Bohemian Switzerland
National Park
Bohemian SwitzerlandThe being the fourth national park (i.e. a specific natural area with unique flora and fauna, almost untouched by human activity) in the country, was declared at the beginning of 2000. It covers an area of almost 79 km² and neighbours the Saxon Switzerland National Park situated on the German side of the border. It is a part of the larger territory of the Elbe Sandstones, which has been called Bohemian and Saxon Switzerland for nearly two centuries.
Nature
The story of this area begins millions of years ago, when there was a shallow sea where there is now Bohemian Switzerland. It was the sea’s sand bed that gave birth to the phenomenal world of sandstone after the sea receded. It is a world of rock towers, bridges and gates, a world full of miraculous stone shapes resembling honeycombs or hourglass.
Common kingfisherHowever, the rocky realm is not an empire of dead stone; it hosts the rarest animals and most remarkable plants. After many years, the peregrine falcon returned to Bohemian Switzerland, and the area also provides home to the rare lynx or the eagle owl - the largest European owl.
In the gorges and canyons of brooks, streams and rivers, we can hear the calling of the kingfisher, find tracks of the European otter or spot a silhouette of the brown trout. The Atlantic salmon has also again started making its journey to the Atlantic and back to streams of Bohemian Switzerland.
The landscape is also characterised by high volcanic hills dominated by the hill of Růžovský vrch with its precious flora (nine-leaved coral-wort, hard shield fern) and virgin forest habitats.
Bohemian Switzerland and the people
"The Lynx Stone"Since time immemorial, the face of the Bohemian Switzerland landscape has been also shaped by human presence. Peace crosses, rock chapels and deserted church trails are the reminders of the bygone days of the local inhabitants. The harmony of the local vernacular buildings (semi-timbered houses) still attracts visitors, who started streaming to Bohemian Switzerland as early as the end of the 19th century.
The visitors typically make their way to the famous Pravčice Gate (Pravčická brána), the largest sandstone rock arch in Europe, or they get on a boat to go down the Maria´s rock (Mariina skála) near Jetřichovice, robbers’ fortresses, such as Šaunštejn near Vysoká Lípa, or while walking through the romantic Kyjov Valley (Kyjovské údolí).
