From Wehlen to the most famous bridge in Germany - the Bastei

Today's itinerary included a hike to the Bastei Bridge in Saxon Switzerland. We drove to Wehlen and explored this lovely town for a bit. Afterwards, we walked along the Wettingweg and Schluchtenweg trails to the "Stone Table" – a historic resting place. It was carved from sandstone blocks in 1710 for an electoral hunt (for Elector Frederick Augustus I of Saxony, also known as Augustus the Strong). From here, it wasn't far to the Bastei. The Bastei is a rock formation in Saxon Switzerland on the right bank of the Elbe River. The 76.5-meter-long Bastei Bridge, built from sandstone in 1850/51, stretches through the rock formation. The bridge leads to the ruins of Neurathen Castle. Although the ruins have been renovated, they are currently closed. There are several well-designed viewing platforms here, offering beautiful views of the surrounding rock needles and rock formations. You can also see many mountaineers taking on the challenge of climbing such a rocky spire. If you're in the area, you should definitely check it out.

3 Westphalians on the heights and through the gorges of Saxon Switzerland...⛰🌳🥾

I mistakenly listed it as a bike tour. For us, it was a hiking tour. This beautiful, challenging tour is hardly suitable as a bike tour.

Today we wanted to see Germany's most famous bridge. Sunday, with its beautiful weather, was naturally a challenge, as there were so many hikers out and about. But since the forecast for tomorrow was cloudy and perhaps even rainy, we had to make the most of today. We drove to Wehle, where we planned to park our car. We were half-stunned at the parking lot ticket counter. They charge €1 for 30 minutes. There's no way to buy a day ticket. A man came up to us and said, "Do you want to park in my parking space?" I charge €5 for the whole day. We agreed and parked on private property. He then told us that he was donating half of the money to the fire service. So we not only saved money but also did a good deed. We then hiked from the parking lot across the main square to the Wehlen castle ruins. We then continued along the Zscherregrund-Wettinweg trail. We walked through the Höllengrund, a wild and romantic gorge where it was pleasantly cool, to the Stone Table. From there, it was only a short distance to the Bastei and Bastei Bridge. I was blown away by the views. It's so beautiful. I can't even put it into words. It's a must-visit if you're in the area. The descent to the Elbe was steep. But at the steepest points, there were railings and steps. At the end, we treated ourselves to a good ice cream or iced coffee as a reward. We'd sweated more than enough today in the over 30 degrees Celsius.

Parking in Wehlen at the ferry = €2 per hour. The ascent is comfortable, wide paths, only a slight incline. The descent through the forest is challenging, especially when wet!...if necessary, take the outward route back...

Who actually says you need blue skies for Saxon Switzerland? Today, instead of postcard idyll, there was a full dose of rain ☔.

Today I hiked to the "most famous bridge in Germany." I took the train from Pirna, then the ferry to the right riverbank. After passing through Wehlen and entering the forest, I got lost. Remember: not every line on the map is a path, and even if it is, it's not always recognizable as such! So, first I crossed Wallachia and eventually, with soaking wet pants, found the right path again. When I reached my destination, I was pretty disappointed. The Bastei is a tourist magnet like Heidelberg Castle or the Zugspitze. Including Asian selfie-stick tourists and grandmas with walking frames. I wasn't expecting this. I quickly took a few cell phone photos of the fog-shrouded rock formations (like the others) and hurried back into the forest. Now I'm sitting here in a café in Wehlen, munching a piece of cake and quelling my frustration. 😬

A very beautiful trail through the unspoiled landscape of the Elbe Sandstone Mountains. A quiet trail suitable for all levels of fitness.