The starting point is the parking lot or the bus stop in the immediate vicinity of the well-known Bastei Bridge. In the direction of the Bastei, the path turns left to the "Schwedenlöcher" with the marking "Blauer Strich". You follow this marking on the entire hike. You will hike through a beautiful piece of forest. "Schwedenlöcher" is the name of a gorge like a gorge that leads down about 700 steps. Before the Schwedenlöcher begin, it is worth taking a detour to the Pavillonaussicht. From here you have the first impressive rock view in the direction of the Bastei bridge and into the Wehlgrund.
Once in the valley, the path leads to the right through the Amselgrund, past the Grünbach, the Amselsee and the theater box office of the Felsenbühne in the direction of the center of the spa town of Rathen. At the height of the Amselgrundschlösschen hotel, the hiking trail with signposts to the bastion branches off to the right. Via a well-built path with steps you can easily reach the Bastei bridge. On the way there are beautiful views into the Elbe valley.
The rock castle Neurathen, which is located at the entrance to the Bastei bridge, is highly recommended. Footbridges and ladders cross the remains of this medieval fortification and offer fantastic views into the Rathen valley basin and, if visibility is good, as far as the rock formations of the Hintere Sächsische Schweiz.
The hike is also possible in the opposite direction, but please note that the more than 600 steps in the "Schwedenlöcher" have to be climbed uphill.
