Bohemian Switzerland with children? No problem.

Bohemian Switzerland, a landscape full of varied rocks, hills, grassy meadows and fairytale sunsets. A source of inspiration for many film directors, who regularly choose its unique locations for their mysterious stories and fairy tales. Dolský Mill, Panská Rock, Pravčická Gate and Děčínský Sněžník are places where fairy-tale creatures have appeared more than once.

Come with us on a journey back to your childhood, let your imagination run wild and become your children’s playmate. Show them that Mum and Dad still know how to have fun and take them on an adventure. Summer may be drawing to a close, but the autumn weather is perfect for a trip into the countryside. Colourful trees, morning mists and sunny days offer a unique spectacle.

There is an endless number of places to discover, and every trip into the countryside of Bohemian Switzerland can be tailored to children; we have therefore selected those that are specifically designed for the youngest members of the family.

For seven years now, the Rysí stezka – Mezní Louka forest adventure park has been introducing visitors of all ages to the care of local forests in a highly creative way. Leave your car in the central car park at Mezní Louka and set off 250 metres along the red trail towards Pravčická brána; you’ll come across a turn-off for the Rysí stezka, and it’s entirely up to you whether you opt for the shorter, 300-metre loop along the red trail or the 800-metre loop along the blue trail. Have you ever seen a bark beetle climbing frame or a ‘tree block of flats’? Have you ever heard of a ‘tree dendrophone’? No? Well, then it’s best to combine both routes. As the trail is 1.5 kilometres long, you can easily spend the whole morning here with the children.

Recharge your batteries at lunchtime, perhaps at U Fořta, and then head off to the playground at Mezní Louka. You’ll have a unique opportunity to climb to the top of the model of Pravčická brána. After all, the real one has been off-limits for 40 years.

A mini-trip to Rynartice to see Dwarf Rock is ideal as a little treat during your adventure; it takes no more than 20 minutes, but as it’s all up stairs, it’s quite a workout. Who hasn’t heard of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs? Will you manage to find all seven of these quirky little men? You’ll see that even adults find it a challenge. For very young children, please take extra care.

The nature trail, which even the youngest children in pushchairs or on balance bikes can manage, is available in Srbská Kamenice. From the ‘Café in the Countryside’, where you can also park, a tarmac path leads past the Adra Nature Reserve, which features carved slides, swings, playhouses, a maze and other attractions. If you’d like to take in the views, you can leave your pushchair and balance bike in the woods below the viewpoint by the lake; the view of Srbská Kamenice is well worth the adventure.

If that’s not enough, you can head from the Information Centre to the forest theatre, where the children can put on their own show. The whole walk is about 1.5 kilometres long, and even with a bit of play, you’ll spend a pleasant morning there. You can grab a bite to eat at the Zelená hospoda, where the children can let off steam on the local playground.

Last year, Česká Kamenice opened the Mlýnky Brand Miniature Park. In one place, you’ll find replicas of houses from Česká Kamenice and the Mlýnky complex, with moving parts situated around a stream. This has revived a tradition, as the original miniature park stood here before the First World War. From the town centre, you can easily take a short trip – even with a pushchair and young children – which will take you about 1½ hours.

If your children can’t sit still for a moment, we recommend heading up to Dymník Hill, which towers above Rumburk. You can walk there directly from Rumburk, Krásná Lípa or Skřivánčí Pole. All routes are suitable for prams. At the summit, your little ones can watch small breeds of mountain goats; you can climb the stone lookout tower together, enjoy a family lunch at the local restaurant, or even play a special ball game – football golf.

On the local course, which bears a slight resemblance to a golf course, the ball is kicked into the holes rather than hit with a club. The summit is also adorned by a mysterious formation of stone monoliths, known as the Tree of Life. In nearby Rumburk, after a busy day out, you’ll appreciate a cup of fine coffee from the Bohemian Coffee House, renowned even beyond the region’s borders.

Where to go in bad weather?

A day trip to Děčín
Děčín Castle offers guided tours of the castle using coloured pencils. If you fancy a bit of fun, don’t miss the Hopsárium – the largest indoor play centre in northern Bohemia. For little explorers, the Paradise Islands Exhibition has prepared a separate indoor exhibition at the zoo. And water lovers are sure to enjoy the local Aquapark, with both outdoor and indoor pools, attractions and a children’s play area with a sandpit.

Interactive exhibition on Bohemian Switzerland
If you find yourself near Krásná Lípa, be sure to take the children to the House of Bohemian Switzerland, which you’ll find on the square. As you enter the exhibition, you’ll be captivated by the song of the peregrine falcon. The film “Secrets of the Landscape” will captivate you. The combination of natural riches, a landscape unique in the Czech Republic, and the spiritual richness of its people will introduce you to a landscape of gorges, sandstone cliffs, forests and rivers – the landscape of Bohemian Switzerland.

Children are sure to have a great time at the exhibition. They’ll take a hot-air balloon ride, look out over the landscape from the local viewing tower, and admire the graceful flight of the black stork, a model parent. They’ll explore the secrets of a badger’s burrow and try their hand at being an archaeologist, a painter or a glassmaker… in short, let yourself be inspired by a landscape born of the sea.

And a tip for parents is the Falkenštejn Brewery, just a few metres away.

Watch the master glassmakers at work
In Lindava, at AJETO Lasvit, products and works of art have been created by glassmakers for customers from all corners of the world for almost twenty years in the building of a former textile factory. It is a meeting place where, for years, glass artists, designers, architects, actors and filmmakers have been coming together to create the most original projects under their guidance. One such project is the Thálie theatre award, or the trophy for the Tour de France cycling race. Are you curious about how such products are made?

Then take the children along for a guided tour, during which you’ll learn about the entire production process and, what’s more, watch the master glassmakers at work in the glassworks. And if you get peckish, be sure to pop into the Glassmakers’ Pub and treat yourself to something tasty. You can even find out for yourself that a glassmaker’s work is no walk in the park. Under the guidance of experienced glassmakers, you’ll create your own pint glass, vase or any other glass object of your choice.

A quick trip to Šluknov Castle
In northern Bohemia, in the very northernmost town of the Czech Republic, you’ll find a castle just outside the town centre, surrounded by an English-style park. If you’re visiting with children, we recommend taking the guided tour, which will make you feel as though you’ve stepped back in time to the golden age of our country – the era of the First Republic. Buy your children a guidebook with a crayon, so they can complete interesting tasks during the tour whilst you listen to the guide’s commentary in peace.

During autumn and winter, don’t miss the Christmas exhibition or the cannon exhibition. And don’t forget that Šluknov Castle is also the cultural centre of the Šluknov Peninsula. You can enjoy concerts, theatre performances, themed events and much more. What’s more, it is open 7 days a week, all year round.