"ELBE VALLEY AND BASTEI" Kurort Rathen by AsturArcadia

A real rural gem – the Elbe valley between Pirna and Deèín. And what better way to enjoy the scenery than from the deck of one of the eight paddle steamers operated by Die Sächsische Dampfschiffahrts-Gesellschaft? The first photo in this selection shows either Leipzig of 1929 or Dresden of 1926 heading downstream between Niederrathen and Stadt Wehlen in late September 1998. These are the two youngest members of the steamer fleet (four motorships were built in the 1990s), while the oldest, Stadt Wehlen, dates from 1879. A network of waymarked riverside paths enables one to travel on the ships and photograph them!

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The steamer landing stage at Niederrathen is a short distance downstream of the one used by the ferry. Alongside is either Pillnitz or Meissen.

A view of the Bastei. The handiwork of man is evident, more so than on the heights of Montserrat, but at least the structures blend easily with Nature.