Czech Switzerland Czech Republic. Bohemian Switzerland National Park - what to see? Map of Czech Switzerland

(České Švýcarsko) is a beautiful protected area in the north-west of the Czech Republic. The area is adjacent to the German “Saxon Switzerland”. And it is famous for its unusually shaped limestone cliffs, gorges and dense forests located in the Elbe (Laba) River basin. In 2000, an area of ​​79 km2 officially became a national park, falling under state protection.

Currently Czech Switzerland- is popular tourist destination. Which is present in the list of available routes of any self-respecting Prague tour operator. However, travelers who think that they are “somehow on their own” will also easily find their way and gain a lot of impressions. Once in detail.

How to get there from Prague

Ironically, it is more convenient to get from German to Czech Switzerland than from Prague. We take the train from the city station (Dresden Hbf) to Schöna station. The time is ~55 minutes, the ticket is expensive - 14 €: www.bahn.de/en/view/index.shtml.

Then we go to ferry crossing, we cross the river and, please, you are in Grzhensko. Where do some popular ones start? hiking trails!

You can get from Prague to Decin (we'll see the local castle along the way) by train - it's a little over 2 hours on the road. Schedule and ticket prices: .

You can get to the place from Decin by sailing on a boat sailing along the Labe. The final stop is in the village of Shmilka on the German side of the border, then walk about a kilometer to the crossing in Grzhensko.

Another interesting way is, again, by train from Prague. Direction to Decin, there is a transfer to the line to the German Bad Schandau, we get off at the Schöna station. Next you already know...


Short story

The honor of opening the region to the public goes to Adrian Zing and Anton Graff, two Swiss artists and teachers at the Dresden Art Academy who lived in the mid-18th century. In search of "nature" they traveled along the Elbe, visiting places between Pirna and Hrzensko, and painted a lot.

Almost immediately their landscapes attracted attention and tourists flocked to these places for their unusual beauty. One of the most famous personalities who did not fail to visit here: the author of fairy tales, the Dane Hans Christian Andersen, who made two visits: in 1831 and 1851.

What to see

There are several routes that allow you to see Czech Switzerland in detail: both walking and cycling. Let's mention iconic places national park, for the sake of which they actually come here.

Pravčická brána is the largest natural limestone arch in Europe, 26 meters long and 16 meters high. You can't climb it - it's fraught, but seeing it is absolutely necessary.

In 1881, Prince Edmund Clary und Olringen, who owned local lands, built a castle next to Pravcicka Brana, called the “Falcon's Nest”. The building was erected in just one year! Today, it houses a national park museum and a restaurant with great views and not so great prices.

Kamenice is a river flowing through a winding mountain gorge. The Tikha souteska backwater, “Quiet Gorge” (Tichá soutěska), is especially beautiful. For almost a kilometer, tourists contemplate sheer walls up to hundreds of meters high and relict pine groves. Edmund's Gorge is the most colorful part of Kamenica!

The village of Jetřichovice is a convenient starting point for traveling through the mountain range of the same name. Falkenstein and Mariina skála, beautiful viewpoints at an altitude of over 400 meters.

Ruins of the Schaunštejn fortress on a lonely rock. The fortification was destroyed either in the 15th or 16th centuries. And since then they have not been able to restore it.

One of the oldest and most famous nature reserves is Czech Switzerland. These lands were first discovered by Swiss and German artists. This happened back in the era of romanticism. A hundred years later, Czech Switzerland was declared a national park. This is the fourth national park in the Czech Republic. In this article we will find out how to get to the national park, and some information about the place.

Territory of the Czech Switzerland park

Guesthouses and restaurants are located within the park. They are strewn along hiking paths and cycling routes. Falcon's Nest Castle and Pravchitsky Gate are the most famous places. The latter are generally a symbol of the whole region. This is the largest natural rock gate. They are absolutely rightfully considered the most beautiful part of Czech Switzerland. The base of the gate is twenty-six and a half meters, the width is seven to eight meters, the height of the arch is sixteen meters, the minimum thickness is three meters, and the highest platform is located from the base at a height of twenty-one meters. Can be compared in importance to the Great American Canyon.

To visit the Czech Republic and ignore the Pravcicka Gate is simply a crime. They are inextricably linked with the Falcon's Nest residence. Just think, on the site of the castle until 1881 there was a small oak house and a beer hall. And today it is one of the main points on the map of the route through the reserve. Imagine an easy but long climb, and then you enjoy golden Czech beer and look at the country lying under your feet. The spirit of the Middle Ages is felt at the expense of Dolsky Mlyn, the ruins of a medieval mill. There is a small, inconspicuous bridge nearby, but it very much attracts the attention of tourists. After all, this is the first reinforced concrete structure in Austro-Hungary. Lovers of antiquity and castles will also have something to see.

Visit the ancient rock castle of Falkenstein. Together with Schaunstein Castle, Falkenstein is the most famous, and after visiting it there are a lot of positive impressions. Of course, we cannot ignore Czech crystal, which is called “Bohemian”. However, it is not produced in Bohemia, but in Czech Switzerland. The oldest glass factory still in operation in Europe is located in the village of Hřipska. It was founded around the 1500s, and maybe earlier. Excursions there are very popular. Tourists are very interested to know how this ancient production works.

Park opening hours:

The reserve is open to visitors all year round:

  • April - October from 10:00 to 18:00,
  • November - March weekends from 10:00 to 16:00.

*Entrance ticket to the reserve costs 50 CZK. It is also possible to purchase additional excursions on site, which are paid separately.

Excursion “Canoeing along Edmund's Gorge” duration 15-20 minutes, price 80 CZK for adults, 40 CZK for children.

How to get from Prague to Czech Switzerland

Czech Switzerland by train from Prague. In Prague you need to buy a ticket to the town of Děčín. Next you will need to make a transfer at the station by bus to the Hřensko stop. This is actually the final point. Bus number No. 434


Czech Switzerland- a beautiful corner of nature in the north-west of the Czech Republic. The area adjoins the German Saxon Switzerland and is famous for its unusually shaped limestone cliffs, gorges and dense forests located in the Elbe River basin. In 2000, an area of ​​79 km2 officially became a national park and came under state protection. On the territory of this park there are several small settlements - starting points from where you can follow tourist routes, getting acquainted with the beautiful nature of this reserve. And Grzensko is the best of them.

Hřensko is a very nice and hospitable border town located near the border with Germany on the banks of the river Elbe. This picturesque village with half-timbered houses is considered the gateway to the Czech Switzerland National Nature Reserve and, at the same time, the place where the Elbe River says goodbye to the Czech Republic.
How we got there:
1. from Prague railway station by train to Děčín - ticket price 159 CZK;
2. by bus from Decin to Hřensko - ticket price 27 CZK.
All information on transport in the Czech Republic can be found.

We buy tickets to the side Decin, we take the train and go to Decin. By the way, the tickets are not tied to any train in time, the purchased ticket is valid for two days and the more people there are, the cheaper the tickets; for four of us we got 501 CZK. An even bigger discount comes when purchasing tickets in both directions at once.
In Decin we board 434 bus, which will take us to Grzhensko. There is a stop right opposite the station, but to be sure, we got to the bus station. The bus does not travel often - once every 2 hours (every hour on weekends), so we had time to take a walk and have a little snack.
We buy tickets right on the bus and go to Grzhensko.
And here is the sign “Hrensko” (you should read not “Hrensko”, but “Hrensko” or, at worst, “Hrensko”).
The Czech water slowly flows along the road Laba from the German side it is called more familiar to us - Elbe.
From Grzensko there is a ferry to the other bank of the Elbe (Laba), where Germany is already located. And a steamboat runs from Decin to Grzensko. Also, many come here by car. Previously, the border was closed. But after the Czech Republic joined the European Union, everything changed. Now this is a border crossing.
A beautiful view of the most beautiful wooded cliffs of amazing shapes and sizes opens up as you approach the Czech border.
These rocks are a real miracle of nature.
The entire small town of Grzhensko stretches out on both sides of the river Kamenitsa, which originates in the mountains, and here flows into the Elbe.
Along the edges of the gorge, like entrance towers, stand information Center and the Labe Hotel.
“Labe” looks especially impressive - it seems as if a rock is leaning against it.
The history of the region in which the village of Grzhensko is located began in the 15th century. Near the mouth of the Kamenice River there was a timber storage facility, and a mill also operated. Already in the 18th century there were four sawmills here, there were also several places for raft tying, and wood was rafted to remote places. A special feature was the powerful hundred-year-old trunks supplied to naval shipyards for the masts of large sailing ships. The next important industry was the extraction and processing of sandstone, which was transported even to Dresden. People also made a living by smuggling (Podloudnice trail). Salt, tobacco, cloth and other goods were transported here. In the 19th century, tourism began to develop in Grzensko, supported by the owner of the lordship, Edmund Clary-Aldringen. In the 30s of the 19th century, the path from Hřensko to the Pravčicka Gate was improved, hotels, boarding houses and inns arose.
And this is the main city square, as miniature as the whole city. On it, built in 1786-87, is the Baroque Church of St. John of Nepomuk, in front of which stands his sculpture created in 1756.
To please the Germans, rows of Vietnamese merchants with cheap (compared to Germany) prices stretched across the city.
An unusual phenomenon in the town is a lively trade in gnomes and statues for vegetable gardens. This unusual item of trade creates a very cute and funny picture, a feeling of some kind of magic. A wide variety of gnomes and other fairy-tale characters are waiting for their new owners.
Due to its position at the confluence of the Labe and Kamenice rivers, Grzensko, with its 150 m above sea level, is the lowest located place in Czech Republic. Despite the very low altitude above sea level, the surrounding nature creates a very interesting effect, thanks to which you will feel as if you are in the mountains.

A little advice for tourists: life in Grzensko ends at 20.00 local time. So you need to have time to eat and drink beer before this time. And shops and shopping arcades close even earlier.

The series of houses along Kamenica is completed by the Praha Hotel, one of the best in the city. And the entire Hřensko from “Labe” to “Praha” can be walked in 15 minutes.


Hřensko is the starting point for excursions to Pravcicka Gate- the largest natural rock bridge on our continent and to the river gorges Kamenice, where you can ride boats and listen to the stories of the ferryman.
And it’s about these tourist routes I will tell you in the following parts of our trip to Czech Switzerland:

My first trip to “Czech Switzerland” ( České Švýcarsko) was of a random nature: while preparing for a Christmas tour of European cities (the main of which was Prague), I was looking for what to see in the territory different countries and how best to plan your route. And then I came across the Pravchitsky Gate. “What is this, where is it, how is it?” - there were no answers on the Internet, which means you have to go and explore everything yourself!

And on the way from Dresden to Prague after the national park " Saxon Switzerland“(and I already talked about the trip there) I find myself in “Czech Switzerland”. The nature there is really different from what I am used to seeing in the center of the Czech Republic.

Yes, and visiting at least the main attractions promises leisure. On my second visit to the national park in summer, not winter, I spent the whole day exploring “Saxon” and “Czech” Switzerland: I left Dresden early in the morning and returned to Prague late in the evening. And this takes into account the fact that the distance between cities is some 150 kilometers - no match for intercity trips across Russia.

I had to walk a lot, so I advise you to be fully armed: sports shoes (preferably with soft shock-absorbing soles, since after just the Pravchitsky Gate my legs were literally “humming”), comfortable clothes, a bottle of water and maybe some kind of... then a snack.

So, what is “Czech Switzerland” like and what can you see there? I'll tell you now.

History of the park

I have not heard any legends or epics around the rocks, crevices and canyons formed here several thousand years ago due to the movement of volcanic rocks.

So I had to look interesting information herself. It turns out that in the 13th–14th centuries, colonialists were invited here from the lands where modern Germany is now located, and castles and other buildings were built by them. They also started glass production and coal mining. But due to the lack of plains and dense forests, their life was, to put it mildly, not simple and very specific. In one place, I saw with my own eyes that food and other necessary things cannot be delivered here so easily. But more on that below.

So, all this specificity was reflected in the architecture. But in the last century, many buildings and even settlements fell into disrepair. Probably, the opportunity and availability of an easier life played an important role and people simply simply moved. Now, in some places on the territory of “Czech Switzerland” you can see the most picturesque ruins!

I have already talked about the name of the park, namely the word “Switzerland,” so I will not repeat it. In 2000, this area was given the status of a national reserve.

Geography of the park

České Švýcarsko- all the same Elbe Sandstone Mountains that I talked about at More precisely, a quarter of this mountain range. National Park is located in the north of the country, its western border runs along the Elbe River. It was from there that I visited “Czech Switzerland” both times. Actually, both national parks (“Saxon” and “Czech”) are separated by the border between Germany and the Czech Republic; they are adjacent to each other.

The most high point National Park - Mount Decin Snezhnik ( Děčínský Sněžník) - located at 723 meters above sea level. When I first heard about this, I smiled: I arrived in “Czech Switzerland” shortly after the Austrian Alps, where I lived in a hotel at an altitude of approximately 1,200–1,300 meters. But, after all, the reserve is not famous for its mountains!

Further in the text I added some cards. They will help you better understand the geography of the area, but they are unlikely to explain how to get to a specific attraction. But! In the near future locality for each of them (and they are visible on my maps) you can take a detailed paper map, as well as use signs along the roads and trails. The park took care of the convenience of sightseeing, which I personally really liked.

How to get to “Czech Switzerland”

There are basically two options: with a tour or on your own. I chose to travel in a rented car without guides or a group of onlookers. But for those who want to take a tour of the reserve, I advise you to read about tours from Dresden or Prague to “Saxon Switzerland” (I think they also offer tours to the Czech part). The prices, it seems to me, are similar, because there are parks in the neighborhood. Below I will tell you about an independent journey to “Czech Switzerland” by car.

From Prague

From Prague you can enter “Czech Switzerland” from different directions. There is an option to travel through Hřensko. It is not far from this city that the Pravchitsky Gate is located. By the way, the first time I read Hřensko as Hrensko (I didn’t notice the gachek above the letter “r”, which makes the sound [rzh]), and so it happened: to this day I refer to the innocent town almost as a vegetable (everyone makes associations to the extent of depravity, right?). I marked the route Via Khrzhensko on the map below, the first half of the route will pass through the highway, and then I propose to follow the usual highway past towns and picturesque fields.

You can also enter via Jetřichovice. To reach the town of Děčín, the route is the same as the previous one, and at the fork follow the signs.

Or Krasná Lípa. In theory, you can drive through the same Děčín, it seems to me that in terms of time it will not be too much of a detour.

But the last half hour flew by faster: there were still no toilets along the way, the flow of hikers was small, but there was always one, so now the attitude is “get there!” was supported not only by curiosity, but also by obvious necessity.

Along the way, I came across these cute “installations”: I don’t know who “propped up” the mountain and why, but the spectacle amused me.

And finally you can see the Falcon's Nest estate (now a hotel/restaurant of the same name) and the Pravchitsky Gate to the right of it. It would seem that you just have to extend your hand. This was not the case: the vertical distance from me to my destination was several tens of meters, which also had to be walked in a loop.

But all the efforts were justified. The height of the arch itself reaches 26 meters, so that, standing in this natural opening, you feel all the greatness of nature. In addition, near the gate there was a stall with my favorite ones. By the way, they were cheaper than: only 1.25 EUR or 34 CZK.

Once through the gate arch, you can see many paths leading to observation platforms. And literally “the whole world is at your feet.”

"Falcon's Nest"

Almost under the Pravchitsky Gate is the summer estate Falcon's Nest. Once upon a time, the owners accommodated noble guests there. Now inside the castle there is an exhibition about the history of “Czech Switzerland” and there is a restaurant.

The restaurant has preserved original paintings, and the interior is designed in the style of the beginning of the last century.

I didn’t have dinner at the restaurant, since the local employee, as I understood, had already closed it. To be honest, I couldn’t fully understand him: he agreed to speak only in Czech and German, so the conversation was almost “hands-on”. But they did let me into the toilet.


Near the Falcon's Nest there is a booth with the control of the cable car.

I understand that walking and carrying the necessary things is not easy here, so there is a utility box running along the cable car, where you can put the necessary things and send them upstairs or downstairs.

Lupežnice Castle or Schaunštejn

I heard that the castle used to be a robbery site. That is, it was built as a fortification, but later it was captured by robbers and changed its name. Šaunštejn translates as “thieves' castle”.

The castle itself has not been preserved, so at present you can be content with ruins and a good viewing platform.

Connecting bridges are laid between parts of this site. You know, the sensations are quite exciting when you walk like this literally next to an abyss along a connecting structure that is quite easy at first glance!

Dolský Mlýn

They say that the fragments preserved from the mill date back to the beginning of the 14th century!

I heard that in the middle of the last century the place even became the setting of a Czech fairy tale film. You could even say that the film glorified this landmark.

Over time, without maintenance, the mill deteriorated more and more, until in 2007 it was declared a cultural monument and the process of destruction was stopped.

By the way, a hundred meters upstream there is a unique building: a reinforced concrete bridge. I heard that this is the first such structure (made of steel and concrete) in the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the bridge was built shortly before its collapse.

The closest village to the mill is Kamenická Stráň, a kilometer away.

Royal spruce

They say that half a kilometer from the Dolskaya mill there is one spruce. Its age is about 180 years, and the trunk span is about 3 meters. Alas, it’s me myself ancient tree I didn’t see it because I was limited in time, but don’t be lazy and take a walk to it from the mill.

Hřensko

To be honest, I really liked this small town almost on the border with Germany. Most likely, there are few just residents here: almost everyone runs a hotel, restaurant or something else for the needs of tourists. But the 2-3 storey houses are decorated very authentically, this is exactly how small rural towns or villages seem to me.

I also liked the fact that globally there are only two streets in Khrzhensko, running parallel along the two banks. Of course, the high cliffs do not provide room for expanding the territory deeper.

If you drive along the river from the highway where you turned to Khrzhensko (remember, I asked you to remember this path?), then at the very end of it, in front of the parking lot, which I mentioned in the part about the Pravchitsky Gate, there is a waterfall.

Near it, I took two identical pictures towards the city: one in winter, and the second in summer.


The difference, in my opinion, is not big.

There are a lot of souvenirs near the track, but I didn’t buy anything there. It’s hard to say what the prices are: on the one hand, this is the Czech Republic, on the other, Germany and its prices are quite close. There is also another parking lot; you can ask the workers about a toilet nearby.

Other attractions

There are places where I was not able to visit, but I will definitely make up for it on my next visit:

  • Dittersbacher peaks.
  • Waterfalls near Brtnikov.
  • A boat trip along the Křinice River (Kirnitzschklamm) on the border of the Czech Republic and Germany.

And this is just what remained in my ears after the trip. I'm almost sure that if you start digging, less touristy places in the national park might come up.

Routes around the park

At the moment, there are dozens of well-marked hiking trails and routes in the park: signs, certain specific coverage and relief for the type of tourism, picturesqueness. In “Czech Switzerland” you can go rock climbing, horseback riding, cycling, and camping in equipped areas (and only in them!).

True, I explored the territory on my own, without resorting to the help of tourist centers, but I can tell you the addresses of organizations that will help, if necessary, organize your leisure time:

  • In the city of Krasná Lipa.
    • Opening hours: June - August from 09:00 to 18:00, January - February until 16:00, in other months until 17:00; break from 12:00 to 12:30.
    • Address: Krinicke nam. 5, Krasna Lipa 407 46.
  • In Hřensko.
    • Opening hours: November - January from 09:00 to 17:00, in other months until 18:00.
    • Address: Hřensko 71, 407 17 Hřensko.
  • In Srbska Kamenice.
    • Address: Nam. Miru 73, Ceska Kamenice, 407 21.
  • In Jetřichovice.
    • Address: Jetšichovice 393, CZ - 407 16.

Among the main routes, I know, there are:

  • To the rock gate (Pravchitsky): along ornate stones and paths, then along the rock wall (I passed it too). Then the “Falcon's Nest” program - a visit to observation platforms on the tops of the rocks near the gate.
  • To the Dolskaya mill.
  • To Schaunstein.

Where to stay

If you want to choose camping over a hotel, then in the above-mentioned tourist centers you should inquire about special parking lots and set up outside equipped campsites tent city It’s impossible: it’s a specially protected zone after all.

If you are more attracted to the east, then choose Krasna Lipa or Hřibská.

Room prices start from 8–10 EUR for a campsite and from 45 EUR for a double room.

"Czech Switzerland" in winter

I was in the national park in winter, but their winter was quite slushy at that time, so walking along the forest paths was out of the question. Falcon's Nest Castle is, again, a summer castle. So we had to be content with waterfalls on rivers and towns around “Czech Switzerland”.

If you want to see much more of the above, I recommend coming in the summer!

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Anything to add?

There is in the north-west of the Czech Republic in the Usti region, on the very border with Germany, an amazingly beautiful protected place, which is called nothing less than Czech-Saxon Switzerland. This corner is almost untouched wildlife, a magical protected park that simultaneously covers the territory of two countries - the Czech Republic and Germany.

Many tourists from all over the country and beyond come here every day to enjoy cleanest air, the wild beauty of the reserve, which is called: Bohemian Switzerland Park. It is interesting that part of the protected lands that ended up on the territory of neighboring Germany is called Saxon Switzerland.

Why are these places so attractive for those who are tired of civilization?

Czech Switzerland - brief description

It all started many thousands of years ago - it was then that amazingly beautiful canyons, crevices, gorges, sandstone rocks unusual in their shape and structure, as if endowed with a human soul, were formed from volcanic rocks on the lands of the current national park...

Dozens of centuries passed, and by 2000, a national park with an area of ​​80 sq. km appeared on the map of the country of beer and dumplings. - Czech paradise or Czech Switzerland. But long before this, a small urban village - Grzhensk - became a real tourist center, a pier for everyone who wanted to relax away from noisy cities. The tourist infrastructure here is well developed and, despite its modest size, in this town, always filled with tourists, there is always a place to stay for the night or just have an inexpensive and tasty snack.

Most often, guests come from the capital to admire the protected paradise, and the trip can take only one day. But if you want to have a full and quality rest, it is best to book accommodation in a boarding house or a hotel room for at least 2-3 days, since there is really something to catch the eye of even a very experienced traveler.

Attention! In Grzhensk you can buy cute souvenirs in the form of gnomes and other fairy-tale characters for children or just as a good memory.

Sights of Czech Switzerland

So, you are eager to see with your own eyes what other guests of this magical place are enthusiastically talking about. Then let's together make a list of attractions in the reserve that are simply prohibited by the law of conscience and honor to miss!

Advice! If you want to fully enjoy the bright colors of the luxurious nature of these places, go to Czech Switzerland in the fall, in September or October.

Thanks to numerous signs scattered throughout the protected park, you can choose for your company both more complex, longer, 15-25 km long, and simple routes in Czech Switzerland, 8-12 km long.

Pravcicka Gate

There is a special rock in Czech Switzerland, which is proudly called the symbol of the entire reserve. This is “Pravchitsky brana”, which in Russian sounds like “Pravchitsky gate”. The unique rock is the highest in all of Europe and looks like a monumental sandstone arch created by Mother Nature, 16 meters high and as much as 26 meters long. The width of the rock structure is more than 4 meters

Getting to the Gate will not be difficult - from Grzhensk, where you can leave your car, there is a walking trail about 4 km long. to get closer to the attraction, you will have to pay entrance tickets for 75 CZK and although you are not allowed to climb the Gate, it is worth admiring it up close. Entrance ticket for children costs 25 CZK.

From the grandiose Pravchitsky Gate you can easily reach its smaller copy with a height of only 2 meters - this is the so-called Small Pravchitsky Gate. There is a fairly wide path leading to them, suitable for cycling.

Advice! Do not confuse this trail with the narrow path marked in red on the maps of the area, otherwise you will have to wander through the mountains for about an hour, although in the end you will still be able to reach the Small Pravchitsky Gate.

Schaunstein Castle

Near the Small Gate you can see a sign leading to the rock castle - this is the robber castle of Shunstein, shrouded in secrets. The road to it is quite difficult, about a kilometer long, you will have to climb steep steps and even squeeze through tunnels between the rocks. But, believe me, the views of extraordinary beauty and scale that open from the observation deck of the castle are worth the effort!

Castle "Falcon's Nest"

Very close to the Pravchitsky Gate, right in the rock in 1882, a castle with the romantic name “Falcon's Nest” was built, more reminiscent of a large hunting lodge. It has been surprisingly well preserved to this day, and today, within the walls of the ancient castle - the family estate of the Clary-Aldringens, you can enjoy dinner in a magnificently decorated restaurant overlooking the whole of Czech Switzerland. Also in the Falcon's Nest it is worth visiting a museum dedicated to this region.

Mill "Dolsky Mlyn"

This once very popular mill has now turned into ruins, but even today residents of these areas remember how many years ago the fairy tale “The Arrogant Princess” was filmed here. It’s hard to believe that the building, lost in the green forests, was once a very busy place and a crossroads center for several centuries in a row.

Village "Hrzypska"

The colorful authentic village was loved by guests of this region because it was where an ancient glass workshop once functioned, whose glassblowers produced “Bohemian glass” back in the 15th century. It seems incredible, but the workshop still cordially opens its doors to tourists today: here you can intelligently read account books of past centuries, see live how the most famous glass in the Czech Republic is blown, and at the same time buy your favorite glasses, vases or figurines made of crystal or Bohemian glass

Abandoned silver mines

Arranged in Czech Switzerland and very interesting excursions to ancient mines where silver was once mined. You can personally feel like a real miner by putting on a safety helmet and descending into the depths of the mine under the supervision of a guide.

Falkenstein Castle

Those tourists who take the time to climb higher into the mountains will be amazed by an unforgettable sight - the unusual Falkenstein Castle, located right among the rocks. The views from here, especially if you climb higher, are fabulous!

Panska Skala

This geological phenomenon is a huge 12-meter cliff, which was skillfully assembled by nature from polygonal basalt slabs. There is a similar giant in Northern Ireland, however, the Czech stone relative is quite accessible to tourists and is located 500 meters south of highway No. 13, the landmark is the village of Prachen, located 18 km from Decin.

Kamenice Gorge

To visit this picturesque gorge, you need to follow the hiking trail, marked in green on the map, from the village of Mezna to the canyon of the Kamenice river. In these marvelous lands, you will cross a wooden bridge across a 30-meter-long gorge, and then you can go down to the piers, from where gondola excursions along the Dikoe and Quiet gorges are held. If tourists follow the path marked in blue on the map, they will come to the authentic village of Mezni-Luka.

Gorges Wild and Quiet

Let's take a closer look at these gorges. Once on the steep canyon of the Kamenitsa River, travelers find themselves in places where the river is blocked by dams. Between these dams you can raft on a flat-bottomed boat led by a local gondolier. First, guests of the reserve will sail through the Wild Gorge (“Divoka Souteska”), 250 meters long, romantic and calm. But then the Quiet Gorge (“Tikha Souteska”), almost 500 meters long and “decorated” with a picturesque waterfall, the waters of which noisily flow out of the rock, awaits them.

Suha Kamenica

In early spring and autumn months, the canyon of a small stream flowing into the Laba (arm of the Elbe) fills with water and dozens of miniature waterfalls gurgle merrily between the rocks over a scattering of huge boulders. In summer, the waters dry up, and Suha Kamenica is filled with mystery and cozy silence.

Gazebo

It was once possible to reach the spectacular Belvedere observation deck, hanging over the Elbe River canyon, along a perfectly straight road coming from the castle in the town of Binovce. Tourists are welcome at the Belvedere amazing views a bending river and bizarre sandstone cliffs reminiscent of petrified giants.

Ružovsky Vrh

For those who are not afraid of steep climbs, something awaits! In the thickets of the beech forest that densely covers Mount Ruzovsky Vrch, there are many unique observation platforms. And although there are no special attractions here, the views are worth the effort spent on climbing.

Wolf board

Having passed along the road through the canyon of the Krinitsa River, called Kiyovske Udoli and known for its unbridled beauty, tourists will come to another attraction. This is a stone slab; in the 17th century, a story was carved on it about a hunter who was able to kill two wolves at once.

From Prague to Czech Switzerland: what tourists need to know

It is worth noting that the excursion from Prague to Czech Switzerland is very popular, since the journey does not take very much time, but the pleasure received is worth it!

The reserve is open to visitors all year round: from April to October you can be on its territory from 10-00 to 18-00, and from November to March - only on weekends from 10-00 to 16-00.

How to get from Prague to Czech Switzerland

Let's consider all the options:

  • Public transport: in Prague itself we take the train to the town of Decin. Here we change to shuttle bus No. 434, which will take us to Khrzhensko.
  • Own or rented car: we drive along the intercity highway to the town of Decin, then from there we go to Khrzhensko. Here you can leave your car in paid parking lots and continue exploring the reserve on foot.
  • Steamboat: first you have to take a train to Decin, from Decin you will need to walk about a kilometer to the pier, and from there, on a steamboat plying along the Labe River (aka Elbe), swim to the final stop, which is also located about 800 meters from Grzhenska.

Where to stay

Despite the fact that Grzhensk is a rather small town, there are no problems with accommodation here.

Relatively affordable hotels are:

  • Hotel “Labe”, where bus number 434 stops. The cost of daily accommodation in a room starts from 660 CZK, and in the season (from April to the end of October) - from 730 CZK (breakfast is included in the price). Hotel website: www.labehotel.cz
  • Hotel U Lipy offers accommodation in double or triple rooms, which cost 1,100 and 1,650 CZK per night respectively. Hotel website: www.hotelulipy.zaridi.to/lipa.htm

Cost of entrance ticket and excursions

The entrance ticket to the territory of the Czech Switzerland Nature Reserve costs 50 CZK. Excursions are paid separately. For example, the favorite excursion of all tourists - canoeing along the Edmund's Gorge - lasts about 15-20 minutes and costs 80 crowns for adults and half as much for children.

Other excursions vary in price and number of attractions visited. In principle, you can get a map of the territory at the entrance to the reserve and walk around those areas yourself. interesting places that attract you most.