Bergwirtschaft Kuhstall

An inn beside the arch

The Bergwirtschaft Kuhstall is in the heart of the national park, next to the Kuhstall, the largest rock arch in Saxon Switzerland, at 336 metres above sea level. You cannot get there by car: you walk up in 30 minutes from the Lichtenhainer Wasserfall stop, where the Kirnitzschtal tram ends, or in 25 from the Beuthenfall, following the red dot. It is on stage 4 of the Malerweg, so at midday it brings together passing walkers and families who have come up only this far. Inside there is a wooden dining room with 48 seats; outside, a terrace of 150 where, in good weather, you order self-service.

What to order

It is refuge cooking, simple and hot: hearty soups, the Brotzeit, a board of cold cuts, cheese and bread, and cold drinks. They work mostly with regional produce, partly organic and fair trade, and have vegetarian and vegan dishes. In winter there are waffles, mulled wine and hot chocolate. For the little ones there is soft-serve ice cream, a sandpit and a changing table. If you come up in a group, they prepare a large cold-cut board for about ten people for €149, ordered 48 hours ahead.

When it opens and how to pay

From late March to early November it is open every day from 11:00 to 17:00, until 18:00 in the Saxon summer school holidays. In winter, from 3 November 2026 to 29 March 2027, only Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays from 11:00 to 16:00. Payment is by cash or card, including American Express, Apple Pay and Google Pay. German and Czech are spoken. To get there by car, park at the Beuthenfall or at the Lichtenhainer Wasserfall; note that the Elbe bridge of the B172 in Bad Schandau is closed and changes the access.