#tripaway Over millions of years, Elbe River has carved the graceful rock landscape and romantic gorges and valleys of Saxon-Bohemian Switzerland. The total area of a wilderness of Elbe Sandstone Mountains is more than 700 km2. It is divided between two countries: Germany and Czechia. There is a Saxonian Switzerland National Park with an area more than 93 km2 in Germany and Bohemian Switzerland National park in Czechia with a 79 km2 area. So there is plenty of space to explore besides Bastei. The name of Saxon Switzerland was given to the place by two Swiss painters Adrian Zingg and Anton Graff, who worked at the Academy in Dresden and painted the landscape along the Elbe in the 18th century.11 bastei saxony germany thesanetravel.com 1390462 How to get there from Dresden? Regional trains ("S-Bahn") connect Dresden and Saxon Switzerland at least every 30 minutes during the day. They stop in Pirna, Obervogelgesang, Stadt Wehlen, Kurort Rathen, Königstein and Bad Schandau. To me, the easiest way to get to Bastei from Dresden is by S-Bahn getting out at Kurort Rathen station, then taking a short ferry boat ride across the Elbe and hiking up to Bastei and Bastei Bridge. Bastei & Bastei Bridge, the highlights of Saxon Switzerland in Germany are free of charge! There are no opening or closing times. The area is not fenced. You can visit the famous Bastei rock formations at any time of the year. #tripaway