fields of Niederau at the end. We turn left onto path D, walk along the forest edge, then continue on Höhenweg, Am Waldacker (Winzerhof “Im Waldacker”), and Gipshügel, leading us to old vineyard land of the Rittergut Oberau. Even today, vines still grow here; the location is called Gellertberg. There is a small hunting lodge that was converted into the Gellerthaus during the GDR era, as the German poet spent time here in the mid-18th century. Next to it is an open-air stage, which today hosts various events such as open-air cinema, stage shows, or concerts.
We leave the grounds on a forest path to the right and reach the Forststraße or the Obere Buschmühlenweg keeping left, and finally arrive at the Buschmühle, a former sawmill now guesthouse and restaurant with beer garden and gondola pond.
We follow the Untere Buschmühlenweg to Großdobritzer Straße. Before the railway underpass, we turn right onto Am Lerchenfeld and then left into Tunnelweg. We cross Großdobritzer Straße, walk a short section beside the tracks and turn right into Schulweg, which leads back to Großdobritzer Straße and takes us to the village church St. Katharina (1680/81) with important grave monuments in the cemetery.
We turn right into Oberauer Straße and then Thomas-Müntzer-Ring and arrive at (water) Schloss Oberau, the destination of stage 4. First mentioned as a water castle in 1276, it is now awaiting renovation. From here, the Niederau station, Germany’s oldest station (built 1842) with public transport connections, is still a short distance away (about 1.5 km walk via Thomas-Müntzer-Ring, right into Oberauer Straße, left into Mönchsallee, then along a path parallel to the tracks to the station). Various overnight accommodations can be found in Niederau
(start of stage 5, niederau.info/tourismus/uebernachtungen/, e.g. holiday apartment in the half-timbered house Hof Schwitzky or holiday apartment Hof Klotz (both Kirchstr.) or Hotel Heidler (Meißner Str.)).
