Bastei is a jagged rock formation, formed by water erosion, towering 194 metres (636 ft) above the
Elbe River in the
Elbe Sandstone Mountains of
Germany. It has been a
tourist attraction for over 200 years. In 1824, a wooden bridge was constructed to link several rocks for visitors. This bridge was replaced in 1851 by the present Bastei Bridge (pictured here). The rock formations and vistas have inspired several artists, among them
Caspar David Friedrich.Photograph:
Thomas Wolf