Rathen | |
|---|---|
) | |
) Coat of arms | |
Location of Rathen within Sächsische Schweiz-Osterzgebirge district  | |
)  Rathen ) Rathen | |
| Coordinates: 50°57′N 14°05′E / 50.950°N 14.083°E | |
| Country | Germany |
| State | Saxony |
| District | Sächsische Schweiz-Osterzgebirge |
| Municipal assoc. | Königstein/Sächs. Schweiz |
| Subdivisions | 2 |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Thomas Richter |
| Area | |
| • Total | 3.58 km2 (1.38 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 112 m (367 ft) |
| Population (2019-12-31)[1] | |
| • Total | 349 |
| • Density | 97/km2 (250/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+01:00 (CET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+02:00 (CEST) |
| Postal codes | 01824 |
| Dialling codes | 035024 |
| Vehicle registration | PIR |
| Website | Official website |
)
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
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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.[2]
Tourism
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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.
Due to its 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
References
- ^ "Bevölkerung des Freistaates Sachsen nach Gemeinden am 31. Dezember 2019". Statistisches Landesamt des Freistaates Sachsen (in German). July 2020.
- ^ Christine O'Keefe. Concentration Camps