Krásná Lípa

Krásná Lípa – Gateway to Bohemian Switzerland

Krásná Lípa, a town with a long textile tradition, lies in a shallow valley of the upper course of the Křinice River on the interface of Bohemian Switzerland and the Lusatian Mountains.

The dominant feature is the Baroque church of St. Mary Magdalene from the 18th century with a monumental access staircase.

The history of the town dates back to the 14th century, when the nearby Krásný Buk castle was abandoned. The Kinský family supported the development of crafts here from the beginning of the 17th century. Linen factories were established, later hosiery. In the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century, it was an important center of textile production and trade. A significant decline occurred after the removal of the original German inhabitants after 1945, when the population was reduced by about half.

The touristically attractive parts of Kyjov, Sněžná and Vlčí Hora are located at the entrance to the Bohemian Switzerland National Park. In recent years, there has been a significant development of the tourist infrastructure. Today, the life of the city is connected with the development of tourism in the Bohemian-Saxon Switzerland region. The city is the seat of the Bohemian Switzerland National Park Administration.

Directly from the Krásnolipí square, whose old appearance has not been erased even by later renovations, you enter the once famous tourist trails between the cottages on Kamenná Horka or Sněžná and further into the quiet beech forests. From there, along the fault line of the Lusatian fault, you descend into the gorges of Bohemian Switzerland, into the endless world of rocks stretching all the way to the Elbe….

What should you see…

Interactive exhibition “Bohemian Switzerland: life, secrets, inspiration” in the House of Bohemian Switzerland on the square. Panoramic projection with the film Landscape of Secrets. Open daily.

City Park – established in 1888-89 as a private park surrounding the unique tomb of the family of industrialist Karel Dittrich, a prominent native. In 2004-2006 it underwent reconstruction under the leadership of the prominent Czech dendrologist Ing. Karel Hieke. The park is dominated by a bronze statue of a lion tearing a Prussian eagle, reminiscent of the bloody year 1866 during the Austro-Prussian wars. The beginning of the Kögler nature trail.

Church of St. Mary Magdalene – the original church was built in the years 1332 – 1368. A new church was built in its place in the mid-18th century. Construction began in 1754. According to the plans of the architect Jakub Schwarz, the construction was led by P. Hoffmann. The church tower was built in 1777 and the monumental staircase with statues and a large stone cross carved from a single piece of stone, leading from the square to the church, was added in the years 1816 – 1818. In 2012, the church organ underwent a general repair. In the vicinity of the church are the remains of the original old cemetery with several valuable tombstones by the Saxon court sculptor Franz Pettrich.

Pedestrian houses – not only for Krásná Lípa, but also for the entire region of northernmost Bohemia, a typical development of a traditional, three-part, pedestrian-only house with a timbered or half-timbered floor, various variants of which were the main building type here until the end of the 19th century.  

Villa Hille (Chateau) and Palme – architecturally unique buildings. Villa Hille in today’s Pražská Street is surrounded by a park and was built in the Neo-Renaissance style in the years 1885-1887. Villa Palme is probably the largest functionalist villa in Bohemia. It is located high on a slope above the Křinice valley (towards Krásný Buk), today it houses a social care institution.

Kamenná Horka – well-maintained old cottages and stilt houses on the foothill meadows southwest of the town, from the edges of the forest there are views of Krásná Lípa, the Lusatian Mountains with Jedlová, Vlčí hora and the forests of Bohemian Switzerland. The atmosphere of the old Sudetenland can be felt at every step.

Dlouhý Důl – on the road to Kyjov and in a side valley – some of the most beautiful half-timbered houses in the area, very well maintained. The development, starting from the cemetery in Vlčí Hořa, has been declared a village conservation zone since 2004.

Kyjov Valley – a romantic starting point to the gorges with bizarre rock formations and climbing towers. Three medieval castles (Kyjov, Brtnický and Vlčí) remind of ancient trade routes. Entry in Kyjov from a small parking lot.

Vlčí hora (581m) – a dominant basalt peak 1 km SE from the village. View of the panorama of the Šluknov spur, the Lusatian Mountains and Bohemian-Saxon Switzerland. The lookout tower from 1889 is still in very good condition (paid admission) thanks to the KČT in Krásná Lípa, the successor of the Mountain Association for the Northernmost Bohemia (1885). Perennial marigolds bloom here at the end of May.

Chapel of Our Lady of Mount Carmel on Vlčí Hoře – A small late Empire church was built in 1870. Despite its small dimensions, the building is somewhat curious on the outside, but inside it has three naves, and originally had wooden stands above the side naves. After 1945, the abandoned church fell into disrepair, and underwent a general renovation financed by the city of Krásná Lípa in 2008-2011.

Geological map in Zahrady – a work by Rudolf Kögler, made available in 1937. The map was declared a technical monument in 1983. It is a plastic representation of the surrounding landscape in the garden of house no. 30, which is open from May to September, always from Sunday to Thursday (Mrs. Schnittnerová).

Dymník (516 m) – near Rumburk. The brick lookout tower is 15 m high. It was built at the expense of Rumburk citizen August Wendschuh in cooperation with the Mountain Association for the Northernmost Bohemia in 1896 (paid admission). View of Upper Lusatia, Rumburk, the Lusatian Mountains and the Giant Mountains

Vápenka – state nature reserve (15 ha). The junction of all geological units building the territory of northern Bohemia – granite rocks, Cretaceous sandstones, basalt volcanics and Jurassic limestones, which are unique in the Czech Republic.

You know that…

… the annual international meeting of Czech Böhmerland motorcycle owners with incalculable value takes place in Krásná Lípa in September?  The author of the prototype, Albin Hugo Liebisch (1888 Rumburk – 1965 Passau), is commemorated by a memorial plaque on the square in Krásná Lípa. The concept of a long motorcycle – the original concept – was created in the 1920s, and the original motorcycles were produced until the end of the 1930s. In July 1945, Liebisch was tortured and then interned in the Rabštejn concentration camp. After a year of hardship, the family was transported to Passau. Liebisch manufactured handcarts there until his death.

… a native of Krásnolipa is, for example, the famous academic painter of the 19th century, August Frind (1852 – 1924), the author of many canvases, the city coats of arms of Varnsdorf and Krásná Lípa. His patron was the local industrialist Karl Ditrich. Thanks to him, he was able to study at the Dresden Art Gallery, then worked in many places in Germany. He is also the author of the decoration of Dittrich’s tomb in the Krásnolipa cemetery.

…the Parkmaraton takes place in Krásná Lípa every year at the beginning of September – the toughest Czech marathon connecting the Saxon spa town of Bad Schandau and Krásná Lípa, the seat of the national park administrations.

What should you experience…

…a boat trip in the Křinice canyon (Obere Schleuse/Horní splav near Hinterhermsdorf), where a marked path will take you through the Kyjovské valley through Zadní Doubice (7 km) and further along the German trail (another 3 km). It is a very quiet and romantic place, where Křinice forms the border between Saxony and Bohemia. It is one of the most beautiful destinations in the Bohemian-Saxon Switzerland and many prefer it to the busy and commercialized gorges in Kamenice near Hřensko.

Where to go for culture…

Cultural center – cinema – amphitheater – cinema cafe, organizing balls, parties, theater performances, singing and folklore festivals, lectures, exhibitions

Museum of Bohemian Switzerland – the oldest house in the city’s cadastre, built after 1729, exhibition on the history of tourism, period photographs of the city and its surroundings. Confectionery on the ground floor.

FACTORY Gallery – exhibitions in the renovated premises of the Leisure Centre.

Municipal Library – selection of book titles in various fields of literature (17,639 books). Internet for the public. Open daily except Friday. 412 354 837.

Fairytale forest and old Bohemian fair – always on the 2nd Saturday in June

Rallye Sachsen Classic, an annual August gathering of historic vehicles of domestic and foreign production.

Bohemian Switzerland Day, which always takes place on the first weekend in September with accompanying events for the public at the House of Bohemian Switzerland.

Overview of cultural, sports and social events in the city: www.krasnalipa.cz (link is external)

Where to go for sports…

Sports complex of Bohemian Switzerland – tennis courts, beach volleyball, multipurpose playground “Hauserka”, mini golf, climbing wall, outdoor table tennis table, skittles, gazebo with seating, children’s playground. In bad weather or in winter multipurpose inflatable hall with artificial surface (two tennis courts, multipurpose playground, etc.). Refreshments, toilets, showers.

Tennis courts – on the Pharming company premises in Zahrady. Artificial surface, rental possible. 412 336 490, 412 336 210.

What to do in winter

Ice falls in the Kyjov Valley, the ice decorations in the Cave of Fairies and the Wine Cellar are picturesque.

Brtnice Ice Falls – a popular winter attraction. Many-meter-high ice stalactites of various shapes and colors form on rocky overhangs.

The most famous are Opona by Brtníky and Velký sloup in the valley of Vlčí potok.