The Bastei is a rock formation rising 194 meters above the Elbe River in the Elbe Sandstone Mountains of Germany. Reaching a height of 305 meters above sea level, the jagged rocks of the Bastei were formed by water erosion over one million years ago.

They are situated near Rathen, not far from Pirna southeast of the city of Dresden, and are the major landmark of the Saxon Switzerland National Park. They are also part of a climbing and hiking area that extends over the borders into the Bohemian Switzerland (Czech Republic).

The Bastei has been a tourist attraction for over 200 years. In 1824, a wooden bridge was constructed to link several rocks for the visitors. This bridge was replaced in 1851 by the present Bastei Bridge made of sandstone. The rock formations and vistas have inspired numerous artists, among them Caspar David Friedrich (“Felsenschlucht”).

In panoramic view, you find castles here and there like the Koenigstein Fortress, the Elbe River, valleys, and some more rock formations.

The Bastei continues to draw in tourists today, as it has done for centuries.

According to the Internet