Where Winnetou and Hamlet appear on stage
Whether you are visiting a play or a concert, a trip to the Rathen Open Air Stage with its unique rocks in the background is always an unforgettable experience.
Carmina Burana on the open air stage of Rathen / Photo: Archive Landesbühnen Sachsen
The Rathen Open Air Stage is surrounded by rocks and forest and has been operating since 1936. The natural stage is located in a deep circular valley below the famous Bastei bridge. You can top off your walk to lake Amselsee by visiting a performance on the open air stage: From the health resort of Rathen you move past the lake to the pay kiosk which is, at the same time, the entrance to the stage. This is also from where the disabled driving service can take you right up to the ranks. Please register in sufficient time. The contact details as well as the current schedule can be found on the homepage of the Rathen Open Air Stage.
In 2016 the combination tickets were introduced, which allow you to use the public transport of the Verkehrverbund Oberelbe free of charge for 4 hours prior to the show and 6 hours after the start of the show! For more information see: www.vvo-online.de.
Looking at the stage and the surrounding rocks this is not only a unique backdrop to see but the rocks behind the stage also provide perfect habitats for some animal species. Rock-dwelling birds such as the peregrine falcons, jackdaws and owls find ideal hiding places in the sandstone rocks of Saxon Switzerland. Here in the deep circular valley of Rathen you may be lucky enough to spot a kestrel. These red-brown banded birds love rocks as much as they like high buildings and towers. They can be recognised very clearly by their so-called “stationary flight”: By rapidly flapping their wings they can hover in one spot above their prey for a long time. By the way, it is not a competitor for food to its relative, the peregrine falcon. While the kestrel prefers predominantly mice the peregrine falcon rather hunts for birds.
Kestrel in flight / Photo: V. Sojka
