About the Enchanted Lime Tree | Krásná Lípa

‘Fairy tales are for children, and life is certainly no fairy tale’ – that’s what many of us would probably say. Yet the story of this town, situated at the crossroads of the Lusatian Mountains, Upper Lusatia and Bohemian Switzerland, simply has all the hallmarks of a fairy tale.

Listen: Once upon a time, there was a lime tree. As it grew, it felt sad. But because it was magical, it began to draw people to it. They built first one house, then ten, and eventually a town sprang up around the lime tree. It could hardly have been called anything other than Krásná Lípa. Yet the linden tree’s power seemed to be waning – the town was sad, deserted, shabby and unwelcoming. And so the linden tree rallied once more. And the people decided that their Krásná Lípa would live up to its name.

There weren’t that many of them, but they clung to their dream as if it were a slice of bread. And miracles began to happen, the sort that perhaps only occur in fairy tales. The square, in the centre of which stood the lime tree, began to change. At first, it was just the façades, but then everything else too. And it didn’t stop at the square – the town was transforming like a girl before her wedding. Suddenly, it had become a beautiful bride that everyone wanted.

In sadder times, people would rush to the window whenever a car drove through the square. Today, the square is as lively as some fashionable district in Prague. Krásná Lípa is no longer just about the overwhelmingly beautiful natural surroundings. The town suddenly entices you to stay and explore it, to have fun and indulge in all manner of pleasures.

Four cafés, a highly sought-after bakery, a chocolate shop where you can not only taste chocolate but also learn all about it, a modern and very comfortable hotel, and even the fabulous Falkenštejn craft brewery with a wide range of remarkable house beers, a cosy restaurant and a guesthouse to boot. There’s accommodation to suit absolutely everyone in Krásná Lípa – the range of options is so wide that anyone can find a room here.

What else is there? Well, take the Luční Bar, for example – a unique self-service snack bar where you pay voluntarily and without supervision for what you’ve eaten and drunk. Pessimists predicted its imminent demise – yet it’s still going strong, and thanks to it, people are rediscovering all the honesty that still remains within them. You can even book a soak in a hot tub here! Or there’s the spacious sports complex and activities on Cimrák Pond.

Still not enough? You can practise yoga here at an unexpected level, hire bikes, e-bikes and scooters, and you can even witness the creation of increasingly prestigious natural cosmetics. The Nobilis Tilia workshop is based in the local hamlet of Vlčí Hora, attracting visitors to its visitor centre with a shop, a tea room and a stunning permaculture garden featuring many interactive elements.

As both the lime tree and the town of Lípa grew in beauty, the magical allure of the place increased. It was chosen as the headquarters for the Bohemian Switzerland National Park Authority, as well as for the Bohemian Switzerland public benefit organisation, for which the very stately House of Bohemian Switzerland was built on the square. It houses a first-class Information Centre, from which you can walk straight into a unique interactive exhibition. It is hard to imagine a more fitting starting point for trips and excursions into the surrounding area, which is so packed with attractions and experiences that it is impossible to list them all.

The iconic Kögler Trail, which runs through the Krásná Lipa region and part of the national park, countless hiking and cycling routes, the Kyjov Valley, formed by the idyllic River Křinice, offering an elegant opportunity to cross the border and explore Saxon Switzerland; the local hamlet of Kamenná Horka, a living open-air museum of folk architecture; and, in winter, the breathtaking ice falls on the Vlčí river…

The first hills of the Lusitanian Mountains are also within walking distance. The undulating landscape offers countless vantage points. These are further enhanced by three observation towers – on Vlčí hora, Dymník and Jedlová, which can be reached via a charming path along the headwaters of the Křinice and past a fairytale windmill. Krásná Lípa is truly beautiful today, and people know it – both its residents and those who come to visit. And so the fairy tale ends just as it should – what was once an inconspicuous little village somewhere in the north has become a dynamic and vibrant tourist centre. The end? Not by a long shot. Krásná Lípa continues to grow in beauty and has more and more surprises in store.