In Germany, there is a truly fantastic place, where nature and the work of man come together to give life to a masterpiece that will give you great emotions. We are talking about the Bastei Bridge, an enchanting structure suspended between the rocks, from which you can enjoy an incredible panorama.
We are in Saxon Switzerland, a region rightly called the most romantic in Germany. Here a vast natural park winds its way along the river Elbe, enclosing its luxuriant vegetation, but also its rugged and rocky landscapes. One of these is the Bastei, an imposing rock formation that stands out for about 300 meters in height with its jagged profile. The massif, which rises a short distance from Dresden, originated over a million years ago due to water erosion and other atmospheric agents.
Considered one of the most scenic spots in the whole of Germany, the Bastei overlooks a good stretch of the Elbe River and its enchanting surrounding landscape, inspiration for many painters and poets of past centuries. For this reason, a wooden bridge was built in 1824 that connected some of the most majestic external rocks of the entire complex, suspended over deep crevices. Immediately, this location became one of the most touristic in the region. And in 1951, due to the wear and tear of time, the wooden structure was replaced by a stone bridge consisting of 7 arches.
From up here, the gaze sweeps for kilometers into wild and luxuriant nature, that characteristic of the territories surrounding the Elbe River. It is not surprising to discover that many artists have drawn inspiration from this breathtaking panorama: a testament to this is the famous masterpiece Wanderer on the Sea of Fog, a nineteenth-century painting by the romantic painter Kaspar David Friedrich, which portrays an uncontaminated landscape like the one that can be admired from a hill that rises just a stone’s throw from the Bastei.
Today, walking the bridge is a thrilling experience: deep chasms open under your feet wedged between huge rocky pinnacles, between which the structure is anchored. In addition to admiring the incredible panorama, walking these suspended walkways will lead you to discover the ruins of the ancient Neurathen castle, the most impressive in Saxon Switzerland. Although partially hidden by the vegetation, the remains of this majestic manor stand out right set in the rock, from where some very precious relics emerge.
If you love trekking or are experienced hikers, the rocky peaks of the Bastei are an attraction that you will not easily forget. Its pinnacles are in fact among the favorite destinations for the more adventurous tourists who face the wild nature of the Saxon Switzerland National Park.
