There is in the north-west of the Czech Republic in the Ustetsky region, on the very border with Germany, an amazingly beautiful reserved place, which is called nothing more than Czech-Saxon Switzerland. It's a corner almost untouched wildlife, a magical protected park, simultaneously covering the territory of two countries - the Czech Republic and Germany.
Many tourists from all over the country come here every day and not only to enjoy the cleanest air, wild beauty reserve, which is called: the park Czech Switzerland. Interestingly, 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 millennia ago - it was then that from the rocks of volcanic origin on the lands of the present national park amazingly beautiful canyons, crevices, gorges, sandstone rocks of unusual shape and structure, as if endowed with a human soul, were formed ...
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 that small village urban type - Grzhensk - has become a real tourist center, a pier for everyone who wants to relax away from noisy cities. Here is well developed tourism infrastructure and, despite its modest size, in this town, always filled with tourists, there is always where to stay for the night or just have an inexpensive and tasty meal.
Most often, guests from the capital come to admire the protected paradise, and the trip can take only one day. But if you want to have a full and high-quality rest, it is best to book accommodation in a boarding house or a hotel room for at least 2-3 days, since there really is 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 for good memory.
Attractions of Czech Switzerland
So, you have a burning desire 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 the sights of the reserve, which are simply forbidden to be missed by the law of conscience and honor!
Advice! If you want to fully enjoy the bright colors of the luxurious nature of these places, go to Czech Switzerland in autumn, in September or October.
Thanks to the numerous signs scattered throughout the protected park, you can choose for your company both more difficult, long, 15-25 km long, and simple routes in Czech Switzerland, the length of which is 8-12 km.
Pravchitsky Gate
There is a special rock in Czech Switzerland, which is proudly called the symbol of the entire reserve. This is Pravchitskaya 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 26 meters long. The width of the rock structure is more than 4 meters
It will not be difficult to get to the Gates - from Grzhensk, where you can leave the car, a hiking trail about 4 km long leads here. to get closer to the sights, you will have to pay entrance tickets for 75 crowns, and although climbing the Gate is not allowed, it is worth admiring them up close. Entrance ticket for children costs 25 kroons.
From the grandiose Pravchitsky Gates, you can easily get to their smaller copy only 2 meters high - these are the so-called Small Pravchitsky Gates. A fairly wide path leads to them, suitable for cycling.
Advice! Do not confuse this path with a 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 Gates you can see a sign leading to the rock castle - this is the Shunstein robber castle 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 rocks. But, believe me, the extraordinary beauty and scale of the views from the observation deck of the castle are worth the effort!
Falcon's Nest Castle
Very close to the Pravchitsky Gate, right in the rock, in 1882 a castle was built with the romantic name "Falcon's Nest", more reminiscent of a large hunting house. It is surprisingly well preserved to this day, and today in the walls ancient castle- the family estate of Clari - Aldringenov, you can enjoy dinner in a superbly decorated restaurant overlooking the whole of Bohemian 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 the inhabitants of these parts remember how many years ago the fairy tale “The Haughty Princess” was filmed here. It is hard to believe that the structure, lost in the green forests, was once a very busy place and a center for crossing roads for several centuries in a row.
Village "Hrzypska"
The guests of this region fell in love with the colorful authentic village because it was in it that an old glass workshop once functioned, the glassblowers of which made “Bohemian glass” back in the 15th century. It seems unbelievable, but the workshop still welcomes tourists today: here you can read accounting books of past centuries with a smart look, 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 protective helmet and descending under the supervision of a guide into the bowels of the mine.
Castle Falkenstein
Those tourists who are not too lazy 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 rock
A real geological phenomenon is a huge 12-meter cliff, which is 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.
Gorge Kamenice
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 walk along a wooden bridge through a 30-meter-long gorge, and then you can go down to the piers, from where excursions on gondolas through the Wild and Quiet gorges are held. If tourists cross the path marked in blue on the map, they will come to the authentic village of Mezni Luka.
Gorges Wild and Quiet
Let's dwell on these gorges in more detail. 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, the guests of the reserve will sail through the Wild Gorge (“Divoka Souteska”), 250 meters long, romantic and calm. But then they are waiting for the Quiet Gorge (“Tykha Souteska”), almost 500 meters long and “decorated” with a picturesque waterfall, the waters of which are noisily knocked out of the rock.
Dry Kamenitsa
In early spring and in the autumn months, the canyon of a small stream that flows into the Laba (the hand of the Elbe) is filled with water and dozens of miniature waterfalls murmur merrily between the rocks along the scattering of huge boulders. In summer, the waters dry up, and Suha Kamenitsa is filled with mystery and cozy silence.
Gazebo
It used to be possible to reach the spectacular Belvedere observation deck, hanging over the canyon of the Elbe River, along a perfectly straight road from the castle in the town of Binovce. Tourists at the Belvedere are waiting for amazing views of the curving river and bizarre sandstone cliffs, reminiscent of petrified giants.
Ruzhovsky Vrh
For those who are not afraid of steep climbs, something awaits! In the thickets of the beech forest, densely covering the mountain Ruzhovsky Vrh, there are many unique viewing platforms. And although there are no special attractions, the views are worth the effort spent on the ascent.
wolf board
Passing along the road through the canyon of the river Krinitsa, called Kiyovske udoli and known for its unbridled beauty, tourists will come to another attraction. This is a stone slab, on which in the 17th century a story was carved 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, because the road does not take much time, but the pleasure is worth it!
The reserve is open to visitors all year round: from April to October, you can stay 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
Consider all options:
- Public transport: in Prague itself, we take a 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 it we go to Khrzhensko. Here, in paid parking lots, you can leave your car and continue to travel around 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 steamer plying along the Labe River (aka Elbe), swim to the final stop, which is also located about 800 meters from Grzhensk.
Where to stay
Despite the fact that Grzhensk is a rather small town, there are no problems with accommodation here.
Comparatively affordable are hotels such as:
- Hotel "Labe", near which bus number 434 stops. The cost of a daily stay in a room costs from 660 kroons, and in the season (from April to the end of October) - from 730 kroons (breakfast included). Hotel website: www.labehotel.cz
- Hotel "U Lipy" ("At Lipy") offers accommodation in double or triple rooms, which will cost 1,100 and 1,650 kroons per day, respectively. Hotel website: www.hotelulipy.zaridi.to/lipa.htm
Entrance fee and excursions
Entrance ticket to the territory of the Czech Switzerland reserve costs 50 crowns. Excursions are paid separately. For example, a favorite excursion of all tourists - canoeing along the Edmund Gorge - lasts about 15-20 minutes and costs 80 crowns for adults and half as much for children.
Other excursions differ in prices and the number of attractions visited. In principle, you can get a map of the territory at the entrance to the reserve and independently bypass those interesting places that attract you the most.
(České Švýcarsko) is the most beautiful protected area in the northwest of the Czech Republic. The area adjoins the German "Saxon Switzerland". And it is famous for its unusual shape of limestone cliffs, gorges and dense forests, spread out in the Elbe (Laby) river basin. In 2000, an area of 79 km2 officially became a national park, falling under the protection of the state.
Bohemian Switzerland is currently a popular tourist destination. Which is present in the list of available routes of any self-respecting Prague tour operator. However, travelers who believe that they "somehow on their own" will also easily find their way and get a lot of impressions. After the details.
How to get 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. By the time ~ 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 several popular hiking trails start!
From Prague to Decin (at the same time we look at the local castle) can be reached by train - it's just over 2 hours on the way. Schedule and ticket prices: .
From Decin, you can also get to the place by sailing on a boat sailing along the Laba. The final stop is in the village of Shmilka on the German side of the border, then go on foot for 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 Schöna station. Next, you already know…
Short story
The honor of opening the region to the public belongs 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 Chrzhensko, and painted a lot.
Almost immediately, their landscapes attracted attention and the tourist reached out to these places for unusual beauties. One of the most famous personalities who did not fail to visit here: the author of fairy tales, the Dane Hans Christian Andersen, who paid two visits: in 1831 and 1851.
What to see
There are several routes that allow you to see Czech Switzerland in detail: both on foot and by bicycle. Let's mention iconic places national park, for the sake of contemplation of which they actually go 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 it’s absolutely necessary to see it.
In 1881, Prince Edmund Clary und Olringen, who owned local lands, built a Branoy castle called "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 in a winding mountain gorge. Particularly beautiful is the backwater of Ticha souteska, the “Quiet Gorge” (Tichá soutěska). For almost a kilometer, tourists contemplate sheer walls up to hundreds of meters high, relic pine groves. Edmund's Gorge is the most colorful part of Kamenitsa!
The village of Jetřichovice is a convenient starting point for a trip to the eponymous mountain range. Falkenstein (Falkenštejn) and "Mariina rock" (Mariina skála), beautiful observation platforms at an altitude of over 400 meters.
The ruins of the fortress Shaunstein (Šaunštejn) on a lonely rock. The fortification was destroyed either in the 15th or in the 16th century. And since then they have not been able to recover.
There are places where this amazing piece of land looks like a land hidden from mankind and preserved in its original beauty.
Download guide and brochureThis exceptional natural treasure even made it to Yosemite National Park and South America's Galapagos Islands on the Must-visit 501 - Wild places travel list.
However, a closer acquaintance will allow us to make sure that this region is by no means as uninhabited and pristine as it seems at first glance. Moving through its territory, you will find out that among the deep gorges and high cliffs there are many surprises. The local cliffs are surrounded by steep steps, and on the peaks one can see lonely ruins, covered with legends about robber knights, fairies and giants. With all this, the road to this quietest fabulous land from the noisy metropolitan Prague takes no more than two hours.
Walk on the seabed
national park"Czech Switzerland" is the youngest of the four national parks of the Czech Republic. You will find it on the border with Germany, which separates "Bohemian Switzerland" from its twin, "Saxon Switzerland". Millions of years ago, the sea stretched here. Having subsided, it left behind unique edge, which, being the lowest point in the Czech Republic, resembles mountains. This land of high sandstone cliffs and towers, rocky arches, ravines and mountains with truncated peaks served as a refuge for ancient people more than 10,000 years ago. In the 13-14 centuries, German settlers began to build villages and entire future cities here, fortresses of knights grew on the rocks, who often engaged in robbery. In troubled times, local residents hid here from the armies marching along this region during the wars, which were never lacking near the historical border between the Czech and German lands. Until now, you will find here many reminders of these distant events - inscriptions carved on the rocks by the villagers themselves, conciliatory crosses, rock chapels and abandoned church paths.
Photos: ( Martin Rak,Vaclav Sojka)
Artists, poets and early travelers
The wild nature and hidden beauty of the region, which for a long time developed without human intervention, were discovered at the end of the 18th century by two Swiss artists of the Romantic era - Adrian Zingg and Anton Graf. Depicting this region in engravings and describing it in verse, they spread its rapidly growing fame throughout Europe. The sites along the Elbe Canyon have become the cradle of modern tourism, becoming one of the first heavily visited tourist attractions in Europe. For the beauty and mystery of Czech Switzerland rushed more and more visitors. Caspar David Friedrich, one of the most famous landscape painters of all time, also came here for the motives of his paintings. The owners of the local estates understood the attractiveness of the local dense forests, as well as the romantic outlines of the rocks, and made a lot of efforts to make them as accessible as possible by building roads and bridges. Steps were made on the Mariana Rock, the Wall of Velhelm and the Stone of Rudolf, benches were placed, and gazebos were placed on the tops. Along the roads, new taverns and places for lodging for the night were opened for tourists, walking paths appeared, and the wild river Kamenice was used to move between the gorges.
Not only artists, but also famous poets, writers, composers came to these virgin lands for their stories and legends. The fortresses of the robber knights, rocky places, legends about gnomes and fairies influenced celebrities, including the storyteller Hans Christian Andersen, the poet R.M. Rilke, composers K.M. von Weber, Richard Wagner and others.
Czech Switzerland in the memoirs of G.Kh. Andersen and R.M. Rilke
The poet R. M. Rilke visited Jetrchichovice in 1892 and recalls his visit in the following way: “I want, dear reader, to take you to the land where mighty giant rocks open their giant gray crowns from a dark fir forest, and meadows dotted with flowers stretch dreamily along a murmuring stream. …. Throughout the area, thousands of roads beckon deep into the mysterious wilderness. Everything here attracts to sweet, carefree rest - and already today. Long hollows with moss cushions and heather carpets resemble purple featherbeds, trees look like a majestic canopy, and tall fern fans breathe blissful freshness.
Passionate traveler Hans Christian Andersen even captured his impressions of the road from his native Copenhagen to the Czech Republic in the book " Shady pictures of a journey through the Harz and Saxon Switzerland». Emotionally and romantically, in the spirit of his era, he perceives both the country and the people he met on his way. He spent only a few hours in the Czech Republic, comparing it with the well-known tune that sounds inside us, full of life: “In my recollections, this beautiful land spread out, flooded with sunlight. I clearly see every detail of it, in my soul it is like a beautiful melody, despite the fact that I cannot express it in separate tones and motives.
I see this big edge in the forest with huge fir trees, where we were told that we had just crossed the border, I see heavily tanned Czech girls with white headscarves and bare feet, who we met in a dark spruce forest, and, finally, the pristine a section of the Pravchitsky Gate rocks, where we stood under a stone arch thrown over our heads by the mighty genius of nature. I see immense dark woods somewhere below us and distant mountains with snow shimmering in the sun.
Photo: (Vaclav Sojka)
And today the Pravchitsky Gate conquers artists, including the creators of fairy tales. Film director "The Chronicles of Narnia - The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" found in the snow-covered Silent Rocks the ideal scenery for his interpretation of this story. Andrew Adamson chose Tisza because of the abundance of snow cover and unrealistically beautiful terrain with a natural labyrinth of rocks, where even in the 19th century few people dared to enter without a guide. Thus, he wanted to get as close as possible to the world that S.K. Lewis created with his imagination on the pages of books. It was here that Lucy visited the cave of the Faun Tumnus, and all four brothers and sisters crossed the rocky bridge for the first time and looked at the endless forests of Narnia.
The rock city of the Til Walls and in general the whole of Bohemian Switzerland today is a real paradise for tourists and climbers. The first sports trips to the tops of the rocks took place already at the beginning of the 20th century. Since then, there have been many climbing trails. Climbing is possible on the various mountain towers of the rocky town with the poetic names "Baldur's Needle", "Golem", "Forest Drop", "Stone of the Wise Men", "Rudolfinum".
© Martin Rak
The once quite extensive fortress of the 13th century became the residence of Michel Blekta from Utěchovice two centuries later, who with his retinue carried out robbery raids on the surroundings. At the end of the 15th century, the fortress fell into decay, from the 19th century given place became available to the public.
© Franta Krivan
Sometimes also called the Robber Fortress, it is one of the most beautiful rock fortifications in Bohemian Switzerland. Since the turn of the 14th and 15th centuries, it has guarded the so-called "Czech Highway" - an important trade route connecting the Czech Republic and Lausitz. The owners of the Berkov fortress from Dube earned themselves the unflattering reputation of robbers, and the fortification itself served as a refuge for them to carry out robbery raids around. At the end of the 15th century, the object was abandoned and gradually fell into disrepair.
Definitely worth climbing to the top of the fortress, not only to get to know the ruins of the fortifications, but also because of the magnificent view that opens up from the top.
© Ladislav Renner
At the top of the cliff, already many thousands of years ago there was a cave of ancient hunters. The fortress, which originally stood here, was built in the 13th century and gradually changed several owners, among whom a robber knight appeared, was surrounded and burned several times. In the 17th century, hermits settled here, who lived on top of the rock for more than a hundred years. Later, Count Kinsky rebuilt the fortress into a place country rest their guests. Among the visitors are the names of Archduke Franz Karl and Stephen of Habsburg, the Saxon King Friedrich August, and in 1847 the future Emperor Franz Joseph I visited with his brothers.
© Jiri Stejskal
Once a Gothic fortress, over the centuries it became both the residence of a noble family and the refuge of robber knights. The current ruins are still covered with many stories and legends. Here, supposedly, the ghosts of the White Lady and the big black dog appear, the dungeon is riddled with a labyrinth of secret passages, and in front of the fortress there is a spring, with the water of which particles of gold scatter; in the stream you can find rare and precious stones.
x 1 /On a boat to the end of the world
One of the main attractions of Bohemian Switzerland, which, according to the authors of the book 501 Wildplaces, should not be left unattended along with the Pravcicka Gates, is also a romantic boat trip through the Silent and Wild Canyons on the Kamenica River. We are talking about a short but impressive boat trip with a gondolier between two sheer cliffs - in some places it is so deep that direct sunlight rarely gets here.
© Tomas Pavlasek
In Czech Switzerland - the first observation deck, the creation of which had a hand in man. It offers breathtaking views of the deep canyon of the Elbe River, as well as the German mesas of Zirkelstein and Kaiserkrone. Once upon a time, concerts in the bosom of nature were held on this site of the Clari-Aldringen. By their order, the “terrena” hall, a small estate nearby and, a little later, a 4-kilometer path for carriages, leading then to their palace in the village of Bynovets, were built. Now this route is marked with tourist marks.
© Vaclav Sojka
One of the largest natural rock arches on our continent, without a doubt, the most beautiful natural formation in Bohemian Switzerland and a recognizable symbol of the entire region at first sight. Since 1881, the Falcon's Nest summer estate has been inseparably connected with the Pravchitsky Gate, originally used to accommodate honored guests of the Clari-Aldringen family. Today, the National Park Museum is located on the second floor of the building, and on the first floor there is a preserved stylish restaurant with its original design.
© Vladimir Pešek
Labyrinth length underground passages is 4500 meters. At the end of World War II, they were laid by prisoners of the Flossenbürg and Rabstein concentration camps. The underground plant produced parts for airplanes, cannons, machine guns and air missiles. During the construction of the underground factory, several dozen prisoners died. Today, the Museum of the concentration camp is located here.
© Jiri Stejskal
Treasure of Northern Bohemia of the Baroque era, designed by the architect Johann Lukas von Hildebrandt. At the place of pilgrimage in the name of the Blessed Virgin Mary, which is already three hundred years old, liturgies, services in honor of the procession and the Holy Stairs are held.
© Vaclav Sojka
With its expressive outlines and, above all, an excess of up to 300 m compared to the rest of the terrain, it creates a bright dominant of the region. With a height of 619 m above sea level, the so-called Czech Fuji is the most high point National Park Bohemian Switzerland, and in the area Czech-Saxon Switzerland- the second highest mountain after Dechinsky Snezhnik. It is likely that at one time pagan rites were performed here, and there was also a place of pilgrimage. The German tribes allegedly worshiped the Ruzhovsky hill as the abode of the gods. In many paintings, the motif of this mountain is noticeable - for example, “Traveler over the Sea of Fog” (Poutník nad mořem mlh) (1818) by the German artist Gaspard David Friedrich.
x 1 /Once upon a time, this was a serious obstacle that the inhabitants of local villages on the right bank had to somehow overcome when they wanted to get to the church in the village of Růžová on the other side of the river. At the same time, wood has been floated along the majestic river routes since time immemorial, and in winter, when trout and salmon abounded in the local waters, they became a paradise for fishermen. One day in 1877, in the U Zeleného stromu tavern in the town of Hřensko, five daredevils made a bet that they would sail on rafts from the Dolsky mill to the place that was then called "the end of the world." On swimming structures 4 meters long, they, indeed, safely reached Grzhensk, in fact, becoming the founders of the tourist use of these waterways. Prince Clari-Aldringen invited specialists from Italy, under whose leadership, over two hundred workers made these sites accessible to the public. Suspension bridges and bridges were thrown here, tunnels were laid with the help of explosives. On May 4, 1890, the opening of the "Quiet" ("Edmond's") canyon took place in a solemn ceremony. Since then, "at the very end of the world", in fact, nothing has changed much, the beauties of nature remain untouched, and carriers, as more than 130 years ago, drive and guide their boats with poles.
Photo: (Jerzy Strzelecki, Václav Sojka)
There are many interesting and picturesque corners on our planet, where once you get there, you want to return again and again. One of these places is Bohemian (Bohemian) Switzerland or, as the locals call it, Saxon Switzerland.
This park was founded not so long ago, at the beginning of the 2000s. Its territory is about 80 sq. km. When creating the park, the country's authorities wanted to preserve the area of untouched nature in its original state. And they succeeded. Here are stunningly beautiful places with minimal human intervention.
The basis of the park is made up of unique sand formations in the form of rocks. The rocks are covered with ancient forests with rare plant species. It is believed that the rocks were formed about 10 million years, and over time, when the water receded, the rocks, on the contrary, protruded. These sandy deposits were compressed mainly during the Mesozoic period under the influence of wind, temperature changes and other natural phenomena.
Unique natural formations impress with their picturesqueness: canyons, arches, windows, etc. And the ruins of fortresses and other medieval buildings, which have been perfectly preserved to this day, fit very harmoniously into all this. Many photographers come here to capture the unique beauty of these places.
Story
For the first time this territory began to be inhabited by nomadic tribes of hunters and gatherers about 10 thousand years ago. They settled mainly near water bodies. Until now, after spring floods, local residents discover ancient tools and utensils.
A little later, farmers began to settle in these places, for whom the lands along the tributaries of the river were the most fertile. Over time, to strengthen their settlements, people began to build walls and even build forts, the ruins of which are scattered throughout the national park.
In the 14th century, Saxon colonialists settled on these lands, who were engaged in logging. In those days, there were real impenetrable thickets here. They also settled here, in some places even the ruins of entire settlements with specific architecture remained.
But it was precisely two Swiss restorers who made this area touristic, who were invited to Dresden to restore one estate. During their vacation, they often walked along the modern territory of the national park from Dresden and admired the beauties of these places. And at the end of the work, they stayed here to live, because the local rocks very much reminded them of their native Switzerland. And so the name "Switzerland" got accustomed to this place. Since the end of the 18th century, this area has been called “Saxon Switzerland”.
In the 19th century, local communities opened the first tourist routes for travelers. The mining society of Bohemian Switzerland began to open the first hotels and restaurants here. They began to equip observation platforms and clear the most beautiful gorges. And on the Elbe River, everything was equipped for lovers of sailing. In general, everything was equipped for a comfortable stay of tourists in these places.
Where is
Conventionally, the park is divided into German and Czech parts, which are separated by the border between the states and the Elbe River in the west of the park.
Czech Switzerland is located in the northern part of the Czech Republic, close to the border with Germany and 40 km. from Dresden. The highest part of this park is Mount Dechinsky Snezhnik with a height of just over 700 meters. by the most popular place tourists are the Pravchitsky Gate, which was formed due to rain and severe erosion.
How to get there
In fact, there are only two options to get to this fabulous place: on your own in a rented or your own car, or with a guided tour. excursion tour can be bought at any travel agency in. The cost of such a tour is from 30 euros and more, depending on the number of people in the group. You will also have to pay separately for visiting certain attractions.
If you get there on your own, you can enter the park both from German territory and from the Czech Republic. You can enter the National Park in different ways: both along the autobahn and along simple highways. But it is worth using a map or navigator so as not to get lost.
You can also take a train from Prague to the city of Decin, and then go to the village of Khrzhensko by bus number 434.
When is the best time to go?
Park opening hours - all year round. From November to March, the park is open from 10.00 to 16.00. And from April to October 10.00 - 18.00.
The most successful time to visit the park is spring and autumn, when it is not very hot, and you can spend a lot of time walking and relaxing.
The entrance ticket can be bought at the entrance to the park, it costs 70 crowns. Additional excursions will have to be paid separately. Boating is available in the park sightseeing tour along the gorge, or visit the castles.
Tourism
The entire territory of the park is marked with special hiking trails from which you cannot leave. Therefore, it is worth buying a map of the park immediately at the entrance. All trails are accessible. There are even routes for cyclists. You can rent a bike right in the park. There are also rock climbing areas in the park.
Fans of camping can spend the night immediately in the reserve, but this is allowed in special camp areas. Walking in the park is allowed even with pets, so you can safely bring your favorite pets for walking.
For more convenient rest in the reserve and search for places in the park, there are several tourist centers located in different parts of the park. Basic tourist centre located in Krasnaya Lipa. It is open daily from 9:00 a.m. until the park closes. There are also information centers in Khrzhensko, Saule, Serbian Kamenica.
When traveling to Czech Switzerland, you should definitely take comfortable shoes and clothes. It is hardly easy to get uphill in heels or tight trousers. Be sure to take a couple of bottles of water with you, as water is much more expensive in the park.
Attractions
The basis of the reserve is forests and rocks. But even in addition to the stunning beauty of landscapes, you can see architectural sights in the park.
Pravchitsky Gate
The main attraction of the park is the Pravchitsky Gate arch. The gate is the symbol of the park. Tourists tend to see this colorful and miraculous property. Nature has been creating this huge hole in the rock for many millennia. And only after passing through it, you can really admire the work of nature. From the observation deck near the arch, a stunning view of the canyon from below opens. But climbing to the top of the arch is strictly prohibited.
Falcon's Nest Castle
This castle is located near the Pravchitsky Gate. It was built in 1881 by a noble Czech family, literally within a year. The walls of the castle are built into the rock, which gives it an extraordinary charm and simplicity. High-ranking guests have always been received here. The castle has ancient interiors and a restaurant decorated in the style of the Middle Ages. The view from the restaurant is amazing, but the menu is scarce, but with greatly inflated prices for dishes.
Ruins of Schaunstein Castle
They are another picturesque place that deserves attention. Once upon a time, barons engaged in robbery lived in this place. The barons themselves did not build the castle, they simply captured the already built defensive fort and firmly settled in it, changing its name to the "castle of thieves". You can climb to the ruins through a narrow gorge along a steep staircase thrown over a cliff. Today, tourists come here to see the beautiful views that open from the observation deck near the ruins.
Canyons of the Kamenitsa River
For a fee, you can see the beauty of the canyons from the gondola. During this journey, you can see a man-made waterfall leading to a cave with a pirate castle.
Dolskaya mill
It's another one beautiful place, but it is located in a dense forest, and it is impossible to see the surroundings from it. The ruins of the fortress are used as scenery in films. By the way, it is believed that it was thanks to the films that this place became famous. The mill operated from the end of the 14th century and was destroyed for many years due to the impact of natural phenomena. But having declared this area a reserve, the restorers took up the mill. And in 2007, the mill became a national architectural monument.
royal spruce
Not far from the Dolskaya mill there is an ancient fir tree, which is over 180 years old, and the tree trunk has grown to a width of more than three meters. Spruce is protected by the state no less than other monuments.
Falkenstein Castle
This is one of ancient places parka. The castle was built in 1394 on a high hill. This building was built for the purpose of defense against robbers. Climbing the walls of this castle was very difficult. Many parts of this castle are perfectly preserved, as they were carved into the rocks. Several legends are associated with it, one of which says that the robbers who wanted to capture this castle were caught. Then hanged. And soon angry dogs began to run around the castle, which can be found today in the vicinity of the castle. Local residents believe that these are the very robbers who are trying to take revenge on their killers.
mouse hole
Such a strange name has a staircase that leads to the top of the hill through a narrow gorge. There are a lot of steps at the stairs, and many tourists who go down the back constantly shout “Wow!”. It's hard to say why, but perhaps they admire their excellent physical shape. Initially, the locals called this staircase the staircase of the Angels. But the owner of the estate did not like the name, and he renamed it in his own way.
Chrzypska
Everyone has heard about Bohemian glass, but no one knows that it is not made in Bohemia, but in a workshop in Czech Switzerland in the village of Chrzypska. Since the 14th century, the very Bohemian glass that was admired before and admired to this day has been produced here. Today, excursions are not taken to the production, but in the village you can buy products made from real Bohemian glass for almost a penny.
Viewpoint Belvedere
This is a huge rocky terrace located above the canyon of the Laba River. The platform height is 130 meters. Not far from the site, the Belvedere Hotel was built, from the windows of which stunning views of the surroundings open. This site is considered to be the first observation deck in Bohemian Switzerland. It was built by the owners of the estate, who owned almost the entire part of modern Czech Switzerland.
Silver mines of Jiržetin pod Jedlová
Precious metals have been mined in the ancient Mines of these mines for a long time. Today, in order to feel the spirit hovering in the dungeon, you can put on a mining helmet with a lantern and go down into the mine tunnels. these mines first opened in 1474. Silver and copper have been mined in the mines for over two hundred years. But the Thirty Years' War forced the owners to cover their booty. When mining resumed several decades later, it turned out that it was no longer profitable and the mines were closed again. Today they drive here excursion groups, showing and telling in detail how the process of mining takes place.
What else to see?
- You should definitely visit the city of Decin, which is located in the vicinity of Czech Switzerland. The main attraction of the city is the Decin Castle, built in the 8th century. IN different time The castle was both a military and defensive structure and the residence of aristocratic families and even monarchs. The city also has a small zoo and water park.
Video trip to Decin:
- Khrzhensko is a small village, from which all excursions to Czech Switzerland begin. This is a nice and very hospitable place where you can relax and drink real Czech beer with German sausages. The village is located along the river Kamenitsa. The city is known for selling gnomes for gardens, most different types, sizes, colors and for every taste.
A trip to Czech Switzerland is a solitude with nature, acquaintance with unusual sandy cliffs and a great chance to get acquainted with the sights created by Mother Nature herself.
On the border with Germany, one would like to write, in the dense forests is the Czech Switzerland National Park. It seems that in Europe all the places where beautiful nature bears the name of Switzerland, only the adjectives change. So in the north of the Czech Republic they did not deviate from traditions. National Park "České Švýcarsko" (this is how it looks in Czech) is famous for its extraordinary beauty of high steep cliffs, murmuring streams. Against the backdrop of such beauty, one stands out natural monument, which is the hallmark of this area. We are talking about the Pravchitsy Gates. This is a rock-hole, as we would call it, the largest natural gate from a rock mass on our continent. For their sake, hundreds of thousands of tourists are sent here.
Of course, when so many people gather in one place, it’s a sin not to organize hiking trails and attractions with which you can earn money.
Boating with helmsmen, who control the vessel with the help of poles, along the gorge is another entertainment that attracts tourists.
According to those who have passed this route, it is better to start it from the village of Mezni Louka. Along the route marked in blue (marks on the trees in blue) we descend to the Divoká Soutěska canyon. The markers start right behind the Mezní Louka hotel. This option is convenient because most of the road will go downhill. We took the harder route.
It began for us in the village of Hrensko. Even before he had time to put the car at the entrance to the settlement, his mouth opened arbitrarily from the beauty he saw. High sheer cliffs hung right over the road. At their foot, wherever possible, houses with restaurants were attached. Under one of these rocks was a parking lot, where the car was left.
Before starting the route, let's look around and enjoy the moment. Next we will have a walk along the river Kamenice. To correctly navigate, remember the movie The Diamond Arm. The action will take place at the toilet. On the map marked with the letters M and ZHO. Everything is very similar here. Near a huge rock there is a low building with the same letters. If you go to the left of the cliff, then you will meet with the Pravchitsky Gate, and if to the right along the river, then you will sail on a boat with an uncle who has a big pole.
Since the guys swim only until six, and we arrived after dinner, we decided to start with them.
The first part of the gorge is pedestrian. Twenty minutes along the path, sometimes just above the river, sometimes descending directly to it. The rocks are so close that the hands reach for them. Somewhere for convenience, pedestrian tunnels were made. Children from such a neighborhood are a joy. Together with adults, they play echo, screaming loudly inside. So with jokes and jokes, they didn’t notice how they plowed two kilometers. As soon as the dam appears ahead, you can already relax and slowly walk to boarding the boat. This part of the rides is called Edmund's Gorge (Edmundova soutěska). The session will last approximately 15-20 minutes. A lot of interesting chips made for tourists can fit in this short period. It is a pity that fluent Czech is not quite, or rather, completely incomprehensible to the Russian ear. According to the stories of linguists, the boatman leads his unhurried story about the route and the history of this place. In the most unexpected places, a dragon's head crawls out, a boletus peasant sits on a mound, a rock in the form of an open mouth, and much more. For convenience, the places where you need to look at outlandish rocks are painted yellow. And the crown of this story is an unexpected "by itself" turning on the waterfall (for this, a wire is stretched at the top).
The freebie ended quickly and again you need to work with your feet. First, in light mode along the river to the bridge. On the way, right behind the high-rise from the boat, you will meet a small cafe where you can have a bite to eat. True, I do not advise you to do this, since the most difficult section lies ahead. It starts right after the bridge.
Before proceeding, I will make a small digression. The difficult section after the bridge begins for those who want to shorten the route. If you go to the maximum to the end, then after the bridge you need to move further along the river until the next landing in the boat. The boat ride will pass through the Wild Gorge (Divoká Soutěska). Then it will be necessary to climb up the mountain from the gorge and reach the village of Mezni Louka. Then on yellow tourist road with the name of Gabriela's path, you need to climb the road along the rocks to see the rock massifs: Big Pravchitsky cone, Gomole sahara, Krshidelni wall. Ultimately, this path will lead us to the Pravchitsy gates.
We, unfortunately, did not have so much time and from the bridge we started the most difficult part of our journey. From the very bottom of the gorge, a steep climb awaited us. For those who are not physically fit, a serpentine trail has been made. We were going through. The twenty-minute climb ends at the hotel-restaurant. Here you can rest a little bit and drink a cup (beer). This small settlement is called Mezna.
Then you need to get strictly in a straight line to the road leading down to the highway 25861. This part of the route is marked in yellow. The road will go first along the field and you can see a rocky ridge along which more long route. If you hit it right, you'll go straight to bus stop, from which another ascent to the Pravchitsy Gate begins.
The ascent itself is initially not very interesting until you reach the section along the rocks. Giants soaring up to a height of 30-40 meters hang over you. You are so small compared to them, moving further and further. When they end, you think that's it. However, no, this is only half, because bypassing the stone you begin to move in the opposite direction. How long is short, but in ten minutes the last jerk and here is a huge rock with a hole inside. This is not just a gate, it is a whole flyover across the gorge, but no, it will be more abruptly than the bridge across the Bosphorus Strait. Of course, taking into account the fact that it was nature itself.
Next to the gate is the Falcon's Nest castle, built in 1881 in the Alpine style. Previously, local hosts accommodated their guests here. Now there is a restaurant on the ground floor, and a national park museum on the second. To get to the gate you need to bypass the castle and pay money. We didn't make it. The gate slammed shut in our face. It remains only to admire the gate and take a few pictures.
The way back was no longer fun. By this time, fatigue from the route and the morning distance of the race had an effect. The route ended in a cozy restaurant near the water mill in the village of Grzhensko.
