The most famous vantage point in Saxon Switzerland
The Bastei (305 metres above sea level) is the most famous rock formation with a viewing platform in Saxon Switzerland. The famous landmark is located on the right bank of the Elbe above the spa town of Rathen and the town of Wehlen. The Bastei offers sweeping views of the Elbe valley and the Elbe Sandstone Mountains. There is a hotel and restaurant on the plateau behind the bastion. The new bastei view is barrier-free.
The stone bastei bridge ends at the Neurathen rock gate. This was captured by Caspar David Friedrich in an impressive painting: The oil painting "Rock Landscape" from 1823 depicts the imposing group of rocks of the Neurathen Rock Gate and symbolically combines the sublime and mysteriously unfathomable with aspects of threat and destruction in its expression.
With masterful technique and skilful brushstrokes, the artist creates an impressive depiction of the rocky landscape.
For the painter and mountaineer Irmgard Uhlig (1910-2011), the powerfully symbolic oil painting "Felsenschlucht" is nothing less than "Caspar David Friedrich's most expressive rock painting, the pinnacle of Romantic landscape depictions". Friedrich used his now lost drawing of the Neurathen rock gate as a basis. The artist added the rock to the right of the natural formation to reinforce the message of the painting.
At the turn-off to the Ferdinandaussicht (just before the bridge on the left), there is an information board with information about Caspar David Friedrich.
Hiking tips:
The stone bastei bridge ends at the Neurathen rock gate. This was captured by Caspar David Friedrich in an impressive painting: The oil painting "Rock Landscape" from 1823 depicts the imposing group of rocks of the Neurathen Rock Gate and symbolically combines the sublime and mysteriously unfathomable with aspects of threat and destruction in its expression.
With masterful technique and skilful brushstrokes, the artist creates an impressive depiction of the rocky landscape.
For the painter and mountaineer Irmgard Uhlig (1910-2011), the powerfully symbolic oil painting "Felsenschlucht" is nothing less than "Caspar David Friedrich's most expressive rock painting, the pinnacle of Romantic landscape depictions". Friedrich used his now lost drawing of the Neurathen rock gate as a basis. The artist added the rock to the right of the natural formation to reinforce the message of the painting.
At the turn-off to the Ferdinandaussicht (just before the bridge on the left), there is an information board with information about Caspar David Friedrich.
Hiking tips:
- Malerweg 2. Etappe
- Lohmen: Via the Schwedenlöcher to Kurort Rathen to the Bastei
- Wheelchair tour: "Auf die Bastei"
