The Bastei and its stone bridge over the Elbe

What it is

The Bastei is a group of sandstone pinnacles that overlook the Elbe between Rathen and Stadt Wehlen. It is the best-known image of Saxon Switzerland. The passage between the rocks is spanned by a 76.5-metre stone bridge built in 1851, which replaced a wooden one of 1824. From the viewpoints you see the river far below (the Berghotel restaurant, next door, is 194 metres above the Elbe), the plateaux of the Lilienstein and the Königstein and, at your feet, the village of Rathen. Next to the bridge are the remains of the Felsenburg Neurathen, the largest medieval rock castle in the area; because of renovation works it can now only be seen from the outside, with no reopening date. A new panoramic viewpoint opened in 2023.

Getting there

Without a car, the classic way is to climb from Kurort Rathen: the S1 S-Bahn from Dresden stops on the opposite bank, you cross the Elbe by ferry and climb on foot through the village and a path of steps and passes between rocks. The tourist office suggests several loops from Rathen of between 4.7 and 10 kilometres, and one through the Schwedenlöcher, a gorge with stairs, that leaves from Lohmen. By car you go up the Basteistraße: car park 1, at the start of the road, has a day rate and is about 3.5 kilometres' walk away; from 1 April to 31 October a shuttle covers that stretch. Car park 2 is closer and more expensive. Buses 237 and 254 also come.

When to go

The Bastei has no opening hours or entry fee. At weekends at midday it fills with groups; early in the morning or at the end of the afternoon it is much more pleasant to walk and the light is lovelier. In autumn the forest turns red; in winter the stairs can be icy.