Bohemian-Saxon Switzerland (from Prague). Czech Switzerland photo By Czech Switzerland
Czech Switzerland(České Švýcarsko) - the most beautiful corner of nature in the northwest 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.
Ironically, it is more convenient to get to the park from Dresden, Germany, than from Prague. We take the train to Schöna station, go to ferry crossing and please, you are in Grzensko, where several popular hiking trails begin!
You can get from Prague to Decin (the local castle is worth visiting here) by train - a little over 2 hours on the road. Next to the town of Hřensko - by bus or taxi. The second option is preferable, since you don’t have to wait, but the trip will cost about 350 CZK
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 a kilometer walk to the crossing in Grzhensko
Another interesting way is, again, by train from Prague. Direction to Decin, there you change to the line to the German Bad Schandau and get off at the Schöna station. Next you already know...
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.
Kamenitsa Gorge
What to see
There are several routes that allow you to see Czech Switzerland in detail: both walking and cycling.
Czech Switzerland
Let's mention iconic places national park, without seeing which not a single tourist will leave 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 near Pravcicka Brana, called the “Falcon's Nest”. The castle was built in just one year: today the building houses a national park museum and a restaurant with beautiful views.
Falcon's Nest and Pravcicka Brana
Kamenice is a river flowing through a winding mountain gorge. The Tichá soutěska backwater, “Quiet Gorge” (Tichá soutěska), is especially beautiful - for almost a kilometer, tourists from boats can contemplate sheer walls up to hundreds of meters high, rocks that tried but never slipped into the water, relict pine groves.
- Edmund's Gorge is the most colorful part of Kamenica
The village of Jetřichovice, a convenient starting point for traveling through the mountain range of the same name. Nearby you can visit Falkenstein Castle and Mariina skála, a beautiful view point at an altitude of 428 meters.
The ruins of the Schaunštejn fortress on a lonely rock - it was destroyed either in the 15th or 16th century and has not been restored since then.
© Eurotraveler.ru
Czech Switzerland
When tourists hear this name for the first time, their minds are concerned with only one question: where does Switzerland come from in the Czech Republic? It sounds really interesting, but in reality we are talking about an amazingly beautiful national park, which, thanks to its views and landscape, bears such an unusual name as Czech Switzerland.
Why is this place interesting to tourists?
Bohemian Switzerland is part of the territory of the Elbe Sand Mountains, which belongs to the Czech Republic. Tellingly, in Germany this area is called Saxon Switzerland. The park's territory covers almost 80 square meters. m, and since 2000 it has officially acquired the status of a nature reserve. On the map of the country, Czech Switzerland is located in the northwestern region, at the headwaters of the Elbe River.
The reserve got its name thanks to two Swiss artists who, in their free time, traveled to these places and created works inspired by the local beauty. The masters of the brush did not even want to return home, arguing that they had found their Switzerland in the Czech Republic.
Sights of the Czech Switzerland Nature Reserve
The park has a number of interesting and fascinating places, the creator of which was nature itself. So, what to see and where to take a souvenir photo in the Bohemian Switzerland National Park:
In one of the matches of the third round of the group stage of the World Hockey Championship, the Czech Republic will compete with Switzerland. The match will take place in Copenhagen and starts on May 8 at 21-15 Moscow time.
Content:
Lifebet.ru notes that literally on the eve of the world championship, the teams held two friendly matches between themselves, in which the Czechs confidently won twice.
Czech
The Czech national team is currently outside the top four in the group, but the team has played only two more matches, and at the same time played them very well. During the opening match, the Czechs were inferior to the Slovak team, but showed fighting qualities and won the final victory in overtime 3-2. The day before, the team suffered a defeat in Sweden 2-3.
Switzerland
The Swiss team, in turn, managed to score five points in the two opening matches, settling in the top half of the group. Moreover, in the first round the team had a hard time defeating Austria. At the end of regular time there was a 2-2 draw, and only in overtime did the Swiss tip the scales in their favor. Next was a fairly convincing victory over the Slovak team 2-0.
Live online broadcast of the match Czech Republic - Switzerland
Match odds Czech Republic - Switzerland
- P1 – 1.99-2.05
- X – 4.25-4.35
- P2 – 3.15-3.25
- 1X – 1.33-1.37
- 12 – 1,2-1,24
- X2 – 1.77-1.82
Total odds:
- less than 3.5 – 3.05-3.15
- more than 3.5 – 1.36-1.4
- less than 4.5 – 2.02-2.08
- more than 4.5 – 1.83-1.88
Czech Republic - Switzerland expert forecast
This calendar year, the Czech national team has already beaten the Swiss three times, and now this trend is also likely to continue.
Salt to taste
After all, the Czechs scored only two points in the opening matches, and now the squad needs to win. In general, lifebet.ru offers a forecast for the match Czech Republic - Switzerland: Victoria of the Czech Republic with a zero handicap.
This confrontation is also unlikely to be very productive, and most likely the number of goals in it will not exceed 5.5. Along with this, we bet that the Swiss will not be able to hit the opponent’s goal more than 2.5 times.
Important statistics and interesting facts
- Note that in the last ten personal meetings, the Czech team won eight times, losing to the Swiss team only twice.
Excursions and transfers to Czech Switzerland are in great demand. Czech Switzerland has become one of the main destinations for eco-tourism.
Bohemian Switzerland National Park
The new concept of eco-tourism comes from the rapidly growing number of eco-tourists who adore the most beautiful places and attractions created by nature.
The beauty of the natural landscapes of Czech Switzerland fascinates not only eco-friendly people, but also ordinary tourists and travelers. The history of the emergence of a mountain range with crevices, streams and even lakes goes back more than one millennium. In ancient times, this part of the land with the Elbe Sandstone Mountains located on it was the subject of constant wars between Saxony, the Czech Republic, Poland, Austria and Prussia. Robbers often ruled here. Only 1459 brought clarity about the ownership of the Elbe Sandstones; from the moment the Treaty of Eger was signed, the Elbe Sandstones were divided in the middle of the navigable Elbe. Since then, one half belongs to Saxony, which is part of Germany, and the second remains the property of the Czech Republic. The Meissen Plateau was the name of that part of the Elbe Sandstones, or as the Saxons of the Ore Mountains called them, but it lasted until the 18th century, later they were renamed Saxon Switzerland. There is practically no reliable information about the name Czech Switzerland. Either the Czechs, deciding to keep up with the Germans, called their part Czech Switzerland, or vice versa the Germans, but now on the map there are two Switzerlands divided by the Elbe River: Czech on the Czech side and Saxon on the German side.
Be that as it may, the beauty of these Switzerland deserves attention. The highest point in Czech Switzerland is Decin Sneznik 723m, and the main attraction of Czech Switzerland is the unique so-called Pravcicka Gate, also known as Pravčeska Brana in Czech, spelled Pravcicka Brana. The width of this gate is not small - 26 meters, and the height is breathtaking - 16 meters. The view at the Pravcicka Gate - a huge arch, probably the fact that they are the main attraction of the delightful Czech Switzerland is confirmed by the fact that the entrance to them is paid! There is also a small snack bar with the same small selection on the menu, beer and sausages, that’s the whole list of dishes. Very close by is a castle built in 1881, built into the rock. It was built in just a year and has the appropriate name for this place, Falcon's Nest in Czech (Sokolí hnízdo). Amazing nature, a sea of trails and routes, a mountain river on which there are boats with boat guides carrying tourists and telling stories about the landscapes that tourists pass by.
If you want to book excursions from Prague to Czech Switzerland, go to the page excursions around the Czech Republic from Prague.
If you want to order a transfer from Prague to Czech Switzerland, go to the page Transfer within the Czech Republic from Prague.
Related topics:
Prague excursion prices in Russian.
Prague Czech Switzerland excursion, excursions in the Czech Republic, Czech Switzerland, Czech Republic excursions, Czech Switzerland transfer, Prague excursions, Czech Switzerland tours, attractions of the Czech Republic, nature in the Czech Republic.
Note:
The price of the Czech Switzerland excursion from Prague includes: transfer from your hotel to the very place of the excursion, an excursion conducted by a guide, the excursion language is Russian, transfer to the hotel back.
Here, you can learn everything about Czech Switzerland from people who have visited Czech Switzerland, read or write reviews and comments about Czech Switzerland - forum.
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Advantages
Very beautiful, rivers, mountains, castle, water park
Flaws
Details
When people talk about the Czech Republic, everyone immediately thinks of Prague and Karlovy Vary. But in this country there are many other equally wonderful cities - resorts and others - albeit small, but old, rich in historical monuments and having their own unique characteristics.
I've already talked about thermal resort- Teplice, and now I want to open for you another small but cozy town in the Usti region - Decin.
Decin, like Teplice, is located in the northwestern part of the Czech Republic, in an area called Bohemian-Saxon Switzerland, very close to Germany.
The town is located in a valley between mountain ranges, and it is here that the Laba (aka Elbe) and Ploucnice rivers meet. Therefore Decin is important river port.
The city itself is small - a little more than 50 thousand people live here, but there is something to see here.
Interesting historical fact is that Decin (and in German - Techen-Bodenbach) as a single city was formed recently - in 1942. This happened as a result of the merger of two nearby villages - Techena and Bodenbach. Since 1947, the city became known as Decin.
The city is incredibly beautiful: there are mountain ranges all around, and between them there are colorful houses and ponds.
Look at the positive architectural forms. When I saw them, I immediately thought that in such a bright city people simply cannot be unhappy :)
The reservoirs here are magnificent, they are crossed by old and new bridges,
And in the water itself, ducks and majestic swans swim, which numerous tourists happily feed.
The most famous landmark of the city is Decin Castle, located on a hill on the right bank of the Laba. The history of the castle dates back to the 13th century; it originally belonged to noble families, and in 1934 it was sold to the state.
A road carved between the rocks, the “Long Ride,” leads to the castle; high stone walls stretch on both sides of it.
And here is the castle itself, it is under long-term reconstruction, and inside it there is a museum where paintings, weapons, etc. are exhibited.
There is a magnificent rose garden on the territory of the castle, but we did not have the opportunity to see this beauty in full, since Decin was visited in March.
By the way, photography is not allowed in the castle; I understand that this is quite traditional for the Czech Republic.
There is another one near the rose garden historical monument— Church of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross.
The church was built at the end of the 17th century and has hardly been restored since then.
Bohemian Switzerland – one of the national parks of the Czech Republic
Inside it is decorated with magnificent frescoes.
In addition to the above-mentioned, there are many other historical and architectural monuments in Decin that are worth seeing: these are other churches, a synagogue, churches and chapels, town halls, fountains, the “Pastoral Wall” - a steep cliff on which the restaurant of the same name with more than a century of history is nestled.
Children will also be interested in Decin. On that very Shepherd Wall there is a small but ancient and well-kept zoo.
There is also a water park here, which we were lucky enough to visit. It consists of a covered and open areas and is considered one of the most modern in the Czech Republic.
Of course, it’s worth going to Decin, even if only to see the incredibly beautiful area in which the town is nestled - mountains and rivers give it a unique charm.
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Year of visit:2010
Bohemian-Saxon Switzerland
The Czech Republic is not offended by mountains. The Czech mountains, of course, are not high, but picturesque. And one mountainous area even received the name “” ( České Švýcarsko). What a miracle, you say, the labels “Switzerland” and “Venice” are the most common. Just a city in the canals - right there is “Venice”. And if the area is hilly - “Switzerland”, of course.
As for Czech Switzerland, in this case the Swiss themselves likened this corner of the Ore Mountains to their Switzerland. Swiss artists arrived in Dresden to restore paintings in the Dresden Gallery - and in the vicinity of the Elbe they discovered an extremely attractive place: sharp sandstone cliffs, deep canyons, hills covered with forest. “Well, like here in Switzerland,” said the artists. And so it happened.
On the Czech side it was formed national park"Czech Switzerland". And on the other bank of the Elbe is “Saxon Switzerland”. We visited both there and there. In this article I will talk about our walk through Czech Switzerland, and in the next one about Saxon Switzerland.
We left Prague around 8 am and two hours later we were approaching the Czech-German border. The river (Laba in Czech), along which the border of the countries passes, looks very romantic in this place: neither narrow nor wide, it flows among wooded mountains, houses are visible here and there along its banks, but overall the place seems secluded and quiet .
Town of Grzensko
Our goal - town of Grzhensko, which stands at the confluence of the Kamenitsa River into the Laba. Start from Hřensko walking routes in the Czech Switzerland National Park.
Pier near Grzhensko
Along the edges of the gorge, like entrance towers, there are two hotels. The Labe Hotel looks especially impressive - it seems that it is resting on a rock.
The hotel opposite is more modest
We turn right and move along the Kamenitsa River.
The town of Grzensko begins with long shopping arcades. The Vietnamese trade here.
The rows end in front of the main city square, as miniature as the whole city, with a small church.
The city stretches along the river. Houses stand on both sides of the river, and behind them rise the mountain slopes.
There are many hotels and private guesthouses. There are cafes, shops, in short, the entire infrastructure of the resort town. The houses are nice. Let's say this one, overgrown with ivy.
And the most charming villa is hidden a little away from the road, behind a rocky outcrop.
The line of houses along Kamenica ends with the Praha Hotel, one of the best in the city. And the entire Hřensko from “Labe” to “Praha” can be walked in 15 minutes.
Then the paths diverge. There is a walking trail along the river (along which we returned to the city about three hours later). Moves away to the right highway to the village of Janow, turn left to Mezne Louka and further to Jetřichovice, an ancient Saxon village.
Hiking routes in Czech Switzerland
Most tourists (including us) go to the town of Mezne Louka, where hiking routes begin in the Czech Switzerland National Park in the Hřensko district.
Scheme walking routes Grzhensko
The most popular route leads to Pravcicka Braná, a unique natural arch bridge. From Mezni Louka to Pravcicka Bran it takes 70 minutes to walk along the trail (as indicated on the park map) and then another 45 minutes to get to Hrensko.
We are heading along a different route. First we walk 2 km along an asphalt road. The road goes among the fields.
In the distance, rocks can be seen above the treetops.
We reach the guesthouse “Na Vyhlidce”.
Behind the house there begins a path that leads to the Kamenitsa River.
The descent to the river is steep and winding, the path winds among rocks and trees.
The mountain serpentine ends with an exit to the bridge.
We have reached the bottom of the gorge. From the bridge the canyon looks spectacular: vertical rock walls stand opposite each other. How long did the water cut through the rocks to make its way!
After the bridge, the trail turns and goes along the shore along the rocks (and sometimes under overhanging rocks or in a broken tunnel).
In one place the gorge makes a sharp turn and widens. At the site of the expansion there is a house in which a small museum is located, dedicated to the nature of this region.
Rafting on the Kamenitsa River
And here is the pier. Along the walkways there are punts painted bright green. The boat is designed for 26 people.
We wait for those lagging behind
We load into the boat and set sail downstream.
This section of Kamenitsa is called.
The boat is controlled by a boatman with a pole. He stands at the stern, steers the boat and jokes around. And in one place he slowed down, pulled the taut cable with his hand, and a waterfall fell from the rocks above. Fortunately, not on us. The waterfall did not last long, I managed to photograph the last streams.
Here and there among the rocks there were funny wooden figures.
And around the next turn these rocky fingers appeared.
That's how we sailed and sailed along Edmund's Gorge. The place is very quiet, secluded, filled with mysterious, gloomy beauty. Everything is like something out of a fairy tale: silently flowing dark water, mossy stones in the riverbed, soaring gorge walls, knotty tree roots clinging to the rocks, dark green crowns reflected in the water.
The only time our privacy was violated was when a boat passed us, upstream. Yes, pushing a boat against the current with a pole is not an easy task.
Finally the pier appeared. We disembarked and continued along the path along the river.
I thought our walk through protected forest came to an end, but the journey to Grzhensko took another 30-40 minutes. The gorge went on and on, we all stretched out along the path, there were few people, only closer to Grzhensko people began to meet.
We learned about Saxon Switzerland quite by accident; Pasha came across an article describing a trip to Saxon Switzerland with impressive photos. I decided to see what it was and where. It turned out that the Saxon Switzerland National Park is located near Dresden, right on the border with the Czech Republic. And on the Czech side the park is called Czech Switzerland.
The park is not very large, but it has many trekking routes and you can easily spend at least a whole week. But thinking that a week of vacation is an unaffordable luxury, we decided that we would go to Saxon Switzerland one day just for a long weekend.
How to get to Saxon Switzerland?
Most easy way this is a car. In this case, moving between routes and attractions in the park will be easy and convenient. The only downside is that the routes need to be planned either there/back or circular to get back to the car.
Getting there and moving around by public transport is also possible. On the German side the closest Big City- Dresden, from Czech - Prague. From both of them you can easily reach the park. But on the spot, in order to get to the beginning of routes from surrounding towns and villages, you will have to find out the schedule of local buses and trains.
Where to stay near Saxon Switzerland?
If you are by car, then this issue is not so pressing. From any village you can easily get where you need to go.
If you are traveling public transport, then on the Czech side a good choice would be Děčín or Hřensko. Decin is larger, but from it you have to go to the park. But several routes start directly from Grzensko, including one of the most famous to Pravčická brána.
On the German side there are several options. If you want to visit the Bastei Bridge and take a walk in its surroundings, then best choice will be Rathen or Bad Schandau. If you want to walk along other routes in the park, then you need to choose one of the villages close to the route. Almost all of them have small family hotels where you will feel like a real German.
We had to stay for two nights, on a holiday weekend, plus we were by car and not tied to buses. Having looked at the options on Booking.com and Airbnb (we wrote more about what airbnb is in the article Airbnb - what is it? How to use it and how to book accommodation in any city?), we chose accommodation on airbnb in Decin, but for now we were thinking about this apartment already passed. Therefore, the next suitable room in terms of price, comfort and location was family hotel in the village of Ceska Kamenice.
What to do in Bohemian and Saxon Switzerland?
1 full day - Czech Switzerland
The route starts in the village of Mezni Louka and gradually gains altitude and goes towards Pravcicka Brana. Along the way there is a beautiful forest, rock walls, individual rock outcrops - in general, very beautiful!
Next is Pravcicka Bran and the 19th century building - Falcon's Nest. Entrance to the observation decks 75 CZK. You can check the opening hours and current prices www.pbrana.cz. Most can be viewed for free, so it’s up to you to decide whether to go to the paid part.
After this trail, you can go to Mezni Louki through the forest, or you can, like us, continue along the canyon. There is a second route Divoká soutěska and a second crossing - it will cost 60 CZK. We really liked the trail, it goes almost above the mountain river itself, sometimes overhanging it. Around beautiful rocks. On the first section there is a waterfall attraction - they take you to a wet wall, tell you some fairy tales, it depends on the boat manager, and then... suddenly a powerful stream of water falls from the waterfall like a fountain. Nobody expected this...
During the boat ride you will see not only a waterfall, but also beautiful wooden figures, each with its own history, you will be shown interesting rock formations that resemble something or someone. The second part is less interesting, simply because it repeats the first. Although... Whether nature can repeat itself in such unusual forms is a controversial issue. From the end of the second trail, another 20 minutes and we go out to Mezni Louki, straight to the central parking lot. By the way, parking is the most expensive “entertainment” - 100 CZK / 1 day.
This route can also be taken from Grzensko. You can go to reverse direction, but I don’t recommend this because the climb from Grzhensko is long and monotonous, it’s much better to quickly descend there.
2 day or half day Saxon Switzerland and the famous Bastei Bridge
Most often, the route to the Bastei Bridge starts either at Basteistraße - in this case, parking will cost 3 €/day plus 1.5 €/person shuttle bus to the beginning of the route. The second option is the village of Rathen, almost all large parking lots are located in most of the village on the other side of the Elbe and you will have to take a ferry to get to the beginning of the route.
Only residents and hotel clients are allowed to enter the part of the Rathen village, which is located on the same bank as the Bastei Bridge. However, you can leave your car in private parking lots just before reaching the village. Cost 3€/day.
Before the start of the route, 15-20 minutes through a pleasant forest. At first, the signs took us to Basteistrasse; after looking at the prices, we returned to the idea that we would leave the car in the village itself. But... we saw a sign prohibiting passage to non-residents. There was a private parking nearby for 3€, but it was almost all occupied. There were cars parked nearby on the side of the road; there was no sign prohibiting parking. Of course we parked and headed to the Bastei Bridge.
Bastei is a group of sandstone rocks that, under the influence of time and nature, have taken on very beautiful and unusual shapes. Bastei is also famous for the Bastei Bridge. The Bastei Bridge was built in 1824 and was originally made of wood. In 1851 the Bastei Bridge was replaced by a sandstone bridge and it has remained that way to this day.
If you have at least 3-4 hours, then it’s worth visiting not only the Bastei Bridge, but also walking along the route further, going down to the Elbe and returning along the bike path to Rathen.
We were unlucky on the first evening, the weather was not very good, and as soon as we began to climb to the bridge it started to rain... Without thinking twice, we took a quick look at the bridge and went to our overnight stay. The second attempt was in the morning before going home. The sun was shining and the weather was just perfect. But we had very little time, so we limited ourselves to going to the Bastei Bridge and all the observation platforms and back. This route took us about 2-2.5 hours of a leisurely walk from the car. There is an optional one on the route paid section, cost 2€/person. The route runs along footbridges between the rocks. There is a description of several historical details, although little remains of them. But beautiful views to the Bastei Bridge and surrounding rocks.
By the way, the most famous photos The Bastei Bridge is made with free viewing platforms. True, fog or beautiful sunset/dawn rays must be specially waited for. Although maybe you'll be lucky?!
As a result, I would like to say that if you are in the area and have 1-2 days free, then you should definitely stop by Czech and Saxon Switzerland!
Czech Switzerland is not only the mystical landscapes of pine forests and picturesque valleys, majestic rock towers, gates, walls, gorges, rock cities and labyrinths of mountains, but also the incredibly beautiful canyon of the Kamenica River, a walk along which will leave an unforgettable impression.
This is Czech Switzerland!
Czech Switzerland (České Švýcarsko) is the Czech part of the Elbe Sandstone Mountains, a fantastically delightful piece of nature located in Northern Bohemia, near the border with Germany. There is everything you need for a complete active or simple holiday: pristine dense forests, canyons, bizarre rocks, mountain rivers, picturesque valleys with rare plants.
Geographers believe that this area owes its unusual structure and beauty to the sea, whose waters covered this territory in prehistoric times. Over time, the water receded and thanks to the influence of the most skillful designers - nature and wind, such a unique natural landscape was formed over many centuries.
What to see in Czech Switzerland?
Pravcicka brane
It is so incredibly beautiful here that the state declared this place a national park of the Czech Republic in 2000. The park has many interesting places, but the most interesting attraction is the Pravčická brána, which is the largest natural gate formed from a rocky massif. Once upon a time, these gates were washed out of the rocks by the World Ocean itself. In 2009, Pravchitsky Gate made it to the semi-finals of the international competition “Seven Wonders of the World”.
Not without a castle. It's as if he was implanted into the rocks. And its name is appropriate - Falcon's Nest (Zámeček Sokolí hnízdo). It was built by Italian craftsmen in 1881 in a record time at that time - one year. Entrance to the Pravčicka brana is paid. But it's worth it. Right under the arch there is a small cafe and an observation deck, the views from which are breathtaking.
Decin
The Bohemian Switzerland National Park is located near the town of Děčín. Travel around the reserve usually begins from here.
The main attraction of the city is Decin Castle (Děčínský zámek), a military fortress and residence of influential aristocratic families.
The smallest zoo in the Czech Republic is the Zoo (Decina Zoo Děčín). It is located in the city center, in the city forest park and covers an area of only 6 hectares. His specialty is growing rare species animals that have a hard time living in captivity.
To rest and relax, go to the city water park Decin (Aquapark) or to the Olešský rybník.
Khrzhensko
The beautiful and hospitable border town of Hřensko is located on the banks of the Kamenice River. Most hiking routes around the reserve begin here. The city has everything for tourists - tourist information center, large parking lots, hotels, guesthouses, shops.
Tolshtein
Tolštejn – romantic ruins medieval castle. It was first mentioned in 1337. At one time it was the residence of local robber barons. Today, the castle walls offer extraordinary views.
Schaunstein
The rock castle of Schaunštejn, built in the first half of the 14th century to protect trade routes, lost its significance after the Thirty Years' War and became a haven for robbers. Now these are fabulous ruins in a dense forest. You can climb them only via a steep staircase in a narrow rock tunnel. A stunning panorama will open from the top of the rocks.
Falkenstein
Falkenstein rock castle
The Falkenštejn rock castle is one of the popular places in the Bohemian Switzerland Park. Unlike Schaunstein, everything here remains as it was.
Souteski
The Kamenice River flows in a deep gorge. In two places, Tichá soutěska and Divoká soutěska, it is blocked by dams. Here you can take a boat ride among the high rocks, see trout under the rocks, admire the fantastic stone figures and the huge artificial waterfall.
Sucha Kamenice
Sucha Kamenice is a small stream that flows into the Laba. Its valley is beautiful in spring and autumn when there is water. Many waterfalls rustling between majestic rocks, the riverbed seems to be paved with paving stones. When there is no water, silence reigns here.
mouse hole
Mouse Hole (Myší díra) is the name given to the narrow staircase that leads to the top of the cliff. Back in the 19th century, many tourists came to climb the Mouse Hole.
Hřipksa
Do you know where Czech crystal is made? The world-famous “Bohemian glass” is made in the village of Chřibská. It is here that glass production is located, the oldest in Europe (XV century).
Dolski Mlyn
Dolský Mlyn
The ruins of the medieval mill Dolský Mlýn are a romantic place lost in the forest. Several centuries ago the mill occupied an important position.
Ružovsky Vrh
Ruzhov Hill (Růžovský vrch) is a huge basalt volcanic cone. Hans Christian Andersen, who visited these places several times, called this mountain “Czech Fuji.” Although there are no tourist attractions on the hill, there are many observation points from which the views are stunning. beautiful nature.
Belvedere observation deck
The Belvedere observation deck (skalní vyhlídka Belvedér) is a huge stone terrace that seems to hang over the canyon of the Laba River. It is located at an altitude of 130 meters from the river level and is located near the town of Khrzhensko.
In 1640, a forester who killed two wolves carved his story on a stone slab. For a long time, the Wolf Board (Vlci deska) was covered with a spruce tree that grew on it. But one day during a storm, a tree fell and the slab opened. Now we can find out the story of a successful hunt. The road to the board leads through the beautiful Kiyovska Valley, the canyon of the Krinitsa River.
Silver mines
Silver was previously mined in the ancient mines in Jiřetín pod Jedlova. Today you can put on a real miner's helmet with a flashlight and go down into the amazing world of the dungeon.
How to get to Czech Switzerland
By car
First head towards the town of Decin and then Hrzensko. You can park your car there and continue sightseeing on foot.
By public transport
Take the train to Decin and then head towards Hrzensko by bus number 434. See the schedule with departure times and ticket prices.
On a boat
The motor ship on the Elbe River departs from Decin and Dresden. See more details. But keep in mind that you will have to walk about a kilometer to the pier, and then the same distance from the final stop to Khrzhensko.
How do I save on hotels?
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Czech Switzerland is the northwestern region of the country in the upper reaches of the Elbe River, which borders Germany. The Elbe Sandstone Mountains are located in this area. Since 2000, this area has the status of a national reserve. The area of the national park is about 80 square kilometers, and its continuation is located in the territory of Saxon Switzerland.
Miraculous sights
Most high mountain The Czech capital of Switzerland is Decinski Sneznik, which rises 723 meters above sea level. This indicates that this mountain range low. Mountain formations arose thousands of years ago, creating a landscape of amazing beauty: bizarre rocks, crevices, canyons. The most picturesque part of the national park is the Kamenice River canyon and the ancient artificial reservoir.
Particular attention is drawn to such a landmark of the park as the Pravchitsky Gate, which has become a kind of symbol of the reserve. They are natural gates made of rock and are the largest creation of nature of this type in the world. European continent. The span of this miraculous arch measures more than 26 meters, and its height reaches 21 meters.
Impressive thickness rock gate, which is in the bottleneck is 3 meters. The upper part of the arch is quite narrow, so access to its platform is closed.
After passing under the arch of the Pravchitsa Gate, along the paths and stairs you can climb observation decks, from where stunningly beautiful mountain landscapes open up.
"Falcon's Nest" and Dolskaya Mill
Nearby, almost under the Pravchitsky Gate, there is a small castle “Falcon's Nest”, built in the 80s of the 19th century. Today, on the second floor of the building there is an exhibition of the national park museum. The first floor is occupied by a restaurant with an originally designed interior, where amazing paintings have been preserved.
The Dolskaya Mill is also a tourist attraction in the national park. These are the surviving fragments of a water mill, the date of construction of which is said to be 1515. In the middle of the last century, the mill served as a set for the filming of the popular fairy tale film “The Proud Princess” directed by Bořivoje Zemana.
Over time, the building began to fall into disrepair, but recently it was mothballed, stopping the destruction. In 2007, the Dolskaya Mill acquired the status of a cultural monument protected by the state. A few hundred meters from the mill you can see a small bridge that was built at the beginning of the last century. He represents a unique historical building, since it is the first object built from reinforced concrete on the territory of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.
To see the 180-year-old royal spruce, you need to travel about half a kilometer along the path from the mill. The diameter of the trunk of the green beauty exceeds 3 meters, and in the sky it reaches almost 27 meters.
Schaunstein rock castle
In the park, in a dense forest, there is Schaunstein Castle, built in the first half of the 14th century. It was built to protect trade routes. Over time, it lost its significance, and after the Thirty Years' War, robbers and deserters found shelter here. The castle received a different name: Lupezhnitsky. Now all that remains of it are ruins.
The upper platform of the structure, approximately 70 meters long and 20 wide, consists of several parts connected by bridges. The ruins give an idea of the impressive size and former grandeur of the castle. During the excavations, a part was found main tower a structure that could serve as a prison or storage facility.
There are several observation platforms in the reserve, one of them is an ancient stone observation tower, which was erected on the top of Dechinsky Snezhnik. From here, as far as the eye can see, wonderful views of Czech Switzerland open up.
Another platform in the form of a huge terrace seems to hang over the canyon where the Elbe flows. It is called Belvedere, and was built by the Kaeri Aldringen family, who owned most of the territory of Czech Switzerland. Their coat of arms, carved directly on the rock, has survived to this day.
A visit to the Bohemian Switzerland National Park gives you unforgettable moments of communication with unique nature and monuments that constitute the historical and cultural value of this land.
