--- title: "Spa town Rathen: To the Bastei with 7 views over the Schwedenlöcher back" url: "https://web.destination.one/en/tour/kurort-rathen-bastei-schwedenloecher" description: "Spa town Rathen - Bastei bridge - Schwedenlöcher - Amselgrund - spa town Rathen *" language: "en" type: "SportsActivityLocation" image: "https://dam.destination.one/2715438/ff4169a81db7ef70533df1336d49623ab2701c014e3f10c663240906308ca117/blick-von-der-bastei-richtung-kurort-rathen.jpg" breadcrumb: "Root > Homepage > Special > Destination.Data Details > Tour" --- GPX Share Spa town Rathen: To the Bastei with 7 views over the Schwedenlöcher back ======================================================================== - 6.37 km long - Round trip - Difficulty: medium - Condition: medium - Great panorama - Hiking - 2:30 h - 6.37 km - 378 m - 378 m - 113 m - 312 m - 199 m - - Start: Kurort Rathen station - Destination: Kurort Rathen station This classic offers seven breathtaking viewpoints, including the famous Bastei viewpoint and the historic Bastei bridge. Hike through a rock gate, enjoy the panoramas, and an extraordinary sandstone gorge. The hike takes you right through the national park and is perfectly accessible by the S-Bahn. An ideal route to get to know one of the highlights of Saxon Switzerland. Spa town Rathen - Bastei bridge - Schwedenlöcher - Amselgrund - spa town Rathen \* Read more Good to know ------------ Pavements Unknown (5%) Street (1%) Asphalt (22%) Gravel (18%) Trail (7%) Path (47%) Best to visit suitable Depends on weather - Jan - Feb - Mar - Apr - May - Jun - Jul - Aug - Sep - Oct - Nov - Dec Directions The hike starts at the station in the spa town Rathen. You cross the river by ferry (not part of the transport association, must be paid separately) and walk through the car-free town. Follow the signposts to the left towards Bastei. Now the route continuously ascends, keep left at the next fork (blue mark) and climb numerous stairs. Don't miss the detour at the Tiedgestein. A first spectacular view into the Elbe valley. Back on the path, you climb more steps. Here there is another worthwhile detour to the Kanapee viewpoint. Soon you pass through a rock gate that Caspar David Friedrich immortalized in one of his famous paintings. And you are already standing on the Bastei bridge built in 1851. Directly after the Bastei bridge, you can go right to the Ferdinanda viewpoint before you reach the famous Bastei viewpoint on the left. After the 190 meters elevation difference, you are rewarded with a comprehensive panoramic view: At your feet the famous sandstone cliffs and on the horizon the table mountains south of the Elbe. Then continue towards the buildings and follow the blue marking towards Schwedenlöcher. Right behind the Bastei hotel is another hidden viewpoint, the Wehlstein viewpoint. From here, follow the forest path initially parallel to the road and parking lots, before turning right to reach a resting place. Here the Pavillon viewpoint is recommended to enjoy a complete view of the Bastei before descending from the Bastei massif into the deep, wild gorge of the Schwedenlöcher. After many stairs, you reach the Amselgrund. Once down, keep right (green mark) and pass the Amsel lake. Here you can rent a rowboat for a small fee. The path leads back to Rathen. In town, keep right and walk back to the ferry to get to the S-Bahn station on the other side of the Elbe. Where do the Schwedenlöcher actually get their name? The name goes back to the 17th century, specifically the time of the Thirty Years’ War (1618-1648), when the Swedes marched through the land. They had a reputation for robbing, destroying, and plundering everything. The then inhabitants of the adjacent villages brought their possessions—and themselves—to safety in the gorges or “holes.” The rugged rock formations offered many good hiding places. The adventurous but also romantic gorge leads us between moss-covered green walls and rough rocks over two steep iron ladders and about 700 steps down from the Gansweg to the Amselgrund. Read more Tour information - Loop Road - Stop at an Inn Directions & Parking facilities **Parking**Paid parking lot at the ferry pier in the spa town Rathen, left bank of the Elbe. Read more **Public transportation**S-Bahn to Kurort Rathen stop Use this link for your arrival: During the hike you cross the Elbe by ferry, which is not part of the transport association. You can buy the ticket directly on the ferry for the return trip. Please also allow for waiting time at the ferry when planning your route. Read more Author Yvonne Brückner Organization Tourismusverband Sächsische Schweiz License (master data) Yvonne Brückner Author´s Tip / Recommendation of the author The tour is suitable for sure-footed children, but not for dogs. Read more Safety guidelines The route is suitable for sure-footed children, but not for dogs. Read more Map Product information "The Bastei" Hiking map Bastei - Spa town Rathen - town Wehlen - Uttewalde Scale: 1 : 10,000 ISBN 978-3-910181-05-5 Publisher: Dr. Rolf Böhm Cartography Buy here: Read more Nearby ------ View on map - EventCC-BY-SAvia https://www.saechsische-schweiz.de, Philipp Zieger | - Hike CC-BYReiner Dittrich | - Hike - ToursCC-BYPhilipp Zieger, Tourismusverband Sächsische Schweiz | 4.82 km - Hiking CC0D. Stratmann, TMGS | 13.42 km - Hiking CC0Yvonne Brückner, Tourismusverband Sächsische Schweiz | 115.66 km - Hiking Contact 01824 Kurort Rathen Download GPX file - -