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There are places that impress me deeply. Bohemia is one of them.
Where is Bohemia?
Bohemia is the historical region that includes the west of Czechia. With 52 thousand square kilometers of surface area; it covers most of the Czech Republic and has more than half of the population.
With its borders to Poland, Germany and Austria, Bohemia includes also the largest city of Czechia, the capital, Prague. Of course Prague itself deserves a separate article, what I want to tell here is the natural beauty of the Czechia, which is usually overshadowed by Prague. This beautiful region on the border between Germany and Czechia, where you can see every shade of green, is known as the Bohemian Switzerland on the Czech side and as the Saxon Switzerland on German side. The national park attracts attention with its sandstone formations on the banks of the Elbe River and certainly deserves a few days of visit.
Fascinating Nature
After seeing on various internet sites and dreaming of going hiking in this region for years, I was able to catch the first opportunity finally in 2018. I won’t get tired of going back there again and again, I was fascinated by its natural beauty.
Tisá
Our journey, starting from Kassel, continued through Dresden and ended in our first stop, Tisá. Tisá is a prominent touristic region with its sandstone formations and the Tisá Wall (Tiské Stěny) located here is one of the major tourist attractions of the region. Here you start the walk with a signboard saying “Welcome to the City of Cliffs” and that is just a bit of a little hint about what you will encounter here 🙂
This rock formation, which is approximately 30 meters high, has taken its present form with natural wear of sandstone for years and offers a visual feast to its visitors. One side of these rock formations is a steep cliff going down with a 90 degrees slope, the other side is relatively smoother, but still fascinating with its unusual form.
How Long for Tisa?
When visiting the region, it is a good idea to save half a day for this part, because although it is not a big area, it is a really different place that makes you feel the need to take a photo on every corner, on every rock. Its higher points offer beautiful views onto the region. It’s like the Capadocia of Czechia 🙂
Where To Stay?
We stayed in Tisá while traveling around this region. All of the major tourist attractions were very about half an hour away by car, so it was very convenient to stay there. I can recommend the hotel we stayed, Refugio, without hesitation. It is a 2-minute walk from the famous Tisá Wall (in fact at the beginning of the hiking routes) and has a wide and delicious menu from breakfast to dinner. During our stay here we did not need to eat elsewhere and the local beers were absolutely wonderful.
Next Stop in Bohemia
We arrived on the first day in the afternoon and spent the rest of the day exploring the Tisá Wall, and the next day we turned our route to Hřensko, where the most famous tourist attractions are. This region, which is about half an hour away from Tisa, is again famous with its natural sandstone formations. The Kamenice Gorge (Soutěsky Kamenice), definitely deserves a visit. A boat trip you will do here will give you a completely different experience and will allow you to have a very pleasant time.
I share a few pictures I took during this boat tour, but I can honestly say that what you experience here is more than what you can immortalize with your camera.
Pravčická Archway
After the Kamenice Gorge, the next stop was the Pravčická Archway (Pravčická Brána). This is a natural bridge that has been formed as a result of years of wear. With its majesty and the beauty of the valley behind it, you shouldn’t leave without seeing it. There is also a pavilion called the Falcon’s Nest (Zámek Sokolí Hnízdo), which is located on the foothill of the bridge and which has hosted the important families of its period. Right now, this is a restaurant and museum, you can take a short break on the terrace and enjoy the wonderful scenery. You have to pay a small fee for entry but it is worth it. You can enjoy this breathtaking views of the region by following the walking paths within this area.
How To Reach There?
You can walk here from the Kamenice Gorge, but you can also reach by bus. As a result of my intense desire, we chose the walkway 🙂 But I can say that we were a little regretful due to the weather conditions. Our hiking which started under the strong sunshine, was accompanied by light rain as we climbed up towards the Pravčická Archway and when we reached there, it literally turned into a storm. We had to take shelter in the inner part of the restaurant with many other tourists because of the wind which got stronger as we were delighted to find a table on the edge of the terrace, which we could enjoy the scenery. But anyway it was worth it! I’m sure we wouldn’t be able to see these amazing views if we had been out there in a beautiful weather.
Hiking in Bohemia
On the third day, I explored the highest peak of the region, this time alone. It’s so close to the German border that you can see Dresden from the viewpoint you pass through as you climb up the hill. Although not as impressive as the previous days, I did not leave the march to the top, but I cannot say that there is something remarkable. Can be done if you have time 🙂
Be Careful With The Hiking Routes
On the way back I was lost because of the barely marked hiking routes. If you are used to the well-marked hiking routes such as in Germany and Switzerland, I recommend that you take a really good look at your route before you hit the road, or better to take a map. I didn’t want to climb back the steep slope I hiked down, where the hiking route suddenly ended. Fortunately I was on the way alone, this adventure ended with my boyfriend coming by car and saving me 🙂 🙂 I spent the rest of the day in the garden of the hotel we stayed, sunbathing and reading a book with pleasure.
A Stop On The Way Back
On the way back to Germany, we went through Königsstein and we wandered a little in the city to find the most beautiful viewpoint looking to the historic castle. Our first tea break was, of course, accompanied by a wonderful view.
How To Reach Bohemia?
This beautiful region on the German-Czech border certainly deserves a few days of visit to enjoy its natural beauties. The most easy to reach airports are in Dresden and Prague. You can easily explore the area by renting a car from there. This is a region that’s worth to lengthen your trip to Prague a few days.
Bohemia is waiting for you, go and get the tickets 🙂
