Bastei, Rock formation in Lohmen, Germany
The Bastei is a sandstone rock formation in the Elbe Sandstone Mountains near Lohmen, rising sharply above the Elbe River. A stone bridge connects several of the rock towers and forms part of the path that runs across the formation.
The Bastei drew travelers and artists from the early 19th century onward, when the Romantic movement made wild landscapes fashionable. Painters such as Caspar David Friedrich visited and depicted the rocks, spreading the site's reputation across Europe.
The name "Bastai" comes from the German word for "fortress," because the rock formations look like castle walls.
The path to the Bastei is well marked and manageable for most visitors, though some sections are steep. Temperatures at the top are often cooler and windier than in the valley below, so an extra layer is a good idea.
The current stone bridge at the Bastei was built in 1851, replacing an earlier wooden structure that had already been guiding visitors across the rocks since the early 1800s. The bridge runs between several free-standing rock towers, giving the feeling of walking above the treetops.
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