Rathen

For the railway station in the Scottish village, see Rathen railway station.

Rathen
Rathen
Location of Rathen within Sächsische Schweiz-Osterzgebirge district
Coordinates	50°57′N 14°05′E
Administration
Country	Germany
State	Saxony
Admin. region	Dresden
District	Sächsische Schweiz-Osterzgebirge
Municipal assoc.	Königstein/Sächs. Schweiz
Local subdivisions	2
Mayor	Thomas Richter
Basic statistics
Area	3.58 km2 (1.38 sq mi)
Elevation	112 m  (367 ft)
Population	396 (31 December 2010)
- Density	111 /km2 (286 /sq mi)
Other information
Time zone	CET/CEST (UTC+1/+2)
Licence plate	PIR
Postal code	01824
Area code	035024
Website	Official website

Rathen shortly after the 2006 flood

Rathen is a village in the Elbe Sandstone Mountains, in Saxony, Germany, about 35 km southeast of Dresden on the Elbe River. Rathen has between 400 and 500 inhabitants.

Overview

district Oberrathen - view from Bastei

Rathen is a popular tourist destination, the main sights are the Bastei cliffs, the Amselsee (a lake), and the outdoor theater "Felsenbühne Rathen".

The Rathen Ferry, a passenger reaction ferry, connects Niederrathen, on the right bank of the Elbe river, to Oberrathen on the left bank. Kurort Rathen railway station, on the Dresden S-Bahn and the Dresden to Prague railway, is adjacent to the Oberrathen ferry terminal. Rathen is also a stop for the paddle steamers operating between Dresden and the Czech border.

History

Rathen was founded in the 13th century around 1261 as place for a castle fortress.

During World War II, a subcamp of Flossenbürg concentration camp was located here.

Tourism

View of Rathen from the Bastei

See also: Rock climbing in Saxon Switzerland

The state-recognised climatic spa of Rathen is not only the base for tours in the western part of Saxon Switzerland, but also for the world-famous Bastei rocks. Other popular destinations in the local Amselgrund valley are the lake of Amselsee and the Rathen Open Air Stage. There are a good 400 inhabitants on both sides of the Elbe, linked by a historic reaction ferry, that is a protected monument. In addition to the Old Mill of 1567, which was nearly demolished after the hundred year flood, there is a range of other timber-framed houses.

Duet to is proximity to the town of Wehlen the following wordplay saying is given to visitors: "Sie können Rathen wählen, ich würde Ihnen auch zu Wehlen raten." ("You can choose Rathen, I would also recommend Wehlen to you.")

Local places of interest

• Bastei with the Schweizerhaus, Bastei bridge and Bastei lookout
• Rathen Open Air Stage in the Wehlgrund
• Rhododendron park on the Kleine Bastei
• Rauenstein
• Amselgrund and Amsel Falls
• Saxon Switzerland National Park
• Castles of Neurathen and Altrathen
• Largest garden railway in the world at Eisenbahnwelten im Kurort Rathen
• Schwedenlöcher

External links

• Kurort Rathen official website