Czech switzerland photo. Walking route in Czech Switzerland
We learned about Saxon Switzerland quite by accident, Pasha came across an article describing a trip to Saxon Switzerland with impressive photos. I decided to see what it is and where. It turned out that national park Saxon Switzerland is located near Dresden, right on the border with the Czech Republic. And on the Czech side, the park bears the name Czech Switzerland.
The park is not very big, but it has a lot of trekking routes and you can easily spend at least a whole week. But thinking that a week of vacation is an unaffordable luxury, we decided that we would go to Saxon Switzerland somehow just for a long weekend.
How to get to Saxon Switzerland?
The easiest way is by car. In this case, moving between routes and attractions in the park will be easy and convenient. The only downside is that you need to plan either round trip or roundabout routes to get back to the car.
It is also possible to get and move around by public transport. From the German side, the nearest Big City- Dresden, from Czech - Prague. Both of them provide easy access to the park. But on the spot, in order to get to the start of routes from the surrounding towns and villages, you will have to find out the schedule of local buses and trains.
Where to stay near Saxon Switzerland?
If you are by car, then this issue is not so acute. From any village you can easily get where you need to go.
If you are traveling public transport, then from the Czech side, a good choice would be Decin (Děčín) or Hřensko (Hřensko). Decchin is larger, but from it you have to go to the park. But several routes start directly from Hřensko, including one of the most famous ones to Pravčická brána.
From the German side, there are several options. If you want to visit the Bastei Bridge and take a walk in its surroundings, Rathen or Bad Schandau are the best choices. If you want to walk along other routes of the park, then you need to choose something from the villages close to the route. Almost all have small family hotels where you will feel like a real German.
We had to stay two nights over a holiday weekend plus we were in a car and weren't tied to buses. After looking at the options on Booking.com and Airbnb (we wrote more about what airbnb is in the article Airbnb - what is it? How to use and how to book accommodation in any city?), we chose accommodation on airbnb in Decin, but for now we thought this apartment already passed. Therefore, the next suitable for the price, comfort and location was a room in a family hotel in the village of Česká Kamenice.
What to do in Bohemian and Saxon Switzerland?
1 full day - Czech Switzerland
The route starts in the village of Mezni Louka and gradually climbs towards Pravcicka Brana. On the way there is a beautiful forest, rocky walls, separate rocky remnants - in general, very beautiful!
Further Pravcicka Brana and the building of the 19th century - the Falcon's Nest. Entrance to the observation decks 75 CZK. On the official website you can check the opening hours and current prices www.pbrana.cz. Most can be viewed for free, so it's up to you to decide whether to go to the paid part.
After this trail, you can go to Mezni Louki through the forest, or you can continue along the canyon just like we did. There is a second route Divoká soutěska and a second crossing - it will cost 60 CZK. We really liked the trail, it passes almost over the mountain stream itself, sometimes overhanging. Around beautiful rocks. On the first section there is a waterfall attraction - they bring you to a wet wall, tell some fairy tales, it depends on the boat manager, and then ... suddenly a powerful stream of water falls from the waterfall in a fountain. Nobody expected this...
During the boat trip, you will see not only a waterfall, but also beautiful wooden figures, each with its own history, you will be shown interesting rock formations that look like something or someone. The second part is less interesting, simply because it repeats the first. Although ... Whether nature can repeat itself in such unusual forms is a moot point. From the end of the second trail for another 20 minutes and we go to Mezni Loki, right to the central parking lot. By the way, parking is the most expensive "entertainment" - 100 CZK / 1 day.
Also this route can be passed from Grzhensko. You can go in the opposite direction, but I do not advise this, since the rise from Grzhensko is long and monotonous, it is much better to go down quickly there.
2 day or half day Saxon Switzerland and the famous Bastei Bridge
Most often, the route to the Bastei Bridge starts either at the Basteistrasse (Basteistraße) - in this case, parking will cost 3 € / day plus 1.5 € / person shuttle bus to the start of the route. The second option is the village of Rathen, almost all large parking lots are located in most of the village on the other side of the Elbe and you will have to use the ferry to get to the start of the route.
In the part of the village of Rathen, which is located on the same bank with the Bastei bridge, entry is allowed only to residents and hotel guests. However, the car can be left in private parking almost reaching the village. The cost is 3€/day.
Before the start of the route 15-20 minutes through a pleasant forest. At first, the signs took us to Basteistrasse, after looking at the prices, we returned to the idea that we would leave the car in the village itself. But ... we saw a sign forbidding passage to non-residents. Nearby was a private parking for 3€, but it was almost all occupied. Cars were parked on the side of the road, there was no sign prohibiting parking. Of course, we parked and went to the Bastei bridge.
Bastei is a group of sandstone rocks that, under the influence of time and nature, have become very beautiful and unusual shape, Bastei is also famous for the Bastei Bridge. The Bastei bridge was built in 1824 and was originally made of wood. In 1851, the Bastei bridge was replaced by a sandstone bridge, and it has remained so to this day.
If you have at least 3-4 hours, then you should go not only to the Bastei bridge, but also walk along the route further, go down to the Elbe and return to Rathen along the bike path.
We were not lucky on the first evening, the weather was not very good, and as soon as we began to climb to the bridge it began to rain ... Without thinking twice, we cast a cursory glance at the bridge and drove to the place to spend the night. The second attempt was in the morning before the trip home. The sun was shining and the weather was just perfect. But we had very little time, so we limited ourselves to walking to the Bastei bridge and all the observation platforms and back. This route took us about 2-2.5 hours of leisurely walk from the car. There is an optional paid section on the route, the cost is 2€/person. The route passes along bridges between rocks. There is a description of several historical details, though little of them remains. But beautiful views to the Bastei bridge and the surrounding rocks.
By the way, the most famous photos of the Bastei Bridge are taken from free viewing platforms. True, fog or beautiful sunset / dawn rays must be specially waited for. Although you might be lucky?
As a result, I would like to say that if you are in the vicinity, and you have a free 1-2 days, then you should definitely visit Czech and Saxon Switzerland!
Bohemian Switzerland is not only mystical landscapes of 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, a fantastically delightful piece of 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, 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
The Bohemian Switzerland National Park is located near the town of Decin. 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 boats in the 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
Ruzhovsky 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 a 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.
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. This is a corner of almost untouched wildlife, a magical protected park, covering the territory of two countries at the same time - the Czech Republic and Germany.
Many tourists from all over the country and not only come here every day to enjoy the cleanest air, the wild beauty of the reserve, which is called the Bohemian Switzerland Park. It is interesting that part of the protected lands that ended up on the territory of neighboring Germany is called Saxon Switzerland.
Why are these places so attractive for those who are tired of civilization?
Czech Switzerland - brief description
It all started many millennia ago - it was then that amazingly beautiful canyons, crevices, gorges, sandstone rocks of unusual shape and structure, as if endowed with a human soul, formed from rocks of volcanic origin on the lands of the current national park ...
Dozens of centuries passed, and by 2000, a national park with an area of 80 sq. km appeared on the map of the country of beer and dumplings. - Czech Paradise or Czech Switzerland. But long before that, a small urban-type settlement - Grzhensk - became a real tourist center, a pier for everyone who wanted to relax away from noisy cities. The tourist infrastructure is well developed here and, despite its modest size, in this town, always filled with tourists, there is always a place to stay for the night or just have a cheap 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 Gates. 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 has been surprisingly well preserved to this day, and today, within the walls of the ancient castle - the Clari family estate - 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 - unusual castle Falkenstein, 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, but 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 transfer to the shuttle bus number 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.
Hello friends. Czech Switzerland. Quite a strange name, whatever it may be hiding, isn't it? And behind it is a Czech nature reserve, located on the border with Germany. On the other side of the border, it passes into Saxon Switzerland. But the park is famous not only for its strange name. What else? Now we'll tell you.
It is believed that in the 19th century, two Swiss were invited to the restoration. They were very surprised when they found sandstone mountains nearby, strongly reminiscent of their native land.
Artists, peering into the rocks of a foreign country, painted Swiss landscapes familiar from childhood.
Thanks to these paintings, the place was called Saxon Switzerland. There is another version: the artists themselves gave the place such a name.
Centuries passed and here was the border between Germany and the Czech Republic. Part of the magnificent places remained on the territory of Saxony, and part on the territory of the Czech Republic.
The Czechs slightly changed the name and Czech Switzerland (České Švýcarsko) appeared. The name stuck.
Since 2000, this area has received the status of a national park.
Bohemian Switzerland National Park is its official name.
Attractions and entertainment of the park
- The symbol of the park is the Pravčická brána (Pravčická brána), the largest mountain arch of natural origin in Europe.
It cannot be accessed due to the possibility of collapse, but can be admired from one of several viewing platforms.
The most famous of them is called the Belvedere. It hangs over the Elbe Canyon.
- Near the Gate there is a hunting castle "Falcon's Nest" or Zámek Sokolí hnízdo.
It was built in the 19th century. Now it houses a museum, as well as a restaurant with original interior decor.
From the big gates you can get to the small ones. They are called the Small Pravchitsky Gate.
Near the Small Gate you will see a sign leading to Schaunstein Castle.
- Move on. There you will see the Dolsky Mlyn mill.
Now mostly ruins remain.
And next to it is the Ferdinand Gorge, which got its name in honor of Archduke Ferdinand.
Elsewhere in the Czech Republic, the castle of Archduke Ferdinand has been preserved - where everything is still kept as it was during the life of the owner, and in the beer hall you can try the beer "7 bullets" by the number of bullets that killed the archduke and his family. The humor is black, bitter, and beer is praised by many.
- Another attraction of these places is the village of Khrzhensko.
It is famous for the fact that it was on its territory that a glass workshop used to function, where Bohemian glass has been made since the 15th century.
You can still visit it today to get acquainted with the account books of those times, see how glass is blown or even buy something for yourself.
- Another suggestion for adventure lovers is an excursion to the abandoned silver mines.
Here you can go down to find out how the miners worked, or climb higher into the mountains and get acquainted with the Falkenstein castle, located right in the middle of the rocks.
But only ruins remained of the Tolshtein castle. But from its walls a stunning view of the park opens.
- Another castle that still impresses with its size is Decin Castle.
It was a military fortress and residence for local aristocrats. European artists and even monarchs often visited here.
- If during the tour you miss the legends, go to the Wolf Board.
This is a stone slab with a story about a hunter who killed two wolves at once.
The mountains here, though small, are still mountains. Here you can go mountaineering, trekking, rafting.
Unprepared tourists can feel like real rock climbers, however, only in special equipment and with an instructor.
The entire park is laced with many equipped walking paths. They vary in complexity and length.
There are special routes for bike fans.
Despite the fact that you are in Czech Switzerland, there are gondola tours here.
They pass along the river Kamenitsa and two gorges: Silent and Wild.
You can check your physical fitness in another way - walk through the Mouse Hole.
Despite the name, this place has nothing to do with mice. This is a narrow staircase leading to the top of the cliff. It was built on the initiative of Prince Ferdinand Kinsky.
This video is longer, but also more beautiful:
Where to stay in Bohemian Switzerland National Park
Now many housing options have appeared on the service Airbnb. We have written how to use this service. If you do not find a free room in the hotel, then look for accommodation through this booking site.
We offer good options for hotels in Czech Switzerland
How to get there
The best thing rent a car and avoid using trains and buses. Driving around the Czech Republic is pleasant, plus you are not tied to schedules.
- From Prague
To get to this corner of the Czech Republic and see the romantic ruins among the mountains and mines, you need to get to Decin (Děčín), the city closest to the park, from the Prague Mosarikov train station.
From Decin by bus another 20-25 minutes to Grzhensko. You can also rent a bike there.
You can take a taxi - this is the most beautiful way. You will need to drive along the Elbe.
Don't be afraid to come here in winter. Waterfalls in ice are simply amazing, as are all kinds of bizarre rocks, rare plants and other riches of this region, which we have already talked about.
- From Dresden
Getting from Dresden is even faster. By car along highway 172, after the castle, you need to cross to the other side near the city of Bad Spandau. When you cross the border and get into the Czech Republic, you will have highway number 172 turn into highway number 62. Drive a couple of kilometers and turn left. All in Czech Switzerland.
“České Švýcarsko”, which is the name of the reserve in Czech, which is located in the north-west of the country, near the border with Germany. 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, then we will consider both halves of the reserve together as 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 quite surprised to find sandstone mountains nearby, very reminiscent of their own. And of course, friends spent all their free time on the slopes, as a result, they dubbed this place the name of their homeland. This name has taken root, because the landscape is really very reminiscent of the Swiss. By that time, these mountains already had the status of a natural reservation, and since the beginning of 2000 they have been national reserve Czech Switzerland.
True, it is difficult to call these places mountains, since the most high point park - Decinsky Snezhnik (Děčínský Sněžník) - is located at an altitude of 723 meters. But, nevertheless, it is the rock formations and canyons that fascinate many visiting tourists, and Pravčická brána, which is considered the symbol of the park, is also the largest mountain arch in Europe of natural origin. At present, it is impossible to get on the arch because of the danger of its possible collapse, but several observation platforms have been organized in the district, in the most interesting viewing places.
The ancient stone observation tower at the top is called the same as the mountain itself - Děčínský Sněžník. The best 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 leisure time. The approximate cost of an excursion at the office of a travel agency in 2019 is 40 €, when booking online - about 32 €.
Here are some excerpts from Lydia's review:
“Perhaps the most memorable event of our trip was an excursion to Czech Switzerland…
The great Danish storyteller G.Kh. Andersen visited this place and drew inspiration from the contemplation of the local beauties ...
We loaded into a boat, rather reminiscent of a Venetian gondola ...
Every now and then, funny figures were opened to our eyes, carved from wood, clearly for the entertainment of tourists, and in one place our cheerful gondolier pulled the rope, 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 before all the power of nature ...
Amazing landscapes open up from the height 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, acquiring additional freedom.
How to get to Czech Switzerland yourself?
So, the shortest way to the park is by train, from Prague's Mosarikov railway station to Decin (Děčín), a town near the reserve. The journey takes about two hours. If accommodation near the park was booked in advance, then most likely the hotel services include meeting guests at the station and transfer to the hotel. Or you can drive 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 Smilka, and from there - about a kilometer to Hřensko.
Choo-choo. Arrived Here is the main station of the city Děčín. We get out.
But the most interesting way to get to Czech Switzerland is, of course, highway(see photo above), which runs along the Elbe and is full of additional natural beauties. Here is what tourists write in reviews after visiting the park: beautiful landscapes: either a thicket of water lilies, or a lonely boat on the river bank, or pretty houses already with brown roofs along the shore, or 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. From mid-range hotels, we can recommend "Labe", located in Hřensko, at the crossroads of many hiking trails, with parking and cozy rooms.
Hotel "Labe" - in Czech it means "Elba".
Also of interest is the Belveder Hotel, located on top of a cliff overlooking the canyon of the Elbe River.
Here you can see a piece of the Belveder Hotel with observation deck. High... Very high... If you are going to climb there, just in case, take a diaper with you.
Auto travelers can stay in campsites, also available in the park.
The main attraction of the park is the already mentioned Pravčická brána, a huge sandstone arch, the largest in Europe. It is 16 meters high and 26 meters wide. Not only a train, but also an airplane can pass through such gates. An unforgettable sight can be obtained by walking through the arch and enjoying the majesty and power of nature.
Near Branna, the old 19th-century hunting lodge "Falcon's Nest" is built into the rock and was the summer castle of the Clari-Aldringen family. Currently, the castle houses a nature reserve museum and a restaurant with original wooden coverings and ceiling paintings from the nineteenth century.
What to do in the park?
The Czech Swiss mountains, although not big, are still mountains. And the lessons here are mountaineering - mountaineering, trekking and rafting, but naturally in the simplest form, for unprepared participants.
By the way, sandstone rocks are easily exposed to atmospheric treatment and over time acquire surprisingly unusual features, like heaps of separately taken huge boulders with rounded edges, held together in some incomprehensible way. Due to the softness of the rock, mountaineering is not particularly difficult, ascents often occur without additional equipment. But this is only allowed for people with training. Ordinary tourists have the opportunity to feel like climbers only in safety equipment and under the supervision of an instructor.
The whole Bohemian-Saxon Switzerland is dotted with many specially equipped walking paths of various levels of difficulty and length. You can familiarize yourself with the schematics of their location in tourist booklets and on the map, and navigate according to the signs posted on the routes. This type of outdoor recreation charges you with vivacity and muscle tone for a long time.
There are also specially laid trails for cycling with a lift height 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 on the way. You can rent a bike in the park or in hotels. You can also start the cycle route from Decin.
And there is everything for cycling.
In hot weather, it is very pleasant to go through a small rafting through narrow canyons, refreshing yourself with the splashes of waterfalls rushing close to the boat. Such entertainment is absolutely safe, the tributaries of the Elbe are light and calm.
Czech - amazing country, full of interesting things, with the mentality of the inhabitants and culture, related 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 the real one.
