Friday 7 August 2026
The Festungslauf (‘Fortress Run’) is a hill running event held annually in Königstein, a small town situated on the Elbe river in the state of Sachsen (Saxony) in Germany, just about thirteen kilometres from the border with Czechia.
There are race options for all age groups:
- 9.4km Lauf (runners aged 64 or under)
- 7.7km Lauf (runners aged 65 or over)
- 7.7km Walking und Nordic Walking
- 1.2km Mini-Lauf (kids run)
- 1.2km Inklusionslauf (runners of all abilities)
The 9.4km race features 470m of ascent, starting at the tourist information office in the town centre and finishing inside the imposing Festung Königstein, one of Europe's largest and most impressive hilltop fortifications.
The course commands stunning panoramic views over the Elbe River Valley and the Sächsische Schweiz (‘Saxon Switzerland’) with its fairy-tale rock formations.
Königstein Fortress
Map of the venue:
22. Festungslauf Königstein 2026:
Date:
- 7 August 2026 (Friday)
Start time:
- 18:00: 1.2km Inklusionslauf
- 18:20: 9.4km (1st wave)
- 18:30: 9.4km (2nd wave), 7.7km, 1.2km kids run
Event website:
Number of finishers in the main race:
- 2025: 557 (8.8km)
- 2024: 361 (8.8km)
- 2023: 268 (8.8km)
- 2022: 297 (9.4km)
- 2021: 280 (9.4km)
- 2020: Event cancelled
- 2019: 649 (7.8km)
- 2018: 623 (7.8km)
No guarantee is made as to the accuracy or thoroughness of the information on this page.