Bohemian Switzerland is not only mystical landscapes pine forests and picturesque valleys, majestic rock towers, gates, walls, gorges, rock cities and labyrinths of mountains, but also an unusually beautiful canyon of the Kamenitsa River, a walk along which will leave an unforgettable impression.
This is Czech Switzerland!
Bohemian Switzerland (České Švýcarsko) is the Czech part of the Elbe Sandstone Mountains, fantastic delightful corner nature, located in North Bohemia, close to the border with Germany. It has everything you need for a full-fledged active or simple vacation: 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, the waters of which covered this territory in prehistoric times. Over time, the water receded and thanks to the influence of the most skillful designers - nature and wind, over the course of many centuries such a unique natural landscape was formed.
What to see in Czech Switzerland?
Pravcicka Brana
It is so incredibly beautiful here that in 2000 the state declared this place a national park of the Czech Republic. The park has many interesting places, but the most interesting attraction is the Pravčická brána Gate, 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, the Pravchitsky Gates made it to the semi-finals of the international competition "Seven Wonders of the World".
There was also no castle. It looks like it's embedded in 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 for that time - one year. Entrance to the Pravchitska 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
national park Czech Switzerland is located near the city of Decin (Děčín). From here, trips around the reserve usually begin.
The main attraction of the city is the Decin Castle (Děčínský zámek), a military fortress and the residence of influential aristocratic families.
The smallest zoo in the Czech Republic is the Zoo (Dečina Zoo Děčín). It is located in the city center, in the city forest park and covers an area of only 6 hectares. His specialization is the cultivation of rare species of animals that are hard to endure life in captivity.
To relax and unwind, head to the city water park Decin (Aquapark) or to the Oleshsky Pond (Olešský rybník).
Khrzhensko
The beautiful and hospitable border town of Hřensko is located on the banks of the Kamenice River. Here begins most of the hiking trails in the reserve. The city has everything for tourists - a tourist information center, large parking lots, hotels, boarding houses, shops.
Tolstein
Tolštejn – romantic ruins medieval castle. It was first mentioned in 1337. At one time it was the residence of local robber barons. Today, extraordinary views open from the walls of the castle.
schaunstein
The Šaunštejn rock castle, 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 by a steep staircase in a narrow rocky tunnel. From the top of the rocks, a bewitching panorama opens up.
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 river Kamenice flows in a deep gorge. In two places, Tichá soutěska and Divoká soutěska, it is blocked by dams. Here you can ride on boats in alignments among high rocks, see trout under the stones, admire fantastic stone figures and a huge artificial waterfall.
Sucha Kamenice
Sucha Kamenice is a small stream that flows into Laba. Its valley is beautiful in spring and autumn when there is water. A lot of waterfalls, rustling between the majestic rocks, the channel seems to be paved with paving stones. When there is no water, silence reigns here.
mouse hole
The mouse hole (Myší díra) is the narrow staircase that leads to the top of the cliff. Back in the 19th century, many tourists came to climb the Mouse Hole.
Hrzipksa
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
Dolsky Mlyn
The ruins of the medieval mill Dolsky Mlyn (Dolský Mlýn) is a romantic place lost in the forest. Several centuries ago, the mill occupied an important position.
Ruzhovsky Vrh
Ruzhovský hill (Růžovský vrch) is a huge basalt volcanic cone. Hans Christian Andersen, who visited these places several times, called this mountain "Czech Fujiyama". Although there are no tourist attractions on the hill, there are many viewing points from which you can see amazing beautiful nature.
Viewpoint Belvedere
Viewpoint Belvedere (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 above 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 spruce grown on it. But one day, during a storm, a tree fell and the stove opened. Now we can learn the story of a successful hunt. The road to the board leads through the beautiful Kiyovskaya Valley, the canyon of the Krinitsa River.
Silver mines
In the ancient mines in the town of Yirzhetin pod Yedlova, silver was previously mined. Today you can put on a real mining helmet with a lantern and go down into the amazing world of the dungeon.
How to get to Czech Switzerland
By car
First, head towards the city of Decin, and then Khrzhensko. You can park your car there and continue sightseeing on foot.
By public transport
By train you will reach Decin, and then go towards Khrzhensko by bus number 434. See the schedule with departure times and ticket prices.
On the boat
The motor ship on the river Elbe leaves from Decin and from Dresden. See more. But keep in mind that you will have to walk about a kilometer to the pier, and then the same amount from the final stop to Khrzhensko.
How do I save on hotels?
Everything is very simple - look not only on booking.com. I prefer the RoomGuru search engine. He searches for discounts simultaneously on Booking and 70 other booking sites.
When the weekend good weather, many residents of the Czech Republic, especially residents major cities, rush to nature. At the same time, they go there not to drink and eat, but to take a walk or ride in beautiful places. We also try to maintain this tradition and go for walks in parks or forests. The recent weekend was no exception, and we went for a walk along the Czech and Saxon Switzerland.
Czech Switzerland is one of four national parks Czech Republic, which is located right on the border with Germany. Crossing the border, you immediately find yourself in the German national park Saxon Switzerland. The main objects of protection of the park are unique sandstone formations. Here you can find massive stone towers, arches, labyrinths, which were formed due to centuries of erosion. The most famous rock formation is the Pravčická brána, which is the main goal of our walk.
Leaving Prague early in the morning, passing and crossing the bridge over the Elbe, we find ourselves in the town of Hřensko, where we leave the car in the parking lot between the rocks. Grzhensko is a village with a population of only 200, which is located on the banks of the Elbe, and from which it is closest to get to the Pravcicka Gate. The distance from Grzhensko to Prague is 130 km.
Parking costs CZK 120 per day. parking spaces sorely lacking, if someone throws a car right in the middle of the road, then they write out a fine and put a wheel lock.
In addition to the car, you can get from Decin to Grzhensko by bus, the travel time is about 30 minutes. In the summer months, there is still a boat from Decin, which also reaches the German city of Bad Schandau. It is most convenient to get to these places from Prague.
If you want to stay in Czech Switzerland for the night, then only in this area there are about 10 hotels and pensions. The Forest Garden Hotel is the most decent hotel in the area due to its cleanliness, modern design and its location in a quiet area, it is very popular.
Not far from the parking lot there is a fork in the paths, along one of which we go to the ascent to the Pravchitsky Gates, along the other we can reach the place where the boats depart along the Kamenitsa River. During the boat trip you will see the waterfall and enjoy local beauties without straining your legs.
Dawn meets in the forest. Forests cover 97% of the park's area, which is 79.23 km². Forests have helped these places to develop, since it was the processing of wood that became the main activity of the indigenous population. After all, the wood produced at local sawmills was supplied to the shipyards and used to build the masts of sailboats.
Initially, beech forests dominated the territory of the current park, now spruce trees mainly grow here.
During the walk, there were signs reminding that it is forbidden to launch drones throughout the park. The fine for launching a drone can be up to 200,000 Euros.
And so we reached our goal - the Pravchitsky Gate. Travel time from the parking lot at an average pace uphill is a little more than 1 hour.
In 1881, a small castle was added to the rock formations, which is called the Falcon's Nest (Sokolí hnízdo).
Entrance fee to the territory of the Pravcicki Gate and the castle: 75 CZK. Entrance fee for children, students and pensioners: 25 CZK.
On the observation deck there is a restaurant and separate tables where you can have a picnic with your products or buy sausages, soup, beer or any other hot and cold drinks in the tent. If you do not want to eat here, then in the town of Grzhensko there are at least 5-7 restaurants at boarding houses with Czech cuisine.
The views from the observation deck are quite nice.
Someone takes a selfie on the observation deck, and someone hones their climbing skills, fortunately, the local rocks are suitable for this.
The park is inhabited by 62 species of mammals. Wolves, bears, moose have been exterminated here for a long time. Now the park is inhabited by beavers, various rodents, roe deer and wild boars. Also in the park there are 227 species of birds, 1000 species of butterflies, but the number of fish species is very low, and the park administration is engaged in the revival of the fish population in local rivers. So, for example, more than 1,200 salmon fry were launched in just one year.
It is worth mentioning that Bohemian Switzerland is the largest nesting site for black storks and falcons.
With a width of 26.5 and a height of 16, the Pravcicka Gate is the largest arched rock formation in Europe. The gate has become a symbol of the park.
After a busy walk and a short picnic, we went to Saxon Switzerland, and we decided not to waste time on the rest of the sights of Czech Switzerland, since they are not very picturesque.
On our planet there are many interesting and picturesque corners Where once you get there, you want to come back 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 site in its original state untouched nature. And they succeeded. It's amazing here 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 unique beauty 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. Still locals after spring floods, ancient tools and utensils are discovered.
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 territory. 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 comfortable rest 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 most high part of this park is Mount Dechinsky Snezhnik with a height of just over 700 meters. The most popular place among tourists is 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 into it. fabulous place: on your own in a rented or own car or with a guided tour. A guided 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 ordinary roads. 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 considered to be 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 it is impossible to 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. The main tourist center is 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.
sights
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
This is another picturesque 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. V 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 at almost every step, of various 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 calling card 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 directly above 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 highway 25861. This part of the route is marked yellow. The road will go first through the field and you can see a rocky ridge, along which there is a longer route. If you got on it correctly, then you will go straight to the 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.
(České Švýcarsko) is the most beautiful protected area in the northwest of the Czech Republic. The area adjoins the German "Saxon Switzerland". And famous unusual shape limestone cliffs, gorges and dense forests spread 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.
Czech Switzerland is currently popular tourist destination. Which is on the list available routes 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 the local lands, built a castle next to Pravcicka Brana, called the Falcon's Nest. The building was erected in just one year! Today, it houses a national park museum and a restaurant with great views and not-so-great prices.
Kamenice is a river flowing 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.
