Hello dear travelers. Now we will tell you about the absolute must see. About the favorite place of tourists, climbers and photographers. About the historical and also architectural monument. All this is the Bastei Bridge in Germany. In a very beautiful place near Dresden.

Federal State of Saxony (Freistaat Sachsen). The bridge is an hour's drive from Dresden. In the Bastei Nature Park. In another way, it is also called Bataille. You can get here by car + bus, or by train + on foot.

High above the ground

Let's start the story about this amazing structure with a description of the very place where the bridge was built.

The rocky massif of sandstone Bastei (Bastei), which means "bastion", is located near Dresden, on the territory of the Saxon Switzerland reserve. For the uninitiated, this name can be confusing. No, this place has nothing to do with Switzerland. Although one of the versions connects these places with Swiss artists. The rocks are reminiscent of another incredibly beautiful place - famous in Greece.

Saxon Switzerland is a German national park that borders the Czech Republic and the Elbe River. Nearby are also the town of Velen with the spa Rathen.

The very name "Bastion" already tells us how these rocks were used for a long time. They served as reliable defenders of the Neurathen castle. The castle was wooden. Wooden decks were laid from one rock to another. They represented the road through the tops of the rocks. I can’t imagine how you can just walk at such a dizzying height, let alone shoot or fight. Although, such floorings are apparently convenient for defense: the defenders of the board have been removed and the enemy cannot go anywhere.

In the annals, the first information about the rock is found in 1592.

And this place becomes a tourist attraction by the beginning of the 19th century. At that time, the rocks were considered part of the so-called "artist's trail", along which many creators walked, looking for inspiration and beautiful views. This occupation was quite dangerous - many artists, in search of the most beautiful place, fell into crevices and broke to death. And it also happened that some envious Salieri, as if inadvertently touched the opponent with his elbow, clearing his thorny path to glory.

Awe is what you feel when you look at these bizarre formations towering 194 meters above the river.

In addition to tourists who want to see beautiful and unusual places, there are always many rock climbers and, of course, photographers. Both those and others work out their professional skills in Bastei.

It is easier and easier for photographers - there is an observation deck with stunning views.

The number of tourists has been constantly growing since the beginning of the 19th century. By 1812, the first shops opened near the bridge. Around the same time, the observation deck was fenced off. And by 1826, a small hut, where travelers used to take shelter from the weather, was rebuilt and turned into a restaurant.

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old overpass

By 1824, another detail appeared here - the Bastei Bridge (Basteibrücke). Its original version was wooden. He connected Bastei with other rocks. A little later, by 1851, it was replaced by a modern sandstone structure.

A few formal characteristics to make it easier for you to imagine this attraction in all its glory. The length of the structure is 76.5 meters, the seven arches on which the bridge rests cover the Mardertelle Gorge with a depth of about 40 meters.

There are several memorial plaques connected with its history on the bridge.

• One of them is dedicated to the first mention of rocks in literature for travelers.
• Another tells of Karl Heinrich Nicholas and Wilhelm Lebrecht Götzinger, the first travelers in Saxon Switzerland, who described these places in detail in their travel notes.
• Another sign will introduce you to Hermann Krohn, court photographer. He took the first photographs from the Bastei Bridge in 1853.

If you want to admire the views not only from the bridge, but also to the attraction itself, then you should visit Ferdinandstein. This is part of the Velturme towers.

What else to see in the park

In addition to the picturesque bridge, there is just a sea of ​​​​everything interesting here. Ancient fortresses, for example, Königstein, a waterfall, robber possessions, museums. In other words, you definitely won't be bored.

If you do not want to explore Saxon Switzerland on your own, you can take excursion with a Russian speaking guide.

How to get there

The Bastei bridge is located not far from the Rathen resort.

• By car along the A17 highway to the intersection with the B172a highway. It's about 20 kilometers. Then you will need to go to S164 and S165.

You can park your car near the observation deck. And from the observation deck to the bridge, take a special bus.

• By train you can get to Rathen. Then to the other side of the Elbe - by ferry, and then on foot.

Bastei on krt

Happy travels, friends! Subscribe to our blog and see you soon.

I bring to your attention the first photo essay from Germany in my diary. In this country, I visited this year for the first time, alas, very quickly and actually passing through. However, the photos were enough to write a report. In the report, I will give pictures from the center of Dresden and from a wonderful natural place - Bastei. I invite everyone to enjoy the views of winter Germany;)

We arrived in Germany by car from the Czech Republic. The main points to visit were the Bastei Bridge, Dresden and the Königstein Fortress. We visited all these places, but I’ll tell you about Königstein some other time, but this time I’ll report from Dresden and Bastei. Here we go?

"Bastei (German: Bastei - bastion; height 305 m above sea level) - a formation of sandy rocks with an observation deck in Saxon Switzerland on the right bank of the Elbe River between the resort of Rathen and the city of Velen."

1. As soon as we started to drive up to the bridge, I realized that we were clearly unlucky with the lighting ... And if the weather was just great, then the light fell from the wrong side, and it immediately became clear that we needed to take pictures in the spirit of those that I saw on the Internet - it will be very difficult. Well, what is - that is. The place is very beautiful, there were relatively few tourists with us (which is also cool). There was no snowfall and no rain, so we had to rejoice)

"The cliffs rise 194 meters above the Elbe. The Bastei is one of Saxon Switzerland's most visited tourist attractions. Part of a natural park that includes both Saxon Switzerland and Bohemian Switzerland (in the Czech Republic). A popular climbing destination."

2. We pass along the bridge to the end and take a photo towards the steep cliffs and the Elbe.

"Bastei has been famous for over 200 years for the unique Bastei Bridge (German: Basteibrucke). It was originally built of wood in 1824. In 1851 it was replaced by a modern one made of sandstone. The bridge is a historical landmark, an architectural monument protected by the state."

3. General plans. The scenery is simply stunning and mesmerizing. A very beautiful natural place that impressed much more than Dresden itself)

"Already the name Bastei ("Bastion") points to the former inclusion of steep rocks in the defensive ring of the Neurathen rock castle. But only in 1592 for the first time - as part of the geodetic survey of Saxony - the name Bastei is mentioned."

4. If you try to take a photo straight down from the bridge, it becomes a little uncomfortable. The abyss between the snow-covered rocks!

"Already in 1800, the rocks were considered an interesting tourist destination, many artists walked along the so-called "artist's path" (Malerweg). Caspar David Friedrich painted the famous Felsenschlucht painting after visiting these places."

5. There are many paths and viewing platforms for tourists around the bridge. You can safely move around and not worry that you will miss an interesting angle. Especially in good weather, because. in bad weather, it may not be very comfortable here. Rocky formations in the background of the reserve.

"With the increase in the number of tourists visiting Bastei, two trading shops appeared in 1812. Two years later, protective railings were erected on the observation deck. In 1826, the hut was expanded and rebuilt as a restaurant for shelter from the weather. Under the name Basteibrucke, a wooden bridge appeared that connects Bastei with rocks Steinschleuder and Neurathener Felsentor. 1851 the wooden bridge was replaced by a sandstone bridge. It has a length of 76.5 m and covers with its 7 arches a deep (40 m) gorge with the name Mardertelle."

6. Let's turn around and take another general photo of the Bastei bridge.

"Alexander Scriabin, during his tour of Germany, in particular in Dresden, twice visited the Bastei. Under the impression of these visits, he wrote the prelude of the same name" Bastei "."

7. From the end of the bridge, there are gorgeous views of the ferry between the two banks of the Elbe. Coniferous trees grow right on the steep cliffs.

8. The most impressive views of the bridge open when looking towards the shining sun. What a shame. Therefore, we limit ourselves to only one photo ...

9. Let's look in the other direction from the Bastei bridge. On the horizon are rock formations interspersed with small German villages. You can feel the whole scale of the reserve!

10. On one of the sites you can see a curious object. This is a figurine of the patron saint of Rathen, located right on top of a tall pillar.

After that, we get into the car and drive directly to Dresden. I can only say about Dresden - the city is beautiful, but boring. Yes, it has many sights, both restored and preserved, yes, there are unique places and relics, but the city did not really catch on. Perhaps it was necessary to stay in it longer, but alas, the time frame did not allow. But we were lucky - we arrived in the city at sunset. And so the views and colors of the city were very beautiful.

"The Zwinger is the apogee of the heyday of the Saxon baroque. Usually such heavy sandstone looks light and transparent here, the connecting passages between the pavilions and the Kronentor literally rush upwards. Rays of light are reflected a thousand times in the high-flowing jets of fountains. sculptor Baltazar Permozer. Conceived as a garden and park complex and backstage for court festivities."

11. Let's start with the Zwinger, one of the visiting cards of the city...

"The structure is visible in all its splendor from the Theater Square and the Elbe. It owes its strange name to its location between the (zwinger) outer and inner walls of the fortification. The moat, the bridge leading to Kronentor, still reminds of this. In the middle of the 19th century. to it was supplemented by the Neo-Renaissance building of Gottfried Semper, which closes the building on the Elbe side and today houses the Armory and a recognized gallery of old masters."

12. Inner courtyard of the Zwinger architectural complex.

The Dresden Castle Residence, also the Residence Palace (German: Dresdner Residenzschloss) is the former residence of the Saxon electors (1464-1485, 1547-1806) and kings (1806-1918). It is one of the oldest buildings in Dresden, in the architecture of which styles can be traced from Romanesque to eclecticism. The first mention of the presence of a fortification in Dresden dates back to 1289. In the future, the castle was rebuilt many times, it acquired its modern look in 1901, when the last major reconstruction was carried out under the guidance of architects Gustav Dunger and Gustav Froelich.

13. Opposite the Zwinger is the Dresden Castle, the towers of which stood out favorably in the sunset rays.

"Dresden Hofkirche (German: Hofkirche - "court church", also Catholic court church (German: Katholische Hofkirche) - the cathedral church of the diocese of Dresden-Meissen and the parish church in the German city of Dresden in the federal state of Saxony. The Catholic church was built for Elector Friedrich August II Saxon architect Gaetano Chiaveri in the years 1739-1755 in the baroque style.During the bombing of Dresden on February 13-15, 1945, the Hofkirche was badly damaged: the roof collapsed, part of the outer walls were destroyed.Restoration work began immediately after the end of World War II.In 1947 services began in 1962. The restoration of the Hofkirche was completed in 1962. In 1964 it was declared concathedral, and in 1980 it became a cathedral due to the transfer of the bishopric from Bautzen to Dresden.

14. To the left of Dresden Castle is the Hofkirche Church. Here I took out a telephoto and decided to take a couple of pictures of the saints on the facade.

"Dresden Castle is located in the "Old Town" (German: Altstadt), the historical center of Dresden. Currently, the castle houses: "Grunes Gewolbe" (Green Vaults), Numismatic Cabinet (German: Munzkabinett), Engraving Cabinet (German: Kupferstich- Kabinett), In addition, various thematic exhibitions are held, which exhibit works of art from both old and modern masters.

15. Dresden castle tower with a clock.

17. We get to a small street Die Augustusstrasse. We were lucky with the lighting of the Frauenkirche church - the immortal symbol of the city. And in general, the angle is very favorable. I will tell about the "Procession of Princes" panel in more detail at the end of the report.

"Die Augustusstrasse in Dresden is located in the Innere Altstadt district and connects Schlossplatz with the Neumarkt location.
The Frauenkirche Church is located in the historical center of Dresden, almost next door to the famous Brühl Terrace, the Academy of Fine Arts and the Palace of Culture. The temple was erected in the first half of the 18th century, but during the Second World War it survived a heavy bombardment.

18. "The church literally began to be restored bit by bit only in the 90s of the last century, and the official opening of the new building took place some eight years ago. Now it is one of the most beautiful and most visited attractions in Dresden."

"Entrance to the Frauenkirche church is free for tourists. If you wish, you can leave a small amount as a donation for the needs of the temple."

19. A nice combination of beautiful curves of windows, turrets and clocks.

20. Zoom in on the clock on the church tower closer.

21. "The monument to the religious reformer Martin Luther was erected in 1885 in the old part of Dresden, in front of the Frauenkirche Cathedral. The sculpture was made by the architect Ernst Rietschel. The monument was damaged during bomb attacks in 1945. In 1955, after restoration, the monument was re-erected on the square."

On the horizon rises the Church of the Three Wise Men (Dreikönigskirche). In the meantime, it was getting dark, it was regime time.

22. We walked around the center, took pictures of the general angles of the city, shop signs ...

23. Statue on the dome of the Academy of Arts.

"The architect Konstantin Lipsius from 1885 to 1894 created an academy connected to the exhibition hall of the Saxon Association of Artists.
The building, whose facade is richly covered with sculptural decorations, impresses with its Neo-Renaissance monumentality."

24. I really liked the font, I decided to take a picture too)

"Haus Altmarkt is a monumental façade building on Wilsdruffer Strasse"

25. After that, we went to bed, and went on the next walk in the morning. On the way, we met an unusual monument with a prominent bright boy.

"Monument in front of the Kreuzkirche in Dresden in honor of the former musical director Ernst Julius Otto (1804 - 1877)"

26. Very beautiful and harmonious facades of houses in the historical center of the city.

"Modern hotel built on a recreation of the historic façade of the Hotel Stadt Berlin.

27. From the central square we headed towards the Brühl terrace.

"The sculptural group at the beginning of the Brühl terrace on the stairs in the lower right corner, located opposite the "Evening" group. The main faces are a woman who wears a sickle in her hair, and a sleeping boy covered with her dress. On the other hand, the god of sleep (and possibly and death?), who whispers and invites the boy to sleep."

28. You just need to see one of the main city attractions - the tiled panel "Procession of Princes".

"The "Procession of Princes" ("Princely Procession", "Fürstenzug" - German Furstenzug) is the famous wall tiled panel made of Meissen porcelain, one of the sights of Dresden. Created in 1904-1907. On the world's largest porcelain panel, composed of 25,000 tiles laid seamlessly, depicting a solemn horse procession reflecting the thousand-year history of the princely Wettin family that ruled Saxony. . Stallhof) in the complex of the Dresden Palace-Residence."

29. And goodbye - morning photo of the building "Academy of Arts"

"The building is crowned with a glazed dome, which is part of the view of the Elbe coast in the old town area."

On this, our walk around Dresden was over, we packed our things and headed towards Königstein - a huge and old fortress not far from the city. I will definitely tell about this trip, but another time. I will also show photos from an abandoned castle in the Czech Republic and an underground river in Prague. This is closer to the topic of my diary, and I think you will be interested;)

February 22nd, 2012 03:41 am

On Saturday, February 18, responding to an offer to go on a day hike in Saxon Switzerland, I spent one of the most interesting days of my life. For a long time I was not impressed by the landscapes, moreover, they were right next to me, only 2.5 hours from Prague. (German Sächsische Schweiz) - the German part of the Elbe Sandstone Mountains. It is located on the upper reaches of the Elbe River near Dresden. Bastei (German Bastei - bastion; height 305 m above sea level), in turn, is a formation of sandy rocks with an observation deck between the Rathen resort and the city of Velen. The rocks rise above the Elbe to a height of 194 meters. Bastei is the most visited tourist attraction in Saxon Switzerland. Part of a natural park that includes both Saxon Switzerland and Bohemian Switzerland (in the Czech Republic). It is a very popular place for rock climbing. Combining desires for wanderings, the Prague and Dresden Russian diasporas met in Saxon Switzerland in order to make this fascinating journey together, to which I invite you friends ...
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The route ahead of us is one of the easiest offered by the Dresden tourist club "IGW" Only 15 kilometers in the mountains and a great appetite is guaranteed, and since the best ribs in Prague were waiting for us in the evening, the mood throughout the day was super positive.
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"Green" ferry, operates without any fuel. It is attached to the right bank with a long cable and makes pendulum movements between the banks due to the flow of the river and correctly set rudders (at a high water level in the Elbe, it is replaced with an ordinary one).
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A round-trip ticket costs 1.5 euros.
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Meeting with my cat's cousin James.
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The sculptural composition, consisting of images of people and animals, are symbols of nearby rocks.
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Gaining altitude...
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The first peak of Gamrig is taken!
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Photo as a keepsake with my Hanover-Brest-Salihorsk friend, the famous joker and traveler Serezha Kondobarov.
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View from the plateau to the mountains and Rathen resort.
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View of the rock Lokomotieve (locomotive)
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Little climber.
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Centuries-old pines make an impression, they are very tall, next to you you feel completely insignificant :)
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A group of 25 people easily stretches for hundreds of meters, you can’t crowd in the mountains, and everyone has a different one. In order not to lose onlookers in any professional trip, there is a leader and a trailer.
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There are practically no people in the resort in winter. That's why we ended up there :)
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If you want to test a person, go with him to the mountains, no one has canceled this folk wisdom. We had a positive team, everyone helped each other, by the way, most of the participants in the campaign, if you noticed, were women, for which they have great respect.
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Everyone's favorite - Siberian brown-eyed husky
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Collective photo.
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In such places, willy-nilly, you think about the eternal. How many people have walked these paths over hundreds of years, and the trees are still standing and growing.
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During difficult descents, I sometimes had to remove the camera from my shoulder in my backpack. The danger of damage to equipment exists even in such a simple walk through the mountains. By the way, I fell out of the blue, but the technique and I remained intact. The effect of fogging the lens can also be used as an artistic technique, right?)))
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The Elbe is well frozen in these places, but to check for the sake of just checking, the thickness of the ice is very Russian ...
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Mountain resorts in Europe in summer attract even more tourists than winter ones. Hiking, horse riding, cycling and other types of tourism are very popular. This is facilitated by good infrastructure, most of the tourist paths, for example, stone or asphalt.
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Almost all restaurants and hotels are closed-off-season.
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You walk along such paths and feel like a real fairy tale.
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The power of water is infinite, but it is frost and frost in Switzerland. A huge block of ice is a frozen waterfall.
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Uuuuuuuhhh, but this is Bastei! When a cliff a good hundred meters high is under you, this is a very strong feeling, a feeling of freedom at least.
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View of the Elbe
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The German resort of Rathen from the Bastei height.
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It is unacceptable not to take a picture in such a valid place, especially on a wedding day :)
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The leader of the campaign is Grigory Tsypin, a candidate for master of sports, a prize-winner of the Soviet Union championship in sports tourism, and just a good person.
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The most recognizable place of Bastei is the Bastei stone bridge (Basteibrücke), which is over 200 years old.
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Bastei is literally surrounded by viewing platforms. Even in 1800, the place was very popular among tourists, attracting artists and writers. The famous Felsenschlucht (Canyon) painting, painted
Caspar David Friedrich in this amazing place.
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Oh, shoot from such a unit!
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Saxon beauty...
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Going down the icy steps is not the safest activity, but there are no insurmountable obstacles. And a little extreme is always fun.
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The forest is beautiful at any time of the year, even in cold February. By the way, it is quite hot in the mountains, especially when you are not standing still. Experienced travelers took off their sweaters at the beginning of the trip.
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Details of the German resort town of Rathen.
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The whole walk took us about 7 hours. The mood for the whole week and sound sleep were guaranteed to us ...
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It will be useful for hikers

Saxon Switzerland called the German part of the Elbe sandstone mountains, located 30 minutes drive from Dresden (the mountains located on the Czech territory are called Bohemian Switzerland).

This name was given to the mountains thanks to two Swiss artists Adrian Zingg and Anton Graff, who lived and worked near this region in the 18th century. Unique landscapes, consisting of numerous sandstone cliffs, wide forests and no less numerous streams and rivers, constantly reminded them of the beauty of their native land.

The Elbe Mountains are a former seabed that gave way to dry land during the Cretaceous period. The highest point, located at an altitude of 556 m above sea level, is called Mount Grosse Winterberg (lit. translation - Big Winter Mountain, German Große Winterberg).

In 1956, due to the huge influx of tourists, in order to protect the territory from its uncontrolled use, the Saxon Switzerland National Park was created, which covers an area of ​​386 km. sq. Later, areas were identified that tourists cannot enter. On any guide book that can be bought on the spot, they are indicated by red vertical dashed lines. However, in the national park there are many opportunities to visit and explore the most picturesque points of the region. The most common is the so-called walking or cycling tourism. Forest paths open to free access, roads on a hill are visited annually by thousands of tourists.

The main attractions and the most beautiful places of Saxon Switzerland form the basis "Route of artists"(German: Malerweg) with a length of 112 kilometers. The National Park "Saxon Switzerland" has about 1100 climbable peaks. However, we should not forget that in order to protect sandstone rocks from destruction, there were developed their own special rules for lovers of this sport. So, for example, ropes and rings are allowed to be used only for insurance, and not for moving forward. And many aids are generally prohibited for use.

No less attractive for tourists is the Elbe, which has paved its winding path through Saxon Switzerland. Paddle steamers that ply the river to this day take guests to many places of interest.

Saxon Switzerland, glorified by German poets and being a source of inspiration for artists, has not lost its attractiveness. Here are the most popular attractions:

Whimsical erosional sandstone landscape of the Cretaceous period in federal state Saxony makes the strongest impression and is unique for Central Europe. The landscape of Saxon Switzerland is defined by bizarre heaps of rocks, narrow valleys, mesas and gorges. Rare species of animals and birds live in the national park, for example, the eagle owl, otter and dormouse, and rare species of ferns, lichens and mosses grow in small biotopes. Fans of spectacular views from the hills can climb the steep cliffs of the national park using climbing equipment or climb the hill on foot.

The most popular hiking trails in the park include the road to the Bastei rock formation (German fortress), which offers a magnificent panorama of the Elbe. The picturesque landscapes of the national park can also be explored from the water - on a boat with oars or during a trip on one of the many motor ships. Other highlights of the Saxon Switzerland National Park include the national park information centre, Königstein Fortress, Rathen Open Air Theatre, Flessersteig Robber Castle, Pirna Post Obelisk and of course the magnificent Dresden and Neurathen Fortress.

You can feel the beauty of the pristine nature of the national park on a walking tour led by the national park staff or during a breathtaking kayak descent through the gorges. Romantic trips on one of the oldest paddle steamers in the world down the Elbe or on the old Kirnichtalbahn line tram to the waterfall in Lichtenhain are also worthy of attention.

Sheer cliffs of the most bizarre forms resemble the toys of a giant: skittles, pillars and pyramids. At an altitude of about 200 meters, there is a feeling that the whole world has remained far below, and you seem to be hovering over the Elbe along with the birds, and light clouds slowly float under your feet. It seems that just spread your arms - and fly! It was from such enthusiastic tourists that protective railings were installed on Bastei. However, this does not prevent experienced climbers from all over Europe from conquering the local cliffs.

In one place of the Elbe mountain range, a huge hole was punched - this is Kushtal - the second largest rocky gate of the Sandstone Mountains. After visiting Kushtal, tourists are offered to climb to the observation deck - the road is not easy: they will have to climb to the height of a 9-story building along the steps carved into a narrow gap between the rocks. This road is called the "stairway to heaven."

The Lichtenhain Falls is one of the most famous tourist attractions in Saxon Venice. Initially, it was a small threshold on a village stream, then in 1830 a retractable dam was installed here. One enterprising peasant built a restaurant nearby and opened a dam for a moderate fee: the accumulated water rushed down, causing delight among the dining tourists. Today, the waterfall "works" every half hour for three minutes.

It will also be interesting to visit the impregnable stronghold of the 12th century - the Stolpen castle carved into the wall of basalt. The main problem of the fortification was the supply of water to the castle: for 22 years, Freiberg miners bored a well in the basalt. In one day, the miners managed to go deep only one centimeter, but the mine turned out to be so deep that the cable on which the tub was lowered weighed 175 kilograms! This well is the deepest in the world of all the wells made in the mountains.

Stolpen Castle was once the residence of the elector and served as a prison for his noble subjects. In one of the towers of the castle, the beautiful Countess Anna Kosel, the favorite of Augustus the Strong, spent almost half a century in prison.

Fortress Kenigstein(German Festung Konigstien)

It is located on the mountain of the same name, on the left bank of the Elbe, 15 kilometers from the city of Pirna and 30 kilometers from the capital of Saxony, the city of Dresden. Towering 240 meters above the Elbe (361 meters above sea level), the fortress covers an area of ​​about 9.5 hectares, which is approximately 550 meters long and 310 meters wide, the height of the fortress walls is from 36 to 42 meters.

The first mention of the fortress dates back to 1233. Then she was in the territory of Bohemia. After numerous military conflicts, in 1459 Königstein finally passes into the possession of Saxony. After that, throughout the entire time, the fortress was constantly rebuilt and completed. Now there are about 50 different buildings in it: a garrison church, a treasury, barracks, etc. The most famous, perhaps, is a 152.5 m deep and 3.5 wide well, one of the deepest in Europe. Tsar Peter I, who was visiting Saxony at that time, personally checked the depth of the well with a rope. For about 400 years, the well served as the only source of water supply for the fortress.

Known as impregnable, the fortress served as a shelter in turbulent times for many rulers of Saxony, as well as the Saxon state prison, as it was often called the "Saxon Bastille". Its famous prisoners were Chancellor Krell, Patkul, the alchemist Klettenberg and Bakunin. The last known prisoner was in 1940-1942 the French General Henri Giraud, who managed to escape from the fortress.

Until the beginning of the 20th century, the fortress remained in the possession of the military, and during World Wars 1 and 2 it served as a prison. On May 29, 1955, Kenigstein resumed its work as an open-air military history museum. Later, an elevator was built at the entrance to the fortress to take visitors to the territory of Königstein. In addition to various temporary exhibitions, such buildings and museums open their doors to visitors daily, such as:

• Garrison Church (Garnisonskirche) - the first garrison church of Saxony (1676);
• Ground pavilion with a well (Brunnenhaus) - here you can watch the delivery of water to the fortress with the help of an electric motor restored in 1912;
• Old armory (Altes Zeughaus) - history of Saxon armory;
• treasury (Schatzhaus) - In turbulent times, state money and jewelry were kept here. And in the 19th century, even in peacetime, the Koenigstein treasury was used for these purposes. This is what the museum exposition tells about;
• The stable (Kommandantenpferdestall) and the commandant's house (Kommandantenhaus) - a short look at the private and office quarters of the commandant. The premises of 1900 have been recreated.
• Georgenburg (Georgenburg) - the history of construction and the history of the Saxon state prison;
• Magdalenenburg / cellar for storing wine in barrels (Magdalenenburg / Fasskeller) - the history of the building and the history of three huge wine barrels. From 1725 to 1818 a 283,000 liter barrel for the wine of Augustus the Strong was located here.

• new armory - the history of the construction of the Königstein fortress and military history from 1725 to 1818.

Königstein Fortress Museum is open

from April to September 9 - 20 hours

October 9 - 18 hours

from November to March 9 - 17 hours

The cost of an entrance ticket for adults is 6 euros (the price includes admission to all exhibitions and the use of an elevator), a child ticket (for children from 6 years old) 4 euros, a family card (2 adults and up to 4 children under 16 years old) - 15 euros.

Clickable 2000 panorama

Bastei

(German Bastei)

Located on the right bank of the Elbe, it is a complex of rocks with an observation deck. It is located between Rathen and Velen.

No less famous and already a symbol of Saxon Switzerland is the Bastei Bridge (German: Basteibrücke).

Bastei, as the name already says for itself (akin to Bastion) was included in the defensive ring of the Neurathen rock castle - the largest rock castle in Saxon Switzerland. The first mention of it dates back to 1592. Matthias Oeder, who then carried out the first geodetic survey of Saxony, mentioned this territory under the name Pastey (German: Pastey). Only in 1800 Bastei becomes a favorite place for tourist walks. Around the same time, the Bastei Bridge was built, which was then wooden. Due to the ever-increasing number of visitors, a stone bridge was erected in 1851. Consisting of 7 arcs, 76.5 meters long, it stretches over the 40-meter deep gorge "Mardertelle" (German: Mardertelle).

Such a beautiful place has often been a source of inspiration for many artists. Caspar David Friedrich painted his famous painting "Sandy Mountains on the Elbe", and Ludwig Richter also painted his caritans here.

For more than 200 years Bastei has been the most attractive tourist destination in Saxon Switzerland. On the one hand, this is due to the unusual Bastei bridge, unique rocks, forest, and on the other hand, this is an observation deck located at an altitude of 193 meters above the Elbe. From here you have a view of the Elbe Valley, its bizarre and winding path, which she laid between the rocks, as well as the nearby fortress of Königstein.

The place is very popular with all categories of tourists: from fast trackers of all ages to pensioners who are brought upstairs by bus and seated with coffee at the window overlooking the Elbe.

The name "Bastei" indicates that the rocks were part of the defensive ring of the ancient castle.

The beginnings of tourist infrastructure began to appear here at the beginning of the 19th century: trading shops, huts, later converted into a restaurant

The length of the bridge is 74.5 meters. It covers with its 7 arcs the Mardertelle gorge with a depth of 40 meters. Some of the old rocks, which were used as a fortified area in the past, are fenced off and in summer the entrance is paid. And in twenty-degree frost - free. So you can go and see what's there and how.

Saxon Switzerland is known for its breathtakingly beautiful mountains and magnificent castles. Among the intricately piled up rocks, the impetuous Elbe flows, which, during floods, threatens Dresden, the capital of Saxony, which lies on its banks, with flooding.

Paddle steamers have been moving along the river since 1836. The Elbe flotilla, made up of historic ships, is the oldest and largest in the world. Impressive steamships still deliver guests, for example, to Bad Schandau, Wehlen, Rathen.

In Rathen, at an altitude of 305 meters, there is the famous Bastion Bridge - Basteibrucke, which offers an excellent view of the landscape and neighboring medieval castles.

At the beginning of the 20th century, in order to protect the sandstone from destruction, they developed their own climbing rules, called "Saxon" (Sachsische Kletterregeln).

Bastei is a natural landmark of Germany on the right bank of the Elbe River near Dresden, located between the towns of Velen and Rathen.

Bastei, like a natural bastion, rises to a height of 305 meters above sea level.

Bastei in Germany is part of the natural National Park of Saxon Switzerland. Bastei has received the status of an open-air museum since 1984. Saxon Switzerland is the German part of the Elbe Sandstone Mountains. The lands of Saxon Switzerland are not related to the state of Switzerland, but are called so because of their incredible beauty: amazing columns of mountains in the form of “fingers” appear among the forest, bizarre rocks grow from its depths like stalactites. It is not clear how trees with roots in the form of land octopuses sheltered on them. Ferns and soft moss are invariable attributes of the Bastei nature reserve in eastern Germany.

Bastei in Saxon Switzerland Photo

Bastei - a heap of rocks 194 meters high above the Elbe River. A popular climbing site and a very beautiful landscape for hiking attracts a large number of tourists to these places. The symbol of the nearby rocks is a sculptural composition depicting animals and people. Centuries-old pine trees and a hundred-meter cliff in the gorge give a feeling of complete freedom. The Bastei Bridge is a visiting card of Saxony. For more than 200 years, it seems to have risen from a gorge 53 meters deep and rests on huge arches, harmoniously blending into the surrounding fantastic landscape. The Bastei stone bridge was completed in 1851. This is the most recognizable place of Bastei. The bridge has 7 spans and a length of 76 meters.

Bastei in Germany Photo

Numerous observation decks of Bastei show tourists the banks of the Elbe decorated with greenery, the “Path of Artists”, a view of the houses of the town of Rathen, the Swedish Gorge, and the rhododendron park. Many artists from around the world come here to get inspired! There are many routes on the territory of the Bastei Reserve. The way up with all the stops takes about an hour. Bastei is a natural and historical complex. With an additional ticket, you can climb to the place where the ancient rock fortification of the Neuraten fortress was located in 1289. Today, German historians are working on the reconstruction of its individual parts and the remains of the foundation. Bridges wind through the territory of the fortress, as if through a stone labyrinth. If you take a boat ride along the Elbe from Badschandau to Pirna, then Bastei opens to tourists from the other side. The train from Dresden takes 40 minutes to these amazing places. In one day, you can combine exploring the landscapes of Bastei Park and visiting.