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Germany

Saxony

Saxon Switzerland

Pavilion Viewpoint (Pavillonaussicht) – Schwedenlöcher loop from Rathewalde

Routes

Hiking trails & Routes

Germany

Saxony

Saxon Switzerland

Pavilion Viewpoint (Pavillonaussicht) – Schwedenlöcher loop from Rathewalde

Moderate

4.1

(36)

104

hikers

Pavilion Viewpoint (Pavillonaussicht) – Schwedenlöcher loop from Rathewalde

03:30

12.3km

270m

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 21, 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

3.28 km

Pavilion Viewpoint (Pavillonaussicht)

Highlight • Viewpoint

From the hiking crossroads, descend into the Schwedenlöcher and turn right to the Pavilion Viewpoint. This offers a different view of the Bastei.

Translated by Google •

Tip by

3.43 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 Rathenwalde fled there to escape the Swedish soldiers and occupiers of the village. In my opinion, this is the most beautiful gorge path in Saxon Switzerland that I know of. This particularly wild path has something almost fairytale-like about it and at times you feel like you are in the jungle.

Translated by Google •

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3.90 km

Green Gorge

Highlight • Gorge

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

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3.97 km

Schwedenlöcher Gorge

Highlight • Gorge

The deeply cut, almost one kilometer long gorge was created by the erosion of the softer sandstone. It follows the main direction of the fissure in the Elbe sandstone.

Originally it was an undeveloped and difficult to access gorge that was called Blanker Grund. When the northern village of Rathewalde was destroyed by Swedish soldiers in August 1639 during the Thirty Years' War, the farmers in the area fled into the wild ravine and brought themselves and their belongings to safety there. The gorge also served as a refuge in later times of war, for example in 1706 during the Great Northern War, in 1813 during the Wars of Liberation and in 1945 in the final days of the Second World War.

In the 1780s, the first paths for wood extraction were laid in the Schwedenlochen. This is commemorated by several dates carved into the sandstone (1782, 1784, 1787).

The actual development of the gorge for tourism came comparatively late. On the initiative of the Mountain Association for Saxon-Bohemian Switzerland, the Schwedenhöhlen were provided with a climbing system in 1886. In order to install the stairs and bridges, the gorge had to be partially widened artificially. The new hiking trail, which connected the famous Bastei rock massif with the Amselgrund, was inaugurated on May 1, 1886 on the occasion of the 6th German Geographers' Day.

Translated by Google •

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4.04 km

Schwedenlöcher Stairs

Highlight • Trail

The path through the Schwedenlöcher leads over numerous stairs past impressive rock faces... absolutely worthwhile

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5.34 km

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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6.60 km

View Over Rathewalde Towards Lilienstein

Highlight • Viewpoint

Look at this view, all the hardships are forgotten when you see this panorama. Very beautiful nature.

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6.98 km

Hohburkersdorf Viewpoint

Highlight • Viewpoint

Wonderful mountain view. The view extends as far as Lusatia and the Eastern Ore Mountains.

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12.3 km

End point

Parking

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types

7.15 km

3.03 km

1.84 km

230 m

< 100 m

Surfaces

3.31 km

3.26 km

2.78 km

2.57 km

387 m

< 100 m

Elevation

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

Highest point (390 m)

Lowest point (190 m)

Weather

Saturday 22 August

18°C

11°C

0 %

Additional weather tips

Max wind speed: 18.0 km/h

to get more detailed weather forecasts along your route

Comments

October 15, 2023,Von Dorfteich Rathewalde über Schwedenlöcher Hohburkersdorfer Höhe zurück

Today we started from Rathewalde at the village pond and then down Am Grünbach past the saw and the Rathener mill. The building at Amselfall is still in a dilapidated state. Then continue up over the Schwedenloche to the viewing point over to the bastion. From there we are a few minutes further on a climbing approach with an even …

Showing Translation

July 13, 2022,Tour durch die Schwedenlöcher

Last day in Saxon Switzerland Hike via the Rathewalder Mühle to the Schwedenlöcher just beautiful, we'll be back

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Pavilion Viewpoint (Pavillonaussicht) – Schwedenlöcher loop from Rathewalde

Pavilion Viewpoint (Pavillonaussicht)

Schwedenlöcher

Green Gorge

Schwedenlöcher Gorge

Schwedenlöcher Stairs

Rathewalder Mill

View Over Rathewalde Towards Lilienstein

Hohburkersdorf Viewpoint

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