Lohmen (dpa/sn) - After seven years of closure, the view from the Bastei rocks in Saxon Switzerland is fully accessible again. The new platform, which appears to be floating above the sandstone, was approved by Finance Minister Hartmut Vorjohann (CDU) on Friday. "Saxony has the world-famous Bastei view back as a destination and tourist highlight," he said at the opening.
It is a unique prestressed concrete construction in which the Free State has invested around three million euros. Above all, Vorjohann thanked the craftsmen "who built here in wind and weather".
The new building, which, according to the ministry, was preceded by complex planning and approval procedures and work on the rock, lasted around a year. The jetty is 20 meters long, up to 3.50 meters wide and designed for around 140 people to stay at the same time. The construction is supported in the rear area of the rock and hangs freely in front at a low height, so that it appears to be floating.
The 194 meter high Bastei Rock offers wide views of the Elbe Valley and the bizarre rocky world of the Elbe Sandstone Mountains. With more than a million tourists a year, it is a popular attraction in Saxony. Because the sandstone was porous and safety for the visit was at risk, the front ten meters of the plateau were closed in 2016 - and the view was restricted.
