Bastei Bridge
Walk across the majestic Bastei Bridge, the most famous and visited site in Saxon Switzerland and Germany. This 76.5-meter-long stone bridge rises above the Elbe River in Germany and is 305 meters (1000 feet) high.
Share this post with your friends:
The Bastei Bridge or Basteibrücke opens up views of the Elbe Valley and the breathtaking nature of the national park. It leads through the deep Mardertelle pit to the ruins of the medieval rock castle of Neurathen, which was built in the 13th century. Whether you view the Bastei Bridge from a distance or walk directly across it, you will feel like you are in a movie and take away an unforgettable experience.
Where did the Bastei Bridge come from?
The Bastei rock has a long history because it was formed by water erosion over 90 million years ago. During the Middle Ages, the site was home to a rock fortress equipped with catapults, which controlled the ships in the Elbe Canyon below. Over time, the fortress was abandoned and forgotten, until the 19th century, when the area was rediscovered and transformed into a tourist destination.
As early as 1824, the locals saw the tourist potential of this natural gem and built a wooden bridge connecting several rocks. In 1851, the original bridge was replaced by a sandstone bridge for greater safety and stability, which can still be found in Saxon Switzerland today. Its official name is the Basteibrücke, and it is said to have been the first European structure built specifically for tourists.
