30/11/2020
The Bastei is a rock formation in Germany that rises 194 meters above the Elbe River, in the Elbe sandstone mountains. The steep rocks of the Bastei, which reach a height of 305 meters above sea level, were formed by water erosion more than a million years ago. They are located near the town of Rathen, not far from the small town of Pirna, southeast of the Saxon capital of Dresden, and are the main landscape of the Saxon Switzerland national park. They are also part of a climbing and hiking area that straddles the borders of Bohemian Switzerland (Czech Republic).
The Bastei bridge
The Bastei has been a tourist attraction for more than 200 years. In 1824 a wooden bridge was built to connect various rocks for visitors. This bridge was replaced in 1851 by the current Bastei bridge made of sandstone. The rock formations and scenic views have inspired several renowned artists, including Caspar David Friedrich (eg Felsenschlucht).
The spa town of Rathen, which can be reached from Dresden by steamboat on the Elbe River, is the main base for visiting the Bastei.
Author: Maria Luisa Santillán Merino
