The famous Bastei Bridge at the Bastei in the Saxon Switzerland National Park: Brilliant views and rugged rocks. Easy hike to the famous photo spot in the Elbe Sandstone Mountains. Have you ever been to Saxon Switzerland and visited the famous Bastei? Feel free to write in the comments! I'm curious to hear how you liked it. We drove from Dresden to Rathen by car. But you can also travel to the spa town by train. That doesn't take much time either. It takes 45 to 60 minutes to get from Saxony's capital to the parking lot on the Elbe. You have to cross the Elbe first. There is a ferry that transports excursion guests from one bank to the other. The ferry is pulled by a rope and therefore cannot drift away. I've never crossed a river like that before. Then it goes through the quaint Niederrathen with its half-timbered houses, beautiful front gardens and beer gardens and further uphill. You have to hike the meters up to the Bastei. This is an easy hike. A wide path leads up through the forest. If it gets too steep, wide steps make the climb easier. Now and then you catch glimpses of the surrounding rock formations and you can look down to the Elbe from some viewing platforms. Then we come to the heart of the excursion destination: the Bastei Bridge. The stone bridge connects individual rock needles. We are not the only ones here. Having the bridge to yourself is almost unthinkable on beautiful summer days. However, if you get up early, watch the sunset or stay late in the evening, the chances of being alone are much better. The view is sensational. It's hard to believe that this is Germany. Individual rock towers rise up from the forest everywhere. Climbers hang from the wall at one or two peaks. For climbing fans, Saxon Switzerland is a true paradise. But I am just as amazed by the impressive formations when hiking. A long time ago, high up, spread over various rock towers, stood the Neurrathen rock castle. Today, ladders, bridges and footbridges allow you to only guess at the dimensions and views of the castle. A few catapults are a reminder of times gone by. The Bastei Bridge itself was built for tourism reasons. It was originally a wooden bridge and was then rebuilt in stone when the rush of visitors became too great. On the other side of the bridge, you can look straight down onto the Elbe. It flows over 190 meters below and occasionally lets the odd paddle steamer drift past. To see the bridge in all its glory, it is worth enjoying the view from the Ferdinandstein. This is also a popular spot for photographers who capture the sunrise here in the morning. Don't forget to like this video if you like it and subscribe to my channel so you don't miss anything! :)