Discover the charm of days gone by in Šluknov

This town, whose history dates back to the High Middle Ages, now boasts an unprecedented number of restored historic sites. When you visit, you’ll be enchanted by the atmosphere you’ll soak up while strolling through the narrow streets lined with half-timbered houses, along paths lined with small crosses and religious monuments, in the countryside where towering crosses and chapels offer romantic views of the beautiful landscape of Bohemian Switzerland, or during a visit to the sensitively restored Šluknov Castle, which offers an extraordinary experience to every visitor.

Whether you choose to explore the town by taking the national park trail, the bus, or your own vehicle, be sure to stop first at Šluknov Castle. A fully equipped information center awaits you on the ground floor, where you can pick up all the essential materials you’ll need for your journey. History buffs shouldn’t miss a tour of the castle itself. In the First Republic-era suite of the last owner of the Šluknov estate, Ervín Leopold Nostitz-Rieneck, you’ll feel the magic of days gone by. The castle, which rose like a mythical phoenix from the ashes after a great fire, offers not only beautiful historic rooms but also a diverse portfolio of exhibitions and cultural events. Coffee lovers will also find something to enjoy, as the aroma from the castle café will accompany you at every turn.

After visiting the castle and picking up your materials, you can begin exploring the town’s mysterious corners—places where centuries of human faith have left a powerful imprint. One such place is the Šluknov Way of the Cross. It is the oldest monument of its kind in the entire Šluknov Hook, an area that boasts an unusually large number of such paths. It was built between 1738 and 1756. It takes the form of a Passion Way and includes a series of chapels, the Garden of Gethsemane, and a small basalt organ.

Around the same time that the Stations of the Cross were created, local sculptor Josef Klein crafted the Holy Trinity Column. It adorns the center of the square and is carved from sandstone and granite. It exemplifies the beauty of the Baroque style, and as its name suggests, it features statues of St. Wenceslas, St. Florian, and St. John of Nepomuk. At its top is a scene depicting the Coronation of the Virgin Mary.

But the most enchanting places are those where crowds don’t flock, where you can feel the warmth of the sun and the wind in your hair. Places where, when you pause, you realize how beautiful the world is. Places that make you stop for a moment and give thanks for simply being here. Everyone has their own favorite place. We’ll share our favorite spots in Šluknov with you, and in return, promise us that you’ll visit them with the same humility as we do, so they can continue to delight visitors for hundreds of years to come.

A pleasant half-hour walk from the square will take you to the Zeckel Cross in Císařské. Sitting by the cross offers beautiful views of the city.

Those who would rather walk further can set off from the square for a walk that will take a little longer than an hour. In the field, they will find one of the most romantic places in the city. It is the Marian (also Botzen) Chapel in Císařské. The isolated chapel from the 18th century is unique both for its location in the landscape near the quarry and for its breathtaking views.

The oldest sacral monument in the village is the Chapel of the Holy Trinity, which has been overlooking the valley of the Království district since 1748. Like most monuments in the city, it has been given a new look and is a delight to all newcomers. It is also a place where more than one couple has said their “I do” to each other.

And we will stay in Království. Our last recommendation is related to it. The Way of the Cross in Království has always been a place with a magical atmosphere, a place where people liked to return, and certainly not only for the purpose of discovering sacred monuments. It was only a few years ago that you would find only fragments of the former pilgrimage site on Kamenný vrch. However, this place has always attracted its visitors and perhaps for this reason it has succeeded in what many had no longer hoped for.

Gradually, step by step, return this place to its lost beauty. Today, the Stations of the Cross are a place of renewal, resurrection, restoration of life, a place with a beating heart that sets the rhythm. It has become a symbol for the entire city, which, like the Stations of the Cross, has experienced many wounds, but today these times are long gone and Šluknov proudly shows its modern face to its visitors.