Schwedenlöcher – View of the Elbe Valley loop from Rathewalde

Hiking trails & Routes

Hohnstein

Schwedenlöcher – View of the Elbe Valley loop from Rathewalde

Moderate

4.8

(1360)

4,668

hikers

Schwedenlöcher – View of the Elbe Valley loop from Rathewalde

03:00

9.22km

390m

Hiking

Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels. The starting point of the route is right next to a parking lot.

Last updated: August 23, 2026

Tips

Your route passes through protected areas

Please check local regulations for:

Nationalpark-Kernzone

Nationalpark Sächsische Schweiz

Sächsische Schweiz

Waypoints

Start point

Parking

Get Directions

362 m

Rathewalder Mill

Highlight • Structure

The Rathewalder Mühle comes to life more and more every year. Between shady rocks there are wonderfully playful little buildings that invite you to linger. 🍻

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1.80 km

Green Gorge

Highlight • Gorge

de.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schwedenl%C3%B6cher

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1.82 km

Schwedenlöcher

Highlight (Segment) • Gorge

The Schwedenlöcher are a particularly exciting section and my personal highlight in Saxon Switzerland. This section got its name during the Thirty Years' War, when farmers from the village of …

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3.51 km

Bastei Bridge

Highlight • Bridge

The Bastei Bridge is a classic among hiking destinations in the Elbe Sandstone Mountains, with a magnificent view over the Elbe and the Lilienstein. A visit is most worthwhile in …

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3.55 km

View of the Elbe Valley

Highlight • Viewpoint

Great viewing point on the Bastei. Usually very crowded. If you want to walk and see in peace, you should get there early. There are usually only a few runners.

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3.59 km

Felsenburg Neurathen (closed due to dilapidation)

Highlight • Castle

The Felsenburg Neurathen is an interesting starting point for all those interested in history, as signs present interesting facts about this historical place. It is impressive how long ago people …

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4.42 km

The Schwedenlöcher (Swedish Holes) in Saxon Switzerland have approximately 700 steps. The hiking trail leads through a romantic rocky gorge, climbing a height difference of 160 meters. The Schwedenlöcher got …

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9.22 km

End point

Parking

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types

7.05 km

1.24 km

843 m

< 100 m

Surfaces

4.62 km

2.20 km

1.37 km

618 m

411 m

< 100 m

Elevation

Nothing selected – click and drag below to see the stats for a specific part of the route.

Highest point (310 m)

Lowest point (130 m)

Weather

Tuesday 6 October

19°C

7°C

0 %

Additional weather tips

Max wind speed: 14.0 km/h

to get more detailed weather forecasts along your route

Comments

June 24, 2025,Wanderung zur Bastei im Elbsandsteingebirge

A great tour to the Bastei with stunning views of the Elbe and the surrounding area. The climb was a sweaty one, and the descent was endless, down the steps, through the Schwedenlöcher (Sweden Holes), into the valley. Luckily, there were restaurants along the route. 😋🍺

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August 12, 2025,SSW: Schwedenlöcher 12.08.2025

Today we went through the Schwedenlöcher (Swedish holes). Recommended in warmer temperatures. Pleasantly cool...

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August 31, 2022,Wanderung im Rathener Gebiet 31.08.22

Today is the last day of validity for the €9 ticket. We want to use that again and go to the Saxons. driving in Switzerland. I guess a lot of people thought the same way we did. We got on the S-Bahn in Trachau and were able to choose our seat. Then came the big rush at the main station. …

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August 19, 2021,Rathen - Bastei - Schwedenlöcher - Amselgrund

Unfortunately, the photos have been mixed up and the places where they were taken are not correct on the map.

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April 30, 2025,Schwedenlöcher / Bastei / Sächsische Schweiz

Through beautiful Saxony in beautiful weather. Highly recommended and, for once, not as crowded as expected.

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December 25, 2024,Weihnachtsspaziergang in die Sächsische Schweiz

After so much food, I needed a bit of exercise. The destination was Saxon Switzerland. We started in Rathewalde, always along the Grünbach in the direction of Amselsee. The Amselsee is about 500m long and 4m deep. The Grünbach was once dammed by the construction of a wall and the lake was created. It was used for ice production and …

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June 5, 2023,Von den Schwedenlöchern zur Bastei

The Amselfall is not very recommendable Image 5 the Amselfall Image 6 the current state, you can save yourself the trip.

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August 15, 2022,Bastei Sonnenaufgang (mit Schwedenlöchern und Rahmhanke)

A long-awaited dream is finally being realized. At sunrise at the bastion. We climbed up from the spa town of Rathen the evening before, as it seems that entering the national park is forbidden at night. Somehow brought the night around, we got wonderful impressions on an almost deserted bastion. Nobody met us on the ascent through the Schwedenlöcher. This …

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