Carl Maria von Weber

in Saxon Switzerland

For Carl Maria von Weber, Saxon Switzerland was a place of inspiration and artistic communion with nature. His diaries document visits to the Bastei, the Uttewalder Grund, the Amselgrund, the Liebethaler Grund and the Kuhstall. The wild beauty of the rocks, gorges and forests found expression in the Romantic musical language of his “Der Freischütz”, whose famous Wolf’s Glen scene was shaped by the atmosphere of this landscape. To this day, the work lives on at the Rathen Open-Air Stage, where nature itself becomes the backdrop.

Uttewalder Grund
Liebethal Valley
Amselsee in the Amselgrund

‘To behold a landscape is, to me, like hearing a piece of music performed.’

Carl Maria von Weber

Sunrise over a rocky landscape with trees and an expansive view of the valley.

The Bastei, with its spectacular views of the Elbe Valley and bizarre sandstone cliffs, is one of the most distinctive viewpoints in Saxon Switzerland. Carl Maria von Weber visited this site several times, as documented, for instance, in his diaries from 1818, 1822 and 1823. The Bastei’s rugged rock formations and deep gorges reflect the dramatic Romanticism of his “Der Freischütz” and continue to provide the same inspiring natural backdrop that so captivated Weber.

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Narrow gorge with green, plant-covered walls and a pebbly floor.

The Uttewalde Rock Gate is one of the most legendary places in Saxon Switzerland. Narrow gorges, moss-covered rock faces and mysterious shadowy spaces define a landscape that seems tailor-made for the Romantic imagination. Carl Maria von Weber hiked through the Uttewalde Gorge in 1818 and recorded the excursion in his diary. The mystical atmosphere of the rock gate inevitably evokes the Wolf’s Glen scene from his opera “Der Freischütz”, in which nature and the supernatural merge inextricably. Those who hike here experience the same fascination that inspired Weber’s music.

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A hiker stands on the bank of a clear stream, surrounded by dense green woodland and rays of sunlight.

On 15 August 1824, Carl Maria von Weber took a trip to the mill in the Liebethaler Grund – a visit recorded in his diaries. The narrow valley, with its rocky cliffs and the rushing waters of the Wesenitz, provided the composer with an impressive backdrop that reflected the Romantic spirit of his music. For Weber, the unspoilt natural surroundings here were combined with the peaceful seclusion of a retreat. Today, the Liebethaler Grund is home to the world's largest monument to Richard Wagner, commemorating another great composer. Wagner revered Weber deeply and regarded him as the forerunner of his own art. Thus, nature and musical history converge in a unique way in the Liebethaler Grund – through two names that played a decisive role in shaping German Romanticism.

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View from a cave of a landscape with trees and a mountain in the background.

The Kuhstall, the largest natural rock arch in Saxon Switzerland, became a popular destination for Romantic-era excursions early on. Carl Maria von Weber was also drawn here: between 1817 and 1825, he left his mark in the Kuhstall’s visitors’ book – direct evidence of his stay at this impressive site. The immense opening in the rock, which affords sweeping views of the landscape, symbolises the fusion of elemental nature and mystery that can also be sensed in Weber’s music.

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An open-air stage in a natural setting with a large audience and a towering rock face in the background.

In 1822, Carl Maria von Weber took an excursion through the Amselgrund valley. Just a few steps away lies the Rathen Open-Air Stage, one of Europe’s most impressive natural theatres. For many decades, “Der Freischütz” has been performed here against a backdrop that seems tailor-made for Weber’s Romantic sound world.

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2026 Event Highlights

Two people stand in front of a rock face and interact with an instrument.

Der Freischütz at the Rathen Open-Air Stage

The Rathen Open-Air Stage is considered one of Europe’s most impressive natural theatres – and is closely associated with Carl Maria von Weber. His opera ‘Der Freischütz’ in particular, regarded as the epitome of German Romantic opera, has been performed here for decades. The rugged rocky landscape and mysterious forests surrounding Rathen provide a perfect backdrop for the Wolf’s Glen scene, which seems to have been created for this very place.

Programme for the Rathen Open-Air Stage

Historic building with a red roof, surrounded by water and trees, with a blue sky in the background.

Richard Wagner Sites Graupa

Throughout his life, Richard Wagner revered Carl Maria von Weber as one of his great role models. Weber's opera “Der Freischütz” made a particularly profound impression on Wagner – he regarded it as the beginning of an independent German operatic tradition. Wagner embraced Weber's Romantic musical language and his fusion of nature, folk legends and music, developing these elements into his own musical style. In Graupa, the residence and hunting lodge offer fascinating insights into Richard Wagner's life, work and sound world.

Tip: With two open-air summer events at the hunting lodge, the Richard Wagner Sites in Graupa commemorate the master's great admiration for Weber's art. For this purpose, the traditional Wagnerwiese, a musical family picnic featuring contributions from amateur artists and ensembles, will become the WagnerWeberWiese – date: 7 June 2026.

The 2026 Richard Wagner Festival will likewise celebrate the Year of Weber.