Dear friends, this is the center of all tourism in the Saxonian Switzerland, the so called "Bastei" Bridge ("Bastion Bridge in english) This point here is a tourist attraction for more then 200 years. This is the old entrance of the rock castle Neurathen, and every rock formation was part of the castle`s defence system in ancient times. After the fall of the castle at the end of the 15th century only myths and legends existed for nearly 300 years; in 1801 the first wanderers and tourists came to have a look into the canyon and then to praise God... In 1812 the butcher of Lohmen, a small village down at the Elbe river, built the first litte hut here and offered a catering service. He offered bread, butter, milk, coffee, beer and brandy. In 1826 a first wooden bridge was built, and a first solid building offered overnight accomodation for tourists. Some of the rock pilars were connected and got metallic ways and bridges with radiation. In 1856 the wooden bridges were replaced by the stone construction we can see here today, and in 1901 the first archaelogist, a doctor from Rathen village, came up over 481 steps from the Elbe river ground and started the first scientist`s observation of the old forgotten castle. This recent bridge here follows the old wooden construction of the ancient rock castle, and the name "Bastion" suggests that all rock formations here were once parts of the defence system of castle Neurathen. For example: The left formation is called "The Neurathen Rock Door", it was the entrance to the inner castle`s core. The space between the two rock pilars was widen up by stonecarvers to create enough room for horsepowered wagons; the tracks and damages of the wagons at the pilars walls could be seen till today. The middle rock is called "Steinschleuder", we believe that there a wooden catapult was placed on top of the rock, ready to defend the wooden bridge to the right side with rocky cannonballs...... It is told that the bridge was destroyed many times in history and dozens of enemies came to death in the canyon - but scientists of today tell us that is not sure..... Fact is that there is a steep stairway carved in the stone of the Felsschleuder to reach the top.... The rock towers of the so called "Bastei Reef" stand 194 meters above the Elbe river and reach 309 meters in absolute high. The castle couldn´t be seen from the Elbe river, but from this eagle`s nest the inhabitants had a good view. At many times boatmen at the Elbe river should be very surprised about a little "entrance control to Saxony" by the castlemen, I´m sure. In ancient days they called it "tribute", in recent day we call it "tax", its the same, hihi.... Hope you enjoy this pic and thanks for your interest! Dear friends, high time to say THANK YOU for your comments for my last pics here and your interest in common sense. My special Thanks for the comrades here who took some of my last pictures as their favorites. And now YOURS!!!