Rathen

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Rathen
Coat of arms Location
Coat of arms of Rathen
Rathen (Germany)
Rathen
Administration
Country Flag of Germany Germany
State Saxony
Admin. region Dresden
District Sächsische Schweiz
Municipal assoc. Königstein/Sächs. Schweiz
Local subdivisions 2
Mayor Thomas Richter
Basic statistics
Area 3.58 km² (1.4 sq mi)
Elevation 112 m  (367 ft)
Population 410  (31/12/2006)
 - Density 115 /km² (297 /sq mi)
Other information
Time zone CET/CEST (UTC+1/+2)
Licence plate PIR
Postal code 01824
Area code 035024
Website www.kurort-rathen.de

Coordinates: 50°57′00″N 14°05′00″E / 50.95, 14.083333

district Oberrathen - view from Bastei
district Oberrathen - view from Bastei

Rathen is a little spa town in Germany, with less than 500 citizens, located on the river Elbe near Pirna which is in the east of Dresden in Saxon Switzerland. Despite its small size the town is rather known, not only in Saxony but all over Germany and also beyond among tourists.

The most known landmark of Rathen, besides the Bastei bridge and the Amselsee lake, is its nature-outdoor-theater called "Felsenbühne Neurathen" in the climbing rocks area. The lower part of Rathen can be reached from Dresden with the paddle steamer fleet which is the oldest and biggest worldwide. The distance between Rathen and Dresden is about 35 kilometers.

[edit] History

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

During World War II, a subcamp of Flossenburg concentration camp was located here.[1]

[edit] References

  1. ^ Christine O'Keefe.Concentration Camps.www.tartan place.com/tartanhistory/concentrationcamps.html

[edit] External links

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