Národní park České Švýcarsko
When introducing the Czech Republic to foreign visitors, one often mentions its beautiful forests, ponds, and picturesque hills. However, an essential part of the national landscape is also its pískovcová skalní města. In Northern Bohemia, visitors will find a vast rocky landscape with deep canyons that is a unique European feature. It was formed over millions of years by the activity of the river Labe and smaller watercourses. It was also fundamentally influenced by human activity.
Yes, we are referring to the Národní park České Švýcarsko, which was declared a national park in 2000 and covers an area of 7,900 hectares. It stretches across the Děčín district in the Ústecký kraj, follows the state border with Germany, and borders the Chráněná krajinná oblast Lužické hory and the Chráněná krajinná oblast Labské pískovce. It is bounded by the municipalities of Hřensko, Chřibská, and Brtníky, which belongs to the municipality of Staré Křečany.
97% of the national park's territory is covered by forests, where beeches and spruces are most prevalent, alongside hundreds of species of mosses and lichens. Some plants have gradually become extinct, as have a number of animal species, such as the Eurasian elk or wildcat. However, visitors may still encounter rare birds such as the Peregrine falcon or black stork, which have their largest population here in all of Europe.
The Národní park České Švýcarsko was declared primarily to protect rare sandstone formations and the biotopes associated with them. Visitors will find a multitude of sandstone rocks of various sizes and shapes – needles, towers, labyrinths, and rock windows. The most famous formation is Pravčická brána, which is also the symbol of the entire park. It can be found on all promotional items and information brochures.
Pravčická brána is included on the list of national natural monuments. With an opening height of 16 metres, an arch span of 26.5 metres, and a bridge width of 8 metres, it is the largest sandstone rock gate in Europe. For many years, it has attracted artistic and romantically inclined souls, who often capture its breathtaking beauty in their works. It also captivated the famous writer Hans Christian Andersen, who mentioned the Národní park České Švýcarsko in his travel journals.
In past years, the rock arch was accessible to visitors. Over time, however, the arch began to shrink under their influence, and so, in the interest of preserving the monument, access to Pravčická brána was prohibited in 1980. There is no need to despair, however, as there are three other, no less beautiful viewpoints in the vicinity of the gate.
Also impressive is the excursion chateau Sokolí hnízdo, built in the Alpine style, which is part of Pravčická brána. In 1881, the local estate was owned by Prince Edmund von Clary-Aldringen, who had the chateau built as a place for important people from the princely family to meet. Today, it houses a stylish restaurant, an information centre, and the national park museum.
When visiting the Národní park České Švýcarsko, one will certainly be impressed by the gorges in Hřensko on the Kamenice river. The longer of them (960 m) is called Edmundova soutěska, and the slightly shorter one (450 m) is Divoká soutěska. These are long rock canyons with many interesting formations, some of which are accessible only from the water. Transport is provided by punts with a boatman offering expert commentary.
Jetřichovice is referred to as the heart of the Národní park České Švýcarsko. It is an ideal starting point because several tourist trails converge here. Behind the village, one will encounter the rocky fairytale world of the Kinský family, after whom the viewpoints above the village were named Mariina vyhlídka, vyhlídka Vilemína, and Rudolfův kámen. Visitors may set out for the Šaunštejn castle, where an observation platform is located, or take the route from Kyjov to Rynartice, which is very popular with children and features Snow White and her dwarves carved into the rock. Another famous fairytale, Pyšná princezna, was filmed at the nearby Dolský mlýn ruins.
Most of the villages in the Národní park České Švýcarsko have preserved their traditional folk architecture. Protected heritage zones can be found in Všemily or Vysoká Lípa. Many warm-hearted people live here who will certainly be happy to share interesting stories or tips on lesser-known places that are not overcrowded with tourists.
In the national park, one will also find a number of different hills and peaks. The highest of them, Růžovský vrch with a height of 619 metres above sea level, is nicknamed the "Děčín Fuji". From its summit, one is rewarded with a magnificent view of the Lužické hory and the České Středohoří.
However, there is much more that can be experienced in the Národní park České Švýcarsko. As it is one of the most visited natural monuments in the country, conditions for tourists are adapted so that everyone can find their own entertainment. In addition to a number of marked hiking trails, the entire České Švýcarsko region is crisscrossed by many cycling paths. And when one has had enough of nature, one can head to the city. Nearby Krásná Lípa or Česká Kamenice are towns rich in cultural monuments, high-quality restaurants, and cultural events.
Are you already making plans for your next holiday? Nothing is simpler than using our portal to find suitable accommodation in the Národní park České Švýcarsko and setting out to explore the rock cities up close. Unforgettable experiences will be your reward. We wish you a pleasant holiday!
