Activities

Church of St. Barbara in Rynoltice (map)

Already in the first mention of Rynoltice from 1364 it is mentioned that the village had a parish church. However, the original medieval building was destroyed by Hussite troops. In 1669, a chapel was built in the old Rynoltice cemetery, then rebuilt into a church dedicated to St. Barbara in 1745-1748.

The sculpture of St. Wenceslas and St. J. Nepomucký (map)

An interesting sculpture from 1735 stands in the park-like centre of Rynoltice. The same figure represents St. Wenceslas on one side and St. John of Nepomuk on the other. On the prismatic pedestal you can find reliefs with scenes from the legends of both saints. 

The white stones (map)

The Bílé kameny natural monument is a solitary group of sandstone rocks that reach a height of up to 20 m. Oval cavities, smaller caves and rock tunnels have been formed in their walls due to the weathering of less resistant sandstone layers. The rocks are striking for their whiteness and rounded shapes, resembling the massive backs of resting elephants, which is why they are sometimes referred to as Elephant Rocks. There is also a marked nature trail through the site.

Tri-border (map)

The place where the borders of three countries meet. There are dozens of them on the map of Europe. The Czech-German-Polish Tri-border lies at the confluence of the Lusatian Neisse and the Oldřichovský brook. The state border runs through the middle of both streams. It is located less than 2 km from the centre of Hrádek nad Nisou and not far from the German Zittau.

Popova skala (map)

The massive sandstone Popova skála (565 m) towers above the treetops. Interestingly, these chalk sandstones were originally laid horizontally. Over time, due to the nearby Lusatian fault, they were tilted and obliquely built. Weathering broke the rocks into massive blocks and boulders, which are stacked in such a way as to form not only a lookout but also many cavities and caves.

Lemberk Castle (map)

The castle was built on the site of the original Gothic castle of the Markvartice family in the 13th century. The most famous inhabitant of Lemberk in the 13th century was Zdislava of Lemberk, the wife of the founder of the castle and protector of the sick and suffering. At the end of the 16th century, the castle was rebuilt into a Renaissance chateau and after 1660 a significant early Baroque alteration was made, which gave the building its present appearance. Among the interiors, the late Renaissance Fairy Tale Hall stands out, named after the 77 motifs from Aesop's Fables painted on the paneled ceiling.

Bredovský Chateau (map)

A National Cultural Monument of the Czech Republic, it is located in the neighbourhood of Lemberk Castle. The summer palace and the adjacent early Baroque garden are part of the Lembersko Landscape Conservation Area.

Crow Rocks (map)

The rocks are made of very solid sandstone on the southern walls with horizontal and vertical fissures. Because of their great ruggedness and strength, they have been popular with climbers since the end of the 19th century, who refer to them as the Raven Rocks. The cliffs to the northwest are called Raven's Nest, to the south is Raven's Nest and the most massive rock towers are called Feller's Tower.

Jablonné v Podještědí (map)

One of the oldest towns in northern Bohemia, located under the double-peaked Hvozd hill. The town and its surroundings are very rich in natural beauties, historical monuments and tourist attractions. At present it is the seat of the administration of the Lusatian Mountains Protected Landscape Area. It was first mentioned in 1249, when Havel, son of Markvart, was the owner of the local estate. Shortly afterwards, a Dominican monastery was founded here by Havel's wife Zdislava. The town is dominated by the Basilica of St. Lawrence and St. Zdislava with the Dominican monastery.

Sokol Hill (map)

The Sokol Hill is a prominent ringed hill (592 m) located west of Petrovice.

On the top are the remains of a medieval castle, originally called Falkenburk. No records of its origin have survived. The castle burnt down in 1437. Remains of the castle, the gate and the castle palace, the remains of the tower and part of the enclosure wall have survived to this day. The castle ruins are freely accessible.

Velký Vápenný Nature Reserve (map)

The Velký Vápenný Nature Reserve is situated on a limestone hill (790 m) near the village of Jítrava, in the territory of the municipality of Bílý Kostel nad Nisou.

The reserve includes communities of the original mountain wedge-beech forest in the summit position and a community of flowery beeches on the limestone. The site is home to a large number of legally protected species of animals, such as the homing pigeon, the Lesser Spotted Owl and others.

The reserve also includes a large limestone quarry, which contains the most famous and largest discovered area of the Ještěd Karst - the West Cave. It was discovered in 1956 and has a unique stalactite decoration. It is an important hibernation site for bats, such as the highly endangered big-eared bat, big-eared bat and the critically endangered little wren. However, the cave is not open to the public.

A short distance from the signpost of the Velký Vápenný Nature Reserve is the crossroads of the Vápenný lom hiking trail, where you will also find a well with an excellent spring.

The swimming pool in Jablonné v Podještědí (map)

The natural swimming pool is located in the open air, in the middle of a forest near Jablonné v Podještědí. The swimming pool is a pool type - a concrete tank with a sandy and grassy beach. It is a part of the campsite and you pay an entrance fee.

Grabštejn Castle (map)

The state castle and chateau Grabštejn stands on a high steep hill near Hrádek nad Nisou. The castle was built on a strategic location. It protected the Nisa valley and the road leading through it from Bohemia to Lusatia at the border point where the borders of three countries - the Czech Republic, Germany and Poland - still touch today. The chateau features the North Palace, the medieval castle tower with a view of the Tridentine Forest, the Renaissance Chapel of St. Barbara with wall paintings, a cellar with a secret passage and the chateau collections. The grounds are surrounded by a large park with many rare trees.