Advent in our region… The magic of Christmas is here!

Advent is a time full of anticipation, comfort and traditions. Our region offers a number of events that will put you in the Christmas spirit and bring joy to young and old alike. Come and enjoy unique moments with your family and friends – from the festive lighting of Christmas trees, to Christmas crafts, to devil’s races and other exceptional cultural experiences associated with Christmas. Whether you are looking for inspiration for gifts at traditional Christmas markets, want to admire charming nativity scenes or immerse yourself in the world of fairy tales at castles, you will definitely find what you are looking for. We bring you a few tips on how to enjoy Advent in the Bohemian Switzerland region.

Start of Advent and lighting of Christmas trees

Let yourself be enchanted by the glow of hundreds of lights during the festive lighting of Christmas trees in our cities and towns. You can look forward to an accompanying program, Christmas songs and traditional snacks that will warm your body and soul. Each of us will probably start the Advent season in our hometown, but we bring you an overview of the festive lighting of Christmas trees in our region.

Krásná Lípa, Rybniště, Chřibská, Česká Kamenice, Jetřichovice, Mezná, Hřensko, Jiřetín pod Jedlovou, Varnsdorf, Rumburk, Jiříkov, Filipov, Šluknov, Lipová, Vilémov, Mikulášovice, Dolní Poustevna, Velký Šenov, Benešov nad Ploučnicí, Děčín, Jílové u Děčína a Tisá

Christmas crafts for children and adults

Unleash your creativity at Christmas workshops where you can make original ornaments, cards or decorations. An ideal opportunity to spend time together and create something that will beautify your home.

This Saturday, November 22, the village of Lipová cordially invites you to Advent creation in a tree house. On the same day, you can also go to the Nobilis Tilia visitor center in Vlčí Hora, where you can make your own Christmas decorations or fragrant gifts for your loved ones. We recommend reserving your place. On Thursday, November 27, Advent creation will take place at the castle in Děčín under the leadership of florist Vlastimil Kucharovič. You will be able to take home not only Advent wreaths, but also candlesticks. Prior reservation is required for this event. On the first Sunday of Advent, November 30, there will also be creation at the Šluknov Castle. Visitors take away beautiful Christmas decorations and Advent wreaths from this traditional event. But before you start creating, you can enjoy a theatrical fairy tale with your children.

St. Nicholas, angelic and hellish experiences in Bohemian Switzerland

Advent in Bohemian Switzerland this year will be full of magical, angelic and hellish experiences.

On Thursday, December 5th, you can go to the Lužánek Confectionery in Rumburk with your children to celebrate St. Nicholas Day, enjoy a sweet treat and the Christmas atmosphere. You will experience an unconventional St. Nicholas treat on the same day in the church of St. Peter and Paul in Růžová , where you will learn how this tradition actually came about, and children’s Christmas carols will be sung. The village of Lipová invites children to Pekelná Mikulášská – a hell full of devils and a heaven with Nicholas and angels await them. There will also be a hell in the village of Chřibská, where the Mikulášské glass-making will take place with a glass-making show by the Friends of the Chřibské Glass Factory Association, and at dusk the devils will arrive as part of the Devil’s Ride. A day later, on Friday, December 6, adults can have fun at the Devil’s Fun in Šluknov with the participation of the legendary “Zemanovy” devils, who are bringing their hellish show for the 51st season. On Saturday, December 7, you can experience the Hell’s Underground in Česká Kamenice for yourself. And if hellish experiences fascinate you, don’t miss the terrifying Krampus show in Šluknov, which will take place in the castle park on December 28th.

Advent time at the Děčín ZOO

ZOO Děčín invites you to a unique “DEVIL’S PARTY” on December 6th, where a fun afternoon full of hellish fun awaits you! Come and warm up in hell, complete devilish tasks and get a reward directly from Santa Claus. On Christmas Eve, December 24th, you have a unique opportunity to visit ZOO Děčín for free and shorten your wait for Santa Claus in a magical Christmas atmosphere. This great event will allow you to experience Christmas Eve a little differently, not only will you enjoy looking at the animals, you can also bring them something good to eat – hard pastries, apples, carrots, nuts and other goodies.

Reading Advent fairy tales

A friendly Advent gathering with writer and poet Rostislav Křivánek is being planned at the Nobilis Tilia Herbal Teahouse in Vlčí Hora. You can look forward to the author’s reading of his Advent fairy tales over a cup of fragrant coffee and warm tea. The capacity of seats is limited, so reserve your seats in advance.

Christmas markets

Take a stroll among the stalls full of handmade gifts, regional delicacies and original decorations that will add a unique touch to your Christmas. Christmas markets are the ideal place not only to buy beautiful gifts, but also to get inspired and soak up the real holiday atmosphere. We bring you tips on some of them: Městská knihovna Rumburk, Srbská Kamenice, Hřensko, Růžová, Kytlice, Děčín-Podmokly, Děčín – Husovo náměstí, Děčín – Křížová ulice, Zámek Děčín a Oblastní muzeum Děčín.

Christmas concerts

Immerse yourself in the magic of Christmas melodies during concerts that will take place in various places in our region this year. You can look forward to, for example, an organ concert in the Church of St. Wenceslas in Šluknov, Advent concerts in the Church of St. John of Nepomuk in Hřensko, the Church of St. Mary Magdalene in Krásná Lípa, the Church of St. Lawrence in Rumburk, the Church of St. Simon and Judas in Lipová or the Church of St. Peter and Paul in Růžová. Jiří Chlum’s traditional Advent concerts in the Basilica of Our Lady of Help in Filipov will enchant not only with the beauty of the music, but also with the historical spaces in which they take place. In Česká Kamenice, you can look forward to meeting at the Astronomical Clock during the second and third Sundays of Advent, followed by concerts in the Pilgrimage Chapel and the Church of St. James the Elder. The traditional Christmas concert will also resound in the premises of the Regional Museum in Děčín. The Christmas alley in Křížová Street in Děčín will come alive every day during Advent with not only markets, a Christmas program, but also Christmas concerts. At the Advent Fair in Kytlice, you can also look forward to a unique evening music program performed by the Prague choir Collegium Cantantium and singer Berenika Kohoutová. The fifth annual Christmas show “Christmas Wishes” will take place in Tisá, which promises an evening full of Christmas atmosphere, wonderful music performed by young artists, and a fairy-tale setting.

Advent at the castle in Benešov nad Ploučnicí

The end of the year will be celebrated in the spirit of Advent at the castle. On Saturday, November 29, Benešov nad Ploučnicí will open its gates to the public for an event “Advent na zámku”. Visitors can look forward to festively decorated interiors and more than a dozen originally decorated Christmas trees. Not only children will be delighted by the traditional castle hell, where devils will be waiting for them.

Advent magic of Děčín: Christmas food festival and a trail full of rewards

The city of Děčín is teeming with Christmas events. In addition to the events already mentioned, on November 29 you can look forward to the “Christmas FOOD FESTIVAL“, which attracts with the aroma of sweets, mulled wine and regional specialties. A rich musical program will be prepared on stage throughout the day and for the youngest visitors there will also be creative workshops where children can try out their own Christmas decorations. New this year is the “Christmas Trail through Děčín“, which runs from November 28 to January 6, 2026. The trail was created as an initiative by the public with the support of the Municipal Center for Culture and Tourism and will take you through several Christmas stops with tasks and challenges. At the end of it, a small reward will be waiting for you, and the entire route will be facilitated by a mobile application.

More information HERE

Exhibition of nativity scenes… treasures of the nativity scene tradition of our region

Our region has been known for centuries for its rich nativity scene tradition, passed down from generation to generation. This is a unique opportunity to admire carefully carved wooden figures, folding paper nativity scenes, original ceramic works and modern interpretations of this Christmas symbol.

Each nativity scene has its own unique story and reflects not only the skill of the craftsmen, but also the spirit of the times and local customs. Nativity scene exhibitions are not only a cultural experience, but also a way to a deeper understanding of the meaning of Christmas. You can admire these treasures, which are a proud part of our regional heritage, at the Rumburk Museum, where the exhibition opens on November 29th and visitors will have the opportunity to meet the carvers at work. In Jiříkov, countless nativity scenes can be seen in the premises of the former savings bank, and on December 28th you can set off on the traditional “Nativity Walk” through the town, which offers a tour of the exhibited nativity scenes with expert commentary and a unique Advent atmosphere.

Advent with the smell of bratwurst, the sound of carols… and a step towards the new year

Advent in Bohemian Switzerland is a time of light, music, gatherings and a return to traditions. Christmas markets smell of mead and gingerbread, churches play Advent concerts, and in towns and villages, Christmas lights shine, fairs and workshops come to life. But why should Advent in Bohemian Switzerland be just about Advent? Winter here also belongs to sparkling snow trails, warm fires in the countryside and steps that lead towards the new year.

And that is why for the eighth time, the Rumburk Czech Tourists Club invites you to a New Year’s Eve trip not only for parents with children. On the last day of the year, December 31, they are organizing a relaxing winter walk through the Bohemian Switzerland National Park. There will also be traditional roasting of špekáčky on an outdoor fireplace, a warm embrace of nature and a chance to symbolically say goodbye to the past year. Active tourists will not be able to catch their breath even after midnight: on January 1, the 2nd New Year’s climb to the Dymník lookout tower awaits you, again with the Rumburk Czech Tourists Club. A New Year’s hike is a beautiful tradition – perhaps the best way to start the year in motion, with a smile, tea or a grill in hand and a wide view of the landscape that will witness many of your travels this year. You can also soak up the New Year’s Eve spirit in Mikulášovice, where on December 31st you can climb to the Tanenčnice lookout tower – winter forests, views, the atmosphere of saying goodbye to the old year together and a joyful “see you next year”. And those who like New Year’s traditions in the spirit of more intimate hikes can join the New Year’s climb to Zámečák in Česká Kamenice. Here too, you will meet friendly tourists, hot tea, maybe even a barbecue – and most importantly, with the feeling that you started the new year on the right foot.

We wish you that this year’s Advent season is full of comfort, joy and beautiful moments spent with your loved ones, and that the festive atmosphere accompanies you every step of the way!