PHOTO REPORT: A sustainable trip with Worldee: A taste of Bohemian Switzerland

Together with the travel platform Worldee, we invited a team of travellers and enthusiasts to Bohemian Switzerland, comprising Teru Menclová (@terumenclova), Lukáš Matocha (@lukasmatocha), Eliška Hudcová (@timetofit), Petra Vlková (@petra.vlk) and Zuzka Kudrnovská (@holkasbatohem). In the spirit of sustainability, rather than visiting the most popular tourist attractions, we set out in search of unique experiences.

To travel from Prague, where most of our team is based, we opted for the slower but all the more pleasant journey by train. You can reach Krásná Lípa via Děčín in just under three hours. Whilst the journey is slower than by car, the views of the countryside from the train are all the more beautiful for it.

Upon arrival in Krásná Lípa, more than a few of us are feeling peckish, so we head straight to the local craft brewery and restaurant – Falkenštejn, where we’ll also be staying.

Renowned chef René Vokurka didn’t disappoint and prepared a multi-course menu for us. As we’re at a brewery, a tasting of various beers and specialities is a must. The whirlwind of flavours leaves no one in any doubt that this is the perfect place for our weekend together.

The afternoon programme was organised for us by the lads from Bohemian Coffee House, a family-run café with its own roastery, who welcomed us to the Luční Bar in Krásná Lipa. This self-service bar, complete with a blacksmith’s workshop, is surrounded by meadows and offers an unobstructed view of the Lužické Mountains and part of the hills of Bohemian Switzerland. The Luční Bar is something of a beacon for wandering travellers, who can stop here for a bite to eat or quench their thirst with BB Cider or beer from Falkenštejn.

We, however, came for the coffee ritual, during which the lads from BCH demonstrated various methods of coffee preparation, such as the Chemex, V60 and AeroPress, and we had the chance to taste different types of coffee with varying roasts. There was also homemade strudel and brownies. So even an ordinary meadow can be turned into a first-class ‘coffee house’.

We’re playing Russian roulette and, after a quick glance at the radar – which shows clouds, rain, a brief window of clear weather, and then rain again – we head off to Rynartic. After a brief downpour, we set off up Křížový vrch and are incredibly lucky. The sky is clearing from the west, mist is rising, the sun is breaking through, and a double rainbow appears in the east. We don’t know what to photograph first – it’s simply a golden hour like no other. In the glow of the setting sun, we have dinner in a meadow and savour the magic of the moment.

In the morning, we head off for brunch at the Bohemian Coffee House in Rumburk, where you can enjoy an exceptional breakfast at any time of day. Delicious speciality coffee is a must, too. To round off our visit, we take part in a coffee roasting session. Within half an hour, the aroma of coffee fills the whole room and we’re amazed at the science behind this much-loved drink.

To work up an appetite, we’ll climb the nearby Dymník observation tower, from where there are beautiful views of the Jizera Mountains, Ještěd, the ridge of the Lusatian Mountains, Buková hora near Ústí nad Labem, and in the distance, the steep slopes of the Czech Central Mountains even come into view. To the west, the Saxon Table Mountains loom on the horizon. At Dymník, you can also play football golf or admire the stone version of Stonehenge – the Tree of Life.

From Dymník, it’s just a few kilometres to the village of Vlčí Hora, where we’re heading in the afternoon. The local natural cosmetics manufacturer Nobilis Tilia has set up a herb garden here, complete with flowers, beehives, ponds, a wetland treatment system and other interesting features.

This beautiful spot for learning and relaxation is complemented by a cosy tea room. In the cosmetics shop, you can try your hand at blending your own perfume or smell hundreds of different natural essential oils.

In the early evening, there’s a tasting of liqueurs and fruit spirits from GALLI DISTILLERY, which takes place in style at the outdoor bar atop one of the hills on the border between the Lusatian Mountains and Bohemian Switzerland.

We start off with some milder liqueurs. After a coffee liqueur, made from Honduran coffee, comes a genuine almond liqueur. Next, we try a local speciality – the Lusatian herbal liqueur, which is beautifully smooth and is said to have beneficial effects on the stomach. Next comes a sharper ginger liqueur, which is one of the most popular. We round off the tasting with a range of fruit spirits – apple brandy, pear brandy and plum brandy. We learn lots of interesting behind-the-scenes facts about the production process and enjoy it all with regional specialities, which make for a lovely end to the day.

Sunday is for hiking. We make use of the extensive network of “green buses” run by Ústí nad Labem Regional Transport and set off from Krásná Lípa at 8 am to the nearby village of Doubice.

We use a simple app called DÚKapka to validate our tickets. We alight in picturesque Doubice and stroll past traditional half-timbered houses. We climb through the forest to the U Eustacha crossroads, from where we continue past playful climbing frames and ladders to the Narrow Stairs.

From the Na Tokání meadow, it’s just a short distance to the Jetřichovice rock viewpoints. We choose Vilemína’s Wall, which offers the most beautiful view of the newly installed gazebo on Mariina Rock.

As it’s the weekend, we end up giving the Mariina viewpoint a miss and instead enjoy other views of Jetřichovice, Růžovský Hill and beyond. Our destination is Rynartice, from where a bus will take you comfortably back to Krásná Lípa, where our final lunch at Falkenštejn awaits us.

For the return journey to Prague, we opt for the Lužickohorský Rychlík, which runs directly and is pulled by a stylish historic locomotive. It’s a long journey, but we’re in no hurry and chat about our experiences from this action-packed weekend. We’re already looking forward to our next visit!

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