National Park "Czech Switzerland" Bohemian Saxon Switzerland - national park of the Czech Republic How to get to Czech Switzerland
Czech Switzerland(České Švýcarsko)- 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 sit on 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, and there were also several places for raft tying; 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 Grzensko to the Pravczycka 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 the shops and shopping arcades closing 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 is these tourist routes that I will talk about 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 his second visit to national park already in the summer, and not in the 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 the 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” 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. The 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 nearest settlement to 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 a regular road 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 it won’t be too much of a detour in terms of time.
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 decks. 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 there is one spruce half a kilometer from the Dolskaya mill. 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
Currently, there are dozens of well-marked trails throughout the park. hiking trails and routes: signs, certain specifics of the surface 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 campsites outside of equipped ones 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!
, .Anything to add?
How to get to Saxon Switzerland
The Saxon Switzerland National Park is located on the border of Germany and the Czech Republic on the German side and is a mountain forest of the Elbe sandstone mountains. The colors of the mountains are given by their bizarre shape, formed under the influence of the “blowing effect”; in addition, there are numerous historical monuments, including the most ancient and picturesque - the Bastei Bridge and the Königstein Fortress. The national park is very popular among all lovers of natural attractions and is one of the most visited parks in Germany.
The Saxon Switzerland National Park is located 125 km from Prague and 30 km from Dresden, so most of tourists come to the park precisely from these major cities. Groups are often organized from Prague or Dresden sightseeing tours to Saxon Switzerland, but you can get to the park on your own. The infrastructure of the park itself is very developed, it is convenient for people with different abilities to move around here, and climbing the mountains along specially designed routes will not be tiring.
Petr Meissner/Winterberg, Saxon Switzerland How to get to Saxon Switzerland from Prague
The most convenient way to get from Prague to Saxon Switzerland is by rented car. Travel time will take no more than 1 hour 20 minutes, and along the way you will be able to explore picturesque natural places. Prague and the park are connected by highway No. E55. At Please note that to travel to the National Park you will have to cross the state border, so check with the rental office if this requires an additional permit for the rental car.
You can also get to the park from Prague by public transport. The closest settlements to Prague are the resort villages of Rathen and Bad Schandau. By the way, if you wish, you can stay here longer, since the resorts offer climate and mineral treatment. There are trains from Prague to the resort of Rathen Kurort and the town of Bad Schandau, direct trains to Bad Schandau (about 2 hours on the way), and a transfer to the resort of Rathen (about 3 hours on the way). You can check the train schedule and purchase tickets online on the website or O.B.B.. You can start from the Rathen resort walking trip to Saxon Switzerland, while from Bad Schandau you will have to take a local bus.
In addition, from Prague to the park you can take ready-made bus tour. Bus and walking tours are in Russian and last a total of approximately 10 hours. Thanks to the excursion you will be able to see all the most Beautiful places natural park, including an observation deck on the Elbe River, without the need for transfers, as is the case with public transport. The excursion can be found on the spot or booked in advance through specialized services such as
and others similar.
How to get to Saxon Switzerland from Dresden
Getting to Saxon Switzerland from Dresden is even easier. There are direct trains between Dresden and the resort of Rathen or Bad Schandau, the journey time is only half an hour. Trains run every hour throughout the day. You can check the train schedule and purchase tickets online on the website . Next, from the Rathen resort station, you need to go to the pier and buy tickets for the local ferry across the Elbe (travel time is about 5 minutes).
Once on the other side of the Elbe, you will see right in front of you the picturesque Elbe Mountains, the hiking routes of which will lead you to their peak. In the park you should move around following the signs; they are located almost everywhere, and it is difficult to get lost here. In addition, almost at any time of the year there are quite a lot of tourists in the park (in winter period During snowfalls the park may be closed).
Thomas Queen/Panorama of the Elbe River Where to stay in Saxon Switzerland
The Saxon Switzerland National Park is quite extensive, there are many walking routes, which is enough for more than one day. If you plan to stay here longer, then it would be most convenient to stay in one of the nearest settlements, so as not to return to Dresden or Prague. The closest towns to the park are the resorts of Rathen (closer, within walking distance) and Bad Schandau (further away, you need to get there by bus or train). Both resorts are quite intimate; they feature traditional half-timbered architecture and have all the infrastructure necessary for recreation.
For example, you can stay in the Rathen resort in hotels Elbiente 4* , Elbschlosschen 4* , Amselgrundschlossen 3*. The advantage of the hotels is their location - in the center of the resort, as well as the presence of restaurants and indoor swimming pools on site. You can stay in rooms of varying sizes. As a rule, Wi-Fi in resort hotels is provided free of charge, and there are no problems finding free parking if you are traveling by car.
In Bad Schandau you can find an even larger list of accommodations, since the town is considered thermal resort. There are several located here thermal complexes, specializing in treatment and recovery various diseases. Bad Schandau is a year-round resort and is in constant demand among tourists. You can stay in Bad Schandau in hotels Steiger Ban Schandau 4*, Parkhotel Bad Schandau 4*, Elbhotel Bad Schandau 3*and others. A complete list of accommodation options in Bad Schandau can be found on the website Booking.com.
Torsten Maue/Bad Schandau What to see in Saxon Switzerland
The Saxon Switzerland National Park is extremely rich in attractions. They are based on Elbe Sandstone Mountains, having a peculiar shape, which, in turn, was created by nature itself over many millennia through blowing and erosion. Landscape National Park very diverse. Along specially laid routes you can see not only mountain range, but also fabulous forests covered with boxwood, waterfalls, as well as some historical attractions such as Königstein Fortress And ancient Bastei bridge, which are connected by the mountain peaks of the same name, the highest in the park.
Allan Gray/Resort Rathen There are many walking routes inside the park, designed for... different level preparation and different time. The most popular route is the climb to Mount Bastei with an inspection of the bridge of the same name, as well as a route to Königstein fortress. Both places are extremely picturesque, as they are located on the edge of rocky cliffs. Both the bridge and the fortress offer panoramic views of the mountains, the Elbe River and the resort of Rathen.
In addition to Mount Bastei itself with an ancient bridge and the Königstein fortress, you can also see other attractions on the territory of Saxon Switzerland. In particular, these include valleys, waterfalls, forests, canyons and caves. If you want to move away from popular routes, then travelers also deserve attention Lichtenhain Falls, Stolpen fortress, rock gate Kushtal, and "artists' trail" with the most picturesque viewing platforms.
superscheeli/Bad Schandau It is worth noting that entrance to the Saxon Switzerland National Park is free. Only ferry services across the Elbe and entry tickets to the Königstein fortress (8-10 euros depending on the time of year).
Overall, we can say that the Saxon Switzerland National Park is an excellent alternative for a day trip from Prague or Dresden. This is where you can “swap” city landscapes for natural ones and enjoy some of the most amazing views in Europe. In addition, there is every opportunity to stay in the scenery of nature for as long as possible - in close proximity located resorts Rathen and, which also offer many leisure opportunities.
Saxon Switzerland and Dresden are frequent tourist routes one day from Prague, both destinations are popular among travelers. About, , On a note :
When going on a trip to Europe, do not forget to take out a travel insurance policy, which is mandatory already at the stage of obtaining a tourist visa. You can take out insurance yourself without leaving your home. There are special services for this, such as , and others. You can purchase a policy online and then print it on a regular printer.
Photo at the beginning of the article: Bernd Thaller
“České Švýcarsko”, and this is exactly what the name of the reserve, which is located in the north-west of the country, near the border with Germany, sounds like in Czech. On the other side of the border, Switzerland becomes Saxon.
But since the borders in Schengen are conditional, and even more so inside the park, we will consider both halves of the reserve together, like Czech-Saxon Switzerland.
Bohemian-Saxon Switzerland in all its glory.
Where did Switzerland come from in the Czech Republic?
According to legend, in the 19th century, two Swiss went to restore the Dresden Gallery at the invitation of the Elector himself, and were very surprised to find sandstone mountains nearby, very reminiscent of their native ones. And of course, that's all free time friends spent time on the slopes, eventually christening this place with the name of their homeland. This name stuck because the landscape really is very reminiscent of Switzerland. By that time, these mountains already had the status of a natural reserve, and since the beginning of 2000 they have been the national reserve “Czech Switzerland”.
True, it is difficult to call these places mountains, since the highest point of the park - Děčínský Sněžník - is located at an altitude of 723 meters. But, nevertheless, exactly rock formations and their canyons fascinate many visiting tourists, and the Pravčická brána, which is considered the symbol of the park, is also the largest naturally occurring mountain arch in Europe. At present, it is impossible to get to the arch due to the danger of its possible collapse, but there are several observation platforms in the area, in the most interesting viewing places.
Antique stone observation tower at the top it is called the same as the mountain itself - Děčínský Sněžník. Best view The view of Czech Switzerland opens from this tower.
How to get there on your own?
The easiest way is to purchase a tour in advance via the Internet or directly in Prague and forget about the need to invent and develop your own leisure time. The approximate cost of an excursion at a travel agency office in 2019 is 40 €, when booking online - about 32 €.
Here are excerpts from Lydia’s review:
“Perhaps the most unforgettable event of our trip was the excursion to Czech Switzerland...
The great Danish storyteller G.H. Andersen visited this place and drew inspiration from contemplating the local beauty...
We boarded a boat that looked more like a Venetian gondola...
Every now and then our eyes would see funny figures carved out of wood, obviously for the amusement of tourists, and in one place our cheerful gondolier pulled a string, bringing down a real waterfall in front of us...”
Olga writes in her review:
“There is beauty all around! And you don't know where to look. If in the Czech part nature reserve seemed quiet, peaceful, calm, then the Saxon part of it, on the contrary, is full of majesty, grandeur, you feel helpless in front of all the power of nature...
Amazing landscapes open up from the heights of the Bastei Mountains. And here is the famous Bastei Bridge. It is built of sandstone, that is, the same mountains served as the material for it...”
But many travelers prefer to act independently, gaining additional freedom.
How to get to Czech Switzerland yourself?
So, the shortest way to the park is by train, from Prague Mosarikov station to Děčín, a city near the reserve. The journey takes about two hours. If accommodation near the park has been booked in advance, then most likely the hotel’s services include meeting guests at the station and transfer to the hotel. Or you can get to Hřensko on your own, by bus or taxi. It's already very close.
By the way, you can take a boat from Decin to the park, to the pier in the village of Shmilka, and from there it’s about a kilometer to Hřensko.
Chug-chug. We arrived, here is the main station of the city Děčín. We should go out.
But the most interesting way to get to Czech Switzerland is, of course, highway(see photo above), running along the riverbed of the Elbe and full of additional natural beauties. This is what tourists write in reviews after visiting the park: “It is along the Labe (Elbe) that the beautiful landscapes: now thickets of water lilies, now a lonely boat on the river bank, now cute houses with brown roofs along the shore, now a castle..."
The journey by car from Dresden will take about 45 minutes, from Prague - about an hour and a half.
Accommodation
On the territory of Czech Switzerland there are several hotels of various levels offering a full range of tourist services. Among mid-level hotels, we can recommend “Labe”, located in Hřensko, at the intersection of many hiking trails, with parking and cozy rooms.
Hotel Labe means Elbe in Czech.
Also interesting is the Belveder Hotel, located on the top of a cliff overlooking the Elbe River canyon.
Here you can see a piece of the Belveder Hotel with observation deck. High... Very high... If you are planning to climb there, take a diaper with you, just in case.
Automobile travelers can stay in campsites also available in the park.
For passionate lovers of outdoor recreation, there is another one in the Czech Republic. Fabulous sunsets for lyricists, around - for gothic lovers, playgrounds, water slides and attractions - for children, bicycles and boats - for fatties and athletes, and of course, royal fishing - for those who cannot imagine themselves without a fishing rod in hands.
The main attraction of the park is the already mentioned Pravčická brána, a huge sandstone arch, the largest in Europe. Its height is 16 meters and width is 26 meters. Not only a train, but also an airplane can pass through such gates. You can get an unforgettable sight by walking through the arch and enjoying the grandeur and power of nature.
Near Brannoy, built into the rock is the ancient hunting house “Falcon's Nest”, built in the 19th century and which was the summer castle of the Clari-Aldringen family. The castle now houses a reserve museum and a restaurant with original woodwork and ceiling paintings from the nineteenth century.
What to do in the park?
The Czech Swiss mountains, although not large, are still mountains. And the activities here are predominantly mountain - mountaineering, trekking and rafting, but naturally in the simplest form, for unprepared participants.
By the way, sandstone rocks are easily subjected to atmospheric treatment and over time acquire surprisingly unusual features, like piles of individual huge boulders with rounded edges, inexplicably held on top of each other. Due to the soft nature of the rock, mountaineering is not particularly difficult; ascents often occur without additional equipment. But this is only permissible for people with training. Ordinary tourists have the opportunity to feel like rock climbers only wearing safety equipment and under the supervision of an instructor.
The entire Czech-Saxon Switzerland is dotted with many specially equipped walking paths of varying levels of difficulty and length. The schematic layout of their location can be found in tourist brochures and on the map, and you can navigate by the signs posted on the routes. This type of outdoor recreation energizes you with vigor and muscle tone for a long time.
There are also specially laid routes for cycling with a rise of up to 300 meters. Several categories of difficulty and length, from 20 to 44 kilometers, with visits to the main attractions, with a picnic or lunch along the way. You can rent a bicycle in the park or at hotels. You can also start the cycling route from Decin.
And there is everything for cycling.
In hot weather, it is very pleasant to go on a short rafting trip through narrow canyons, refreshing yourself with the spray of waterfalls cascading down close to the boat. This kind of entertainment is absolutely safe, the tributaries of the Elbe are light and calm.
Czech - amazing country, full of interesting things, with a mentality of the inhabitants and culture that is kindred and close to the Russian people. But if the time of satiety begins and once again the question arises - where to go in the Czech Republic, then go to Switzerland. In the Czech Republic it is also there, and it’s the real one.
Even 2 weeks before the trip to the Czech Republic, I began to plan some kind of 2-day day trip on nature. After some information gathering, I chose the option of Bohemian-Saxon Switzerland.
Bohemian and Saxon Switzerland are essentially one natural complex sandstone cliffs and gorges, caught in two neighboring countries: Czech Republic and Germany (Saxony). Those. Czech Switzerland turns out to be the gateway to another Switzerland, even more picturesque: Saxon, i.e. to Germany.
First of all, I booked rooms at the Labe Hotel on the website http://www.labehotel.cz/gb/
This hotel is located in the town of Hrensko.
You can also choose other hotels there. You can see the list here -
Czech Switzerland Hotels, pensions:
http://www.cztour.cz/ru/hotels-pansion.php
My friend and I traveled from Prague first by train to Decin.
You can, for example, take the EuroCity 178 Johannes Brahms train at 6:31 and be there at 8 am
in Decin, and from there by bus about 20-25 minutes and on the spot in Grzensko
And the whole day is ahead!
For reference, the train to Decin costs 165 CZK (if you book in advance, as I understand it
it will cost even less) The exchange rate at that time was 1 euro = 25 crowns.
All information on trains and buses can and should be found on the website -
http://jizdnirady.idnes.cz/vlakyautobusymhd/spojeni/
Here is the Labe Hotel. The bus stops almost 40 meters from the hotel.
In general, we checked into a hotel. I took 2 numbers. I really liked the layout - there was access from 2 rooms to one balcony.
A couple of panoramic shots
In Grzhensko there is practically one road and along it there are guesthouses, restaurants, many shops and a lot of shops where the Vietnamese sell their goods.
In general, the Czech Republic is overrun with Vietnamese. They sell all kinds of cheap consumer goods in all
Czech cities. And the Vietnamese turned out to be quite impudent. When I was walking around Grzhensko, one Vietnamese lady, furious that I was not reacting to her product, hit me on the legs with a stick.
Here you can see the Praha Hotel - probably the most expensive hotel in this place
Such a small square in this Grzensko
Houses are located under rocks - but when it rains heavily, there may be a rock collapse
Country idyll
Road along the Elbe. Germany is on the other side
On the other side is the German side (train station). On the Czech side you can see part of the ferry on which we will cross to the other side tomorrow.
On the road along which we arrived by bus there are Duty Free shops.
The border is with Germany after all. Prices are really lower than, for example, in Prague.
We ate and drank beer in one of the many restaurants and then continued on our way
lay in the Pravčicka brane.
Read the continuation.