Czech switzerland route map. Bohemian-Saxon Switzerland (from Prague)

22.03.2021

Czech Switzerland (České Švýcarsko) - the most beautiful corner of nature in the northwest Czech Republic. The area adjoins the German “Saxon Switzerland” and is famous for its unusually shaped limestone cliffs, gorges and dense forests located in the Elbe River basin. In 2000, an area of 79 km2 officially became a national park and came under state protection.

Ironically, it is more convenient to get to the park from Dresden, Germany, than from Prague. We take the train to Schöna station, go to ferry crossing and please, you are in Grzensko, where several popular hiking trails begin!

You can get from Prague to Decin (the local castle is worth visiting here) by train - a little over 2 hours on the road. Next to the town of Hřensko - by bus or taxi. The second option is preferable, since you don’t have to wait, but the trip will cost about 350 CZK

You can get to the place from Decin by sailing on a boat sailing along the Labe. The final stop is in the village of Shmilka on the German side of the border, then a kilometer walk to the crossing in Grzhensko

Another interesting way is, again, by train from Prague. Direction to Decin, there you change to the line to the German Bad Schandau and get off at the Schöna station. Next you already know...

The honor of opening the region to the public goes to Adrian Zing and Anton Graff, two Swiss artists and teachers at the Dresden Art Academy who lived in the mid-18th century. In search of "nature" they traveled along the Elbe, visiting places between Pirna and Hrzensko, and painted a lot.

Almost immediately their landscapes attracted attention and tourists flocked to these places for their unusual beauty. One of the most famous personalities who did not fail to visit here: the author of fairy tales, the Dane Hans Christian Andersen, who made two visits, in 1831 and 1851.

Kamenitsa Gorge

What to see

There are several routes that allow you to see Czech Switzerland in detail: both walking and cycling.

Czech Switzerland

Let's mention iconic places national park, without seeing which not a single tourist will leave here:

Pravčická brána is the largest natural limestone arch in Europe, 26 meters long and 16 meters high. You can’t climb it - it’s fraught, but seeing it is absolutely necessary.

In 1881, Prince Edmund Clary und Olringen, who owned local lands, built a castle next to Pravcicka Brana, called the “Falcon's Nest”. The castle was built in just one year: today the building houses a national park museum and a restaurant with beautiful views.

Falcon's Nest and Pravcicka Brana

Kamenice is a river flowing through a winding mountain gorge. The Tichá soutěska backwater, “Quiet Gorge” (Tichá soutěska), is especially beautiful - for almost a kilometer, tourists from boats can contemplate sheer walls up to hundreds of meters high, rocks that tried but never slipped into the water, relict pine groves.

Edmund's Gorge is the most colorful part of Kamenica

The village of Jetřichovice, a convenient starting point for traveling through the mountain range of the same name. Nearby you can visit Falkenstein Castle and Mariina skála, a beautiful viewpoint at an altitude of 428 meters.

The ruins of the Schaunštejn fortress on a lonely rock - it was destroyed either in the 15th or 16th century and has not been restored since then.

Czech Switzerland

When tourists hear this name for the first time, their minds are concerned with only one question: where does Switzerland come from in the Czech Republic? It sounds really interesting, but in reality we are talking about an amazingly beautiful national park, which, thanks to its views and landscape, bears such an unusual name as Czech Switzerland.

Why is this place interesting to tourists?

Bohemian Switzerland is part of the territory of the Elbe Sand Mountains, which belongs to the Czech Republic. Tellingly, in Germany this area is called Saxon Switzerland. The park's territory covers almost 80 square meters. m, and since 2000 it has officially acquired the status of a nature reserve. On the map of the country, Czech Switzerland is located in the northwestern region, at the headwaters of the Elbe River.

The reserve got its name thanks to two Swiss artists who, in their free time, traveled to these places and created works inspired by the local beauty. The masters of the brush did not even want to return home, arguing that they had found their Switzerland in the Czech Republic.

Sights of the Czech Switzerland Nature Reserve

The park has a number of interesting and fascinating places, the creator of which was nature itself. So, what to see and where to take a souvenir photo in the Bohemian Switzerland National Park:

In one of the matches of the third round of the group stage of the World Hockey Championship, the Czech Republic will compete with Switzerland. The match will take place in Copenhagen and starts on May 8 at 21-15 Moscow time.
Content:

Lifebet.ru notes that literally on the eve of the world championship, the teams held two friendly matches between themselves, in which the Czechs confidently won twice.

Czech
The Czech national team is currently outside the top four in the group, but the team has played only two more matches, and at the same time played them very well. During the opening match, the Czechs were inferior to the Slovak team, but showed fighting qualities and won the final victory in overtime 3-2. The day before, the team suffered a defeat in Sweden 2-3.
Switzerland
The Swiss team, in turn, managed to score five points in the two opening matches, settling in the top half of the group. Moreover, in the first round the team had a hard time defeating Austria. At the end of regular time there was a 2-2 draw, and only in overtime did the Swiss tip the scales in their favor. Next was a fairly convincing victory over the Slovak team 2-0.

Live online broadcast of the match Czech Republic - Switzerland

Match odds Czech Republic - Switzerland

P1 – 1.99-2.05
X – 4.25-4.35
P2 – 3.15-3.25
1X – 1.33-1.37
12 – 1,2-1,24
X2 – 1.77-1.82

Total odds:

less than 3.5 – 3.05-3.15
more than 3.5 – 1.36-1.4
less than 4.5 – 2.02-2.08
more than 4.5 – 1.83-1.88

Czech Republic - Switzerland expert forecast

This calendar year, the Czech national team has already beaten the Swiss three times, and now this trend is also likely to continue.

Salt to taste

After all, the Czechs scored only two points in the opening matches, and now the squad needs to win. In general, lifebet.ru offers a forecast for the match Czech Republic - Switzerland: Victoria of the Czech Republic with a zero handicap.
This confrontation is also unlikely to be very productive, and most likely the number of goals in it will not exceed 5.5. Along with this, we bet that the Swiss will not be able to hit the opponent’s goal more than 2.5 times.

Important statistics and interesting facts

Note that in the last ten personal meetings, the Czech team won eight times, losing to the Swiss team only twice.

Excursions and transfers to Czech Switzerland are in great demand. Czech Switzerland has become one of the main destinations for eco-tourism.

Bohemian Switzerland National Park

The new concept of eco tourism comes from the rapidly growing number of eco tourists who adore the most beautiful corners and sights created by miraculous nature.

The beauty of the natural landscapes of Czech Switzerland fascinates not only eco-friendly people, but also ordinary tourists and travelers. The history of the emergence of a mountain range with crevices, streams and even lakes goes back more than one millennium. In ancient times, this part of the land with the Elbe Sandstone Mountains located on it was the subject of constant wars between Saxony, the Czech Republic, Poland, Austria and Prussia. Robbers often ruled here. Only 1459 brought clarity about the ownership of the Elbe Sandstones; from the moment the Treaty of Eger was signed, the Elbe Sandstones were divided in the middle of the navigable Elbe. Since then, one half belongs to Saxony, which is part of Germany, and the second remains the property of the Czech Republic. The Meissen Plateau was the name of that part of the Elbe Sandstones or as the Saxons of the Ore Mountains called them, but it lasted until the 18th century, later they were renamed Saxon Switzerland. There is practically no reliable information about the name Czech Switzerland. Either the Czechs, deciding to keep up with the Germans, called their part Czech Switzerland, or vice versa the Germans, but now on the map there are two Switzerlands divided by the Elbe River: Czech on the Czech side and Saxon on the German side.

Be that as it may, the beauty of these Switzerland deserves attention. The highest point in Czech Switzerland is Decin Sneznik 723m, and the main attraction of Czech Switzerland is the unique so-called Pravcicka Gate, also known as Pravčeska Brana in Czech, spelled Pravcicka Brana. The width of this gate is not small - 26 meters, and the height is breathtaking - 16 meters. The view at the Pravcicka Gate - a huge arch, probably the fact that they are the main attraction of the delightful Czech Switzerland is confirmed by the fact that the entrance to them is paid! There is also a small snack bar with the same small selection on the menu, beer and sausages, that’s the whole list of dishes. Very close by is a castle built in 1881, built into the rock. It was built in just a year and has the appropriate name for this place, Falcon's Nest in Czech (Sokolí hnízdo). Amazing nature, a sea of trails and routes, a mountain river on which there are boats with boat guides carrying tourists and telling stories about the landscapes that tourists pass by.

If you want to book excursions from Prague to Czech Switzerland, go to the page excursions around the Czech Republic from Prague.

If you want to order a transfer from Prague to Czech Switzerland, go to the page Transfer within the Czech Republic from Prague.

Prague excursion prices in Russian.

Prague Czech Switzerland excursion, excursions in the Czech Republic, Czech Switzerland, Czech Republic excursions, Czech Switzerland transfer, Prague excursions, Czech Switzerland tours, attractions of the Czech Republic, nature in the Czech Republic.

Note:
The price of the Czech Switzerland excursion from Prague includes: transfer from your hotel to the very place of the excursion, an excursion conducted by a guide, the excursion language is Russian, transfer to the hotel back.

Here, you can learn everything about Czech Switzerland from people who have visited Czech Switzerland, read or write reviews and comments about Czech Switzerland - forum.

↓ Click on the photo ↓

Advantages

Very beautiful, rivers, mountains, castle, water park

Flaws

Details

When people talk about the Czech Republic, everyone immediately thinks of Prague and Karlovy Vary. But in this country there are many other equally wonderful cities - resorts and others - albeit small, but old, rich in historical monuments and having their own unique characteristics.
I've already talked about thermal resort- Teplice, and now I want to open for you another small but cozy town in the Usti region - Decin.
Decin, like Teplice, is located in the northwestern part of the Czech Republic, in an area called Bohemian-Saxon Switzerland, very close to Germany.

The town is located in a valley between mountain ranges, and it is here that the Laba (aka Elbe) and Ploucnice rivers meet. Therefore Decin is important river port.
The city itself is small - a little more than 50 thousand people live here, but there is something to see here.
Interesting historical fact is that Decin (and in German - Techen-Bodenbach) as a single city was formed recently - in 1942. This happened as a result of the merger of two nearby villages - Techena and Bodenbach. Since 1947, the city became known as Decin.
The city is incredibly beautiful: all around mountain ranges, and between them are colorful houses and ponds.
Look at the positive architectural forms. When I saw them, I immediately thought that in such a bright city people simply cannot be unhappy :)

The reservoirs here are magnificent, they are crossed by old and new bridges,

And in the water itself, ducks and majestic swans swim, which numerous tourists happily feed.

The most famous landmark of the city is Decin Castle, located on a hill on the right bank of the Laba. The history of the castle dates back to the 13th century; it originally belonged to noble families, and in 1934 it was sold to the state.
A road carved between the rocks, the “Long Ride,” leads to the castle; high stone walls stretch on both sides of it.

And here is the castle itself, it is under long-term reconstruction, and inside it there is a museum where paintings, weapons, etc. are exhibited.

There is a magnificent rose garden on the territory of the castle, but we did not have the opportunity to see this beauty in full, since Decin was visited in March.
By the way, photography is not allowed in the castle; I understand that this is quite traditional for the Czech Republic.
There is another one near the rose garden historical monument— Church of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross.

The church was built at the end of the 17th century and has hardly been restored since then.

Bohemian Switzerland – one of the national parks of the Czech Republic

Inside it is decorated with magnificent frescoes.

In addition to the above mentioned, there are many other historical and architectural monuments that are worth seeing: these are other churches, a synagogue, churches and chapels, town halls, fountains, the “Shepherd’s Wall” - a steep cliff on which the restaurant of the same name with more than a hundred years of history is nestled.

Children will also be interested in Decin. On that very Shepherd Wall there is a small but ancient and well-kept zoo.
There is also a water park here, which we were lucky enough to visit. It consists of a covered and open areas and is considered one of the most modern in the Czech Republic.

Of course, it’s worth going to Decin, even if only to see the incredibly beautiful area in which the town is nestled - mountains and rivers give it a unique charm.

Ratings

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Year of visit:2010

Czech- Saxon Switzerland

There are many interesting and picturesque corners, where once you get there, you want to return again and again. One of these corners is Czech (Bohemian) Switzerland or, as the locals call it, Saxon Switzerland.

This park was founded not so long ago, at the beginning of the two thousandth. Its territory is about 80 square meters. km. When creating the park, the country's authorities wanted to preserve an area of untouched nature in its pristine condition. 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 species plants. 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 sand 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

This territory was first inhabited by nomadic tribes of hunters and gatherers about 10 thousand years ago. They settled mainly near bodies of water. Still local residents 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 erect 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 and were engaged in logging. In those days there were real impenetrable thickets here. They settled here, and in some places there are even ruins of entire settlements with specific architecture.

But it was two Swiss restorers who made this area tourist, who were invited to Dresden to restore one estate. During their holidays, they often walked through the modern territory of the national park from the Dresden side and admired the beauty of these places. And after finishing the work, they stayed to live here, because the local rocks very much reminded them of their native Switzerland. This is how the name “Switzerland” stuck to this place. Since the end of the 18th century, this area began to be called “Saxon Switzerland”.

In the 19th century, local communities opened the first tourist routes for travelers. The mountain society of Bohemian Switzerland began to open the first hotels and restaurants here. They began to equip observation decks and clear the most beautiful gorges. And on the Elbe River they have equipped everything for those who like to sail. 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 This park is Mount Decinskiy Snezhnik with a height of just over 700 meters. The most popular place tourists see the Pravcicka Gate, which was formed due to rain and severe erosion.

How to get there

Basically there are only two options to get into this fabulous place: independently in a rented or own car or with a tour. Excursion tour can be purchased at any travel agency in . The cost of such a tour is from 30 euros and above, 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. IN National Park you can enter in different ways: both on the autobahn and along simple highways. But you should use 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 take bus number 434 to the village of Hrzensko.

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 best time to visit the park is considered to be spring and autumn, when it is not too hot and you can spend a lot of time walking and relaxing.

The entrance ticket can be purchased at the entrance to the park and costs 70 CZK. Additional excursions will have to be paid separately. In the park you can go boating, with sightseeing tour along the gorge, or visit castles.

Tourism

The entire territory of the park is marked with special hiking trails, from which you cannot leave. Therefore, it is worth purchasing a park map 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 within the park.

Those who like to camp in tents can spend the night immediately in the reserve, but this is permitted in special camp areas. Even pets are allowed to walk around the park, so you can safely bring your beloved pets for a walk.

To make it more convenient to relax in the reserve and find 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 until the park closes. There are also information centers in Hrzensko, Saul, Serbska Kamenica.

When traveling to Czech Switzerland, you should definitely take comfortable shoes and clothes. It is unlikely that it will be easy to climb a mountain in heels or tight trousers. You should definitely take a couple of bottles of water with you, as water in the park is much more expensive.

Attractions

The basis of the reserve is forests and rocks. But even in addition to the stunningly beautiful landscapes, you can also see architectural sights in the park.

Pravcicka Gate

The main attraction of the park is the Pravchitsky Gate arch. The gate is a symbol of the park. Tourists are eager to see this colorful and miraculous heritage. Nature has been creating this huge hole in the rock for many millennia. And only after passing through it can you truly admire the work of nature. From the observation deck near the arch there is a stunning view of the canyon from below. But climbing to the top of the arch is strictly prohibited.

Falcon's Nest Castle

This castle is located near the Pravčicka 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 extraordinary charm and simplicity. High-ranking guests were always received here. The castle has ancient interiors and a restaurant decorated in medieval style. The view from the restaurant is stunning, but the menu is meager, but with greatly inflated prices for dishes.

Ruins of Schaunstein Castle

They are another scenic spot 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 established themselves 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 a 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 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 influence of natural phenomena. But having declared this area a nature reserve, restorers set about working on the mill. And in 2007, the mill became a national architectural monument.

Royal spruce

Not far from the Dolskaya mill there is an ancient spruce, which is more than 180 years old, and the tree trunk has grown more than three meters wide. 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 structure was built for the purpose of defense against robbers. It was very difficult to climb the walls of this castle. 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 they were hanged. And soon angry dogs began to run around the castle, which can still be found today in the vicinity of the castle. Local residents believe that these are the same robbers who are trying to take revenge on their killers.

mouse hole

This 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 back down constantly shout “Wow!” It's hard to say why, but perhaps they admire their excellent physical shape. Initially, local residents called this staircase the Staircase of 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 Hřipska. Since the 14th century, the same Bohemian glass that was admired before and admired to this day has been produced here. Today there are no excursions to the production, but in the village you can buy products made from real Bohemian glass for almost pennies.

Belvedere observation deck

This is a huge rock terrace located above the Laba River canyon. The height of the site is 130 meters. The Belvedere Hotel was built not far from the site, with stunning views of the surrounding area. This platform is considered the very 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 Jiřetín pod Jedlova

Precious metals were 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 miner's helmet with a flashlight and go down into the mine tunnels. These mines first opened in 1474. The mines produced silver and copper for more than two hundred years. But the Thirty Years' War forced the owners to shut down production. When production 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 mining process takes place.

What else to see?

You should definitely visit the town of Decin, which is located in the vicinity of Czech Switzerland. The main attraction of the city is 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:

Hrzensko 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 Kamenitsa River. The city is famous for the fact that at almost every step they sell gnomes for vegetable gardens, of various types, sizes, colors and for every taste.

A trip to Czech Switzerland is a solitude with nature, an acquaintance with unusual sandy cliffs and a great chance to get acquainted with the sights created by Mother Nature herself.

We learned about Saxon Switzerland quite by accident; Pasha came across an article describing a trip to Saxon Switzerland with impressive photos. I decided to see what it was and where. It turned out that the Saxon Switzerland National Park is located near Dresden, right on the border with the Czech Republic. And on the Czech side the park is called Czech Switzerland.

The park is not very large, but it has many trekking routes and you can easily spend at least a whole week. But thinking that a week of vacation is an unaffordable luxury, we decided that we would go to Saxon Switzerland one day just for a long weekend.

How to get to Saxon Switzerland?

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 the routes need to be planned either there/back or circular to get back to the car.

Getting there and moving around by public transport is also possible. On the German side the closest Big City- Dresden, from Czech - Prague. From both of them you can easily reach the park. But on the spot, in order to get to the beginning of routes from surrounding towns and villages, you will have to find out the schedule of local buses and trains.

Where to stay near Saxon Switzerland?

If you are by car, then this issue is not so pressing. From any village you can easily get where you need to go.

If you are traveling public transport, then on the Czech side a good choice would be Děčín or Hřensko. Decin is larger, but from it you have to go to the park. But several routes start directly from Grzensko, including one of the most famous to Pravčická brána.

On the German side there are several options. If you want to visit the Bastei Bridge and take a walk in its surroundings, then best choice will be Rathen or Bad Schandau. If you want to walk along other routes in the park, then you need to choose one of the villages close to the route. Almost all of them have small family hotels where you will feel like a real German.

We had to stay for two nights, on a holiday weekend, plus we were by car and not tied to buses. Having looked at the options on Booking.com and Airbnb (we wrote more about what airbnb is in the article Airbnb - what is it? How to use it and how to book accommodation in any city?), we chose accommodation on airbnb in Decin, but for now we were thinking about this apartment already passed. Therefore, the next suitable room in terms of price, comfort and location was family hotel in the village of Ceska Kamenice.

What to do in Bohemian and Saxon Switzerland?

1 full day - Czech Switzerland

The route starts in the village of Mezni Louka and gradually gains altitude and goes towards Pravcicka Brana. Along the way there is a beautiful forest, rock walls, individual rock outcrops - in general, very beautiful!

Next is Pravcicka Bran and the 19th century building - Falcon's Nest. Login to observation platforms 75 CZK. You can check the opening hours and current prices www.pbrana.cz. Most can be viewed for free, so it’s up to you to decide whether to go to the paid part.

After this trail, you can go to Mezni Louki through the forest, or you can, like us, continue along the canyon. There is a second route Divoká soutěska and a second crossing - it will cost 60 CZK. We really liked the trail, it goes almost above the mountain river itself, sometimes overhanging it. Around beautiful rocks. On the first section there is a waterfall attraction - they take you to a wet wall, tell you some fairy tales, it depends on the boat manager, and then... suddenly a powerful stream of water falls from the waterfall like a fountain. Nobody expected this...

During the boat ride you will see not only a waterfall, but also beautiful wooden figures, each with its own story, 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... Can nature repeat itself in such unusual forms - controversial issue. From the end of the second trail, another 20 minutes and we go out to Mezni Louki, straight to the central parking lot. By the way, parking is the most expensive “entertainment” - 100 CZK / 1 day.

This route can also be taken from Grzensko. You can go in the opposite direction, but I don’t recommend this since the climb from Grzensko is long and monotonous, it’s much better to quickly descend there.

2 day or half day Saxon Switzerland and the famous Bastei Bridge

Most often, the route to the Bastei Bridge starts either at Basteistraße - in this case, parking will cost 3 €/day plus 1.5 €/person shuttle bus to the beginning of the route. The second option is the village of Rathen, almost all large parking lots are located in most of the village on the other side of the Elbe and you will have to take a ferry to get to the beginning of the route.

Only residents and hotel clients are allowed to enter the part of the Rathen village, which is located on the same bank as the Bastei Bridge. However, you can leave your car in private parking lots just before reaching the village. Cost 3€/day.

Before the start of the route, 15-20 minutes through a pleasant forest. At first, the signs took us to Basteistrasse; after looking at the prices, we returned to the idea that we would leave the car in the village itself. But... we saw a sign prohibiting passage to non-residents. There was a private parking nearby for 3€, but it was almost all occupied. There were cars parked nearby on the side of the road; there was no sign prohibiting parking. Of course we parked and headed to the Bastei Bridge.

Bastei is a group of sandstone rocks that, under the influence of time and nature, have taken on very beautiful and unusual shapes. Bastei is also famous for the Bastei Bridge. The Bastei Bridge was built in 1824 and was originally made of wood. In 1851 the Bastei Bridge was replaced by a sandstone bridge and it has remained that way to this day.

If you have at least 3-4 hours, then it’s worth visiting not only the Bastei Bridge, but also walking along the route further, going down to the Elbe and returning along the bike path to Rathen.

We were unlucky on the first evening, the weather was not very good, and as soon as we began to climb to the bridge it started to rain... Without thinking twice, we took a quick look at the bridge and went to our overnight stay. The second attempt was in the morning before going home. The sun was shining and the weather was just perfect. But we had very little time, so we limited ourselves to going to the Bastei Bridge and all the observation platforms and back. This route took us about 2-2.5 hours of a leisurely walk from the car. There is an optional one on the route paid section, cost 2€/person. The route runs along footbridges between the rocks. There is a description of several historical details, although little remains of them. But beautiful views to the Bastei Bridge and surrounding rocks.

By the way, the most famous photos of the Bastei Bridge are taken from free viewing platforms. True, fog or beautiful sunset/dawn rays must be specially waited for. Although maybe you'll be lucky?!

As a result, I would like to say that if you are in the area and have 1-2 days free, then you should definitely stop by Czech and Saxon Switzerland!

There is in the north-west of the Czech Republic in the Usti region, on the very border with Germany, an amazingly beautiful protected place, which is called nothing less than Czech-Saxon Switzerland. This corner is almost untouched wildlife, a magical protected park that simultaneously covers the territory of two countries - the Czech Republic and Germany.

Many tourists from all over the country and beyond come here every day to enjoy the cleanest air and the wild beauty of the reserve, which is called the Czech 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 thousands of years ago - it was then that amazingly beautiful canyons, crevices, gorges, sandstone rocks unusual in their shape and structure, as if endowed with a human soul, were formed from volcanic rocks 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 this, a small urban village - Grzhensk - became a real tourist center, a pier for everyone who wanted to relax away from noisy cities. The tourist infrastructure here is well developed 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 an inexpensive and tasty snack.

Most often, guests come from the capital to admire the protected paradise, and the trip can take only one day. But if you want to have a full and quality rest, it is best to book accommodation in a boarding house or a hotel room for at least 2-3 days, since there is really 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 as a good memory.

Sights of Czech Switzerland

So, you are eager 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 attractions in the reserve that are simply prohibited by the law of conscience and honor to miss!

Advice! If you want to fully enjoy the bright colors of the luxurious nature of these places, go to Czech Switzerland in the fall, in September or October.

Thanks to numerous signs scattered throughout the protected park, you can choose for your company both more complex, longer, 15-25 km long, and simple routes in Czech Switzerland, 8-12 km long.

Pravcicka Gate

There is a special rock in Czech Switzerland, which is proudly called the symbol of the entire reserve. This is “Pravchitsky 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 as much as 26 meters long. The width of the rock structure is more than 4 meters

Getting to the Gate will not be difficult - from Grzhensk, where you can leave your car, there is a walking trail about 4 km long. to get closer to the attraction, you will have to pay entrance tickets for 75 CZK and although you are not allowed to climb the Gate, it is worth admiring it up close. Entrance ticket for children costs 25 CZK.

From the grandiose Pravchitsky Gate you can easily reach its smaller copy with a height of only 2 meters - this is the so-called Small Pravchitsky Gate. There is a fairly wide path leading to them, suitable for cycling.

Advice! Do not confuse this trail with the 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 Gate you can see a sign leading to the rock castle - this is the robber castle of Shunstein, 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 the rocks. But, believe me, the views of extraordinary beauty and scale that open from the observation deck of the castle are worth the effort!

Castle "Falcon's Nest"

Very close to the Pravchitsky Gate, right in the rock in 1882, a castle with the romantic name “Falcon's Nest” was built, more reminiscent of a large hunting lodge. It has been surprisingly well preserved to this day, and today within the walls ancient castle– the Clary-Aldringen family estate, 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 residents of these areas remember how many years ago the fairy tale “The Arrogant Princess” was filmed here. It’s hard to believe that the building, lost in the green forests, was once a very busy place and a crossroads center for several centuries in a row.

Village "Hrzypska"

The colorful authentic village was loved by guests of this region because it was where an ancient glass workshop once functioned, whose glassblowers produced “Bohemian glass” back in the 15th century. It seems incredible, but the workshop still cordially opens its doors to tourists today: here you can intelligently read account books of past centuries, 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 safety helmet and descending into the depths of the mine under the supervision of a guide.

Falkenstein Castle

Those tourists who are not too lazy to climb higher into the mountains will be amazed by the unforgettable spectacle - unusual castle Falkenstein, located right among the rocks. The views from here, especially if you climb higher, are fabulous!

Panska Skala

This geological phenomenon is a huge 12-meter cliff, which was 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.

Kamenice Gorge

To visit this picturesque gorge, you need to walk along walking trail, indicated on the map in green, from the village of Mezna to the canyon of the Kamenice river. In these marvelous lands, you will cross a wooden bridge across a 30-meter-long gorge, and then you can go down to the piers, from where gondola excursions along the Dikoe and Quiet gorges are held. If tourists follow the path marked in blue on the map, they will come to the authentic village of Mezni-Luka.

Gorges Wild and Quiet

Let's take a closer look at these gorges. 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, guests of the reserve will sail through the Wild Gorge (“Divoka Souteska”), 250 meters long, romantic and calm. But then the Quiet Gorge (“Tikha Souteska”), almost 500 meters long and “decorated” with a picturesque waterfall, the waters of which noisily flow out of the rock, awaits them.

Suha Kamenica

In early spring and autumn months, the canyon of a small stream flowing into the Laba (arm of the Elbe) fills with water and dozens of miniature waterfalls gurgle merrily between the rocks over a scattering of huge boulders. In summer, the waters dry up, and Suha Kamenica is filled with mystery and cozy silence.

Gazebo

It was once possible to reach the spectacular Belvedere observation deck, hanging over the Elbe River canyon, along a perfectly straight road coming from the castle in the town of Binovce. Tourists at the Belvedere are treated to amazing views of the curving river and bizarre sandstone rocks reminiscent of petrified giants.

Ružovsky Vrh

For those who are not afraid of steep climbs, something awaits! In the thickets of the beech forest that densely covers Mount Ruzovsky Vrch, there are many unique viewing platforms. And although there are no special attractions here, the views are worth the effort spent on climbing.

Wolf board

Having passed along the road through the canyon of the Krinitsa River, called Kiyovske Udoli and known for its unbridled beauty, tourists will come to another attraction. This is a stone slab; in the 17th century, a story was carved on it 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, since the journey does not take very much time, but the pleasure received is worth it!

The reserve is open to visitors all year round: from April to October you can be 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

Let's consider all the options:

Public transport: in Prague itself we take the 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 there we go to Khrzhensko. Here you can leave your car in paid parking lots and continue exploring 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 steamboat plying along the Labe River (aka Elbe), swim to the final stop, which is also located about 800 meters from Grzhenska.

Where to stay

Despite the fact that Grzhensk is a rather small town, there are no problems with accommodation here.

Relatively affordable hotels are:

Hotel “Labe”, where bus number 434 stops. The cost of daily accommodation in a room starts from 660 CZK, and in the season (from April to the end of October) - from 730 CZK (breakfast is included in the price). Hotel website: www.labehotel.cz
Hotel U Lipy offers accommodation in double or triple rooms, which cost 1,100 and 1,650 CZK per night respectively. Hotel website: www.hotelulipy.zaridi.to/lipa.htm

Cost of entrance ticket and excursions

The entrance ticket to the territory of the Czech Switzerland Nature Reserve costs 50 CZK. Excursions are paid separately. For example, the favorite excursion of all tourists - canoeing along the Edmund's Gorge - lasts about 15-20 minutes and costs 80 crowns for adults and half as much for children.

Other excursions vary in price and number of attractions visited. In principle, you can get a map of the territory at the entrance to the reserve and independently go around those interesting places that most attract you.

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The Bohemian Switzerland National Park (also known as the Bohemian Switzerland People's Park) was founded on January 1, 2000 and covers an area of almost 80 sq. km. The park is located on the northern border with Germany and continues on German territory (where it is called “Saxon Switzerland”) The purpose of creating the park is to preserve the natural beauty of these places, so that human intervention is strictly limited here.

The main wealth of the park is the unique sandstone rock formations, covered with green islands of well-preserved old forests and rare plants. These rocks once rose from the seabed, where sand accumulated over 10 million years to reach a thickness of more than 1 km today. The most important geological processes took place here in the Mesozoic.

The modern amazing landscape of the national park consists of these deposits, compressed into cliffs, which cracked and split under the influence of wind, rivers, temperature changes, etc., forming stunningly picturesque cliffs, rock towers, canyons, arches and windows to this day. The most famous of them is the Rose Hill, the highest in Czech Switzerland.

The main wealth of the park is the unique sandstone rock formations, covered with green islands of well-preserved old forests.

Czech Switzerland is a real forest kingdom. Forest covers almost its entire territory. Mostly coniferous and birch forests grow here, the oldest of which can be found in inaccessible gorges and on high cliffs. Since the soil in the latter is either poor or absent, very resilient representatives of the flora grow here, creating very picturesque pictures with their curved trunks. Animal world the national park is also rich: the landscape creates ideal conditions for nesting of many species of birds, colonies of bats live in rock cracks, and shy and nocturnal animals such as deer live in the forests.

History of Czech Switzerland

The first inhabitants of Bohemian Switzerland were probably hunters, fishermen and gatherers - as was natural for that time, more than 10 thousand years ago. They roamed around the area, establishing settlements near water streams. Tools, pieces of coal and dishes are still found here. Much later, Bohemian Switzerland was partially settled by farmers. From time to time, a fortified fort was erected here and there, and trade caravans passed through the territory of the national park.

Hiking in Bohemian Switzerland

In the 13th and 14th centuries, Bohemian kings invited colonialists from the territory here modern Germany. The latter built villas, stone castles, started logging, and began producing glass and coal. But, since the forests were dense, and there were no wide plains in Czech Switzerland, the life of these communities had a specific character. The architecture was also specific: in the national park, ancient half-timbered houses of a typical design are still preserved (in particular, in Kamenicka Strana and Vysoka Lipa). In the second half of the 20th century. Many of these settlements, abandoned, have fallen into disrepair, and here and there in the park you can find the most picturesque ruins.

Start tourism development region was founded quite early, approximately in the second half of the 18th century. Romantic artists living in Dresden began their first travels through what was later called Saxon Switzerland (the name was adapted in the Czech version). The systematic development of tourism began in the 19th century, when landowners from local estates (the Kinski and Clary-Aldringen families), as well as the first tourist societies (the Mountain Society of Bohemian Switzerland and the Mountain Society of Northern Bohemia) began to gradually increase the attractiveness of the region for travelers. The first walking trails, restaurants, hotels, observation decks and observation towers. Lovers aquatic species Sports people increasingly came here to sail on the Elbe, and the gorges in Kamenice were full of punts.

Tourism in Czech Switzerland

Today, there are dozens of well-marked hiking trails throughout the park. Here you can ride a bicycle, go horseback riding and rock climbing in designated areas, and stay overnight in official camp sites. You can even come here with pets.

But what you can’t do is leave the marked trail in zone I of the park.

Today, within the territory of the national park there are several extremely interesting places, which tourists come from all over Europe to see. This is a natural stone arch 26 by 16 m, which is called the Pravchitsky Gate; gorges of the Kamenice River; Krynica river valley; the famous Pink Hill rock; town of Vysokaya-Lipa; Dolskaya mill; Dittersbacher peaks; waterfalls near Brtniki... We can list them further, but it’s already obvious: spending a day or two in Czech Switzerland is not enough. It’s worth coming here as if you were on a full-fledged vacation.

Practical information

Tourist centers are located in different parts of the national park. The main one is located in Krasnaya Lipa. Information centers- in Saul, Jetrichovice, Srpska Kamenica, Hrensko.

Working hours tourist center in Krasnaya Lipa: daily from 9:00 to 12:00 and from 12:30 to 17:00, in January - February - until 16:00, in June - August - until 18:00.

You can get to Krasnaya Lipa by car in about two hours, if you drive strictly north through Melnik and Ceska Lipa. Another option is to take the train to Germany, to Bad Schandau, which is in the German part of the national park (Saxon Switzerland). This trip will take about two hours.