Děčín
Děčín an active city with a magical history
and is also the lowest-lying city in the Czech Republic (135m above sea level), which extends in a wide basin on both banks of the Elbe. Due to its location, it is often called the gateway to northern Bohemia. It is a major river port, an important railway junction and lies at the crossroads of several major roads. It covers an area of 12 thousand hectares, is divided into 35 urban districts, and has a population of approximately 52 thousand.
Děčín has a long history dating back to the Neolithic Age. In the Podmokly district there was a burial ground from the La Tène period, testifying to the existence of a large settlement with a specific culture, which was named Podmokelská.
The dominant feature of the town is the Baroque-Classicist castle, which stands on a rocky promontory above the confluence of the Elbe and Ploučnice rivers, on the site of the original wooden fort from the end of the 10th century. The current appearance of the castle is the work of the leading noble family of the Habsburg monarchy – the Thun-Hohenstein family, which held the Děčín estate in the years 1628-1932. During the 20th century, the Děčín castle was the seat of several armies. Today it is owned by the town and, after a thorough reconstruction, is open to the public all year round.
Děčín is a city in the middle of a romantic landscape, making it an ideal starting point for trips to its beautiful surroundings.
What you should see
Děčín Castle – Děčín Castle is one of the most important historical monuments in northern Bohemia. In the Ústí nad Labem Region, it is even one of the most visited monuments. It rises on a rocky promontory above the confluence of the Elbe and Ploučnice rivers and forms a beautiful dominant of our city. Its extensive grounds include: the Rose Garden with a sala terrena and a gloriette, the Long Ride, the Church of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross with the chapel of Our Lady of the Snows, the Historical Water Meter on the Castle Rock, the Chain Bridge over the Ploučnice River, the Mariánská Meadow, the Thun Chapel
Pastýřká stěna – opposite the castle rock on the left bank of the Elbe rises the sandstone massif of the Shepherd’s Wall with a unique building of a lookout restaurant, a forest park and a zoo. Tourist trails start here, and the lookout terraces on the top of the rock offer beautiful views of the city and the river.
ZOO Děčín – the zoological garden on Pastýřská stěna in Děčín was opened in 1949 (the second in northern Bohemia). Today it keeps approximately 450 animals of more than 150 species. Its main purpose is to breed rare and little-known species of animals that are not found anywhere else in our country. In addition to a tour of the zoo itself, it is also possible to go on an adventurous cruise around the Paradise Islands.
Synagogue – on the way to Pastýřská stěna, near Teplická Street, stands a tall building of the Israelite house of God, designed in a pseudo-oriental style with distinct Art Nouveau elements.
Stone Bridge over the Ploučnice Old Town Bridge – built in 1574 by Valentin Preussler, is an important Renaissance monument. It is decorated with a group of statues of the Czech patron saints St. Wenceslas, St. Vitus and St. John of Nepomuk by Michal J. Brokoff.
Hungry Stone – low Elbe levels have always meant existential problems for the inhabitants of the Děčín basin. Hungry Stone – a rock in the Elbe riverbed – is proof of this. When the water levels are low, it rises above the river surface. The oldest legible record is from 1616.
Sheep Bridge over the Jílovský stream – a structure made of sandstone blocks with basalt cobblestone paving, typical of the high arch of the bridge arch. The bridge was built in 1561.
Regional Museum Děčín – located in the former hunting yard of the important Thun-Hohenstein family. Here you will find an exhibition on the development of shipping on the Elbe, an exhibition dedicated to archaeological research in medieval Děčín, Gothic sculpture in the region or the ornithological image of the Děčín region, as well as a gallery and thematic and art exhibitions. The park in front of the building boasts a massive specimen of the exotic ginkgo biloba.
Railway Museum Děčín – the exhibition will guide you thematically through the history of the railway in the Děčín region and introduce you to the development of electrodynamic signaling equipment. You will see with your own eyes how signals were operated in the distant past and quite recently, how the cooperation between the dispatcher, signalman and operator took place and how communication was carried out with neighboring signal boxes and traffic stations.
Botanical Garden in Libverda – a year-round botanical garden on the premises of the oldest agricultural school in Bohemia.
You know that…
…Is Děčín also called the city of bridges? There are nine of them and each one is unique in its design and history. The most beautiful of them is unfortunately already in the photos, the stone chain bridge of Empress Elizabeth built in 1855. After the fire, only the pillars remained, onto which the first and largest arched steel bridge in Bohemia was placed in 1933, named after the most prominent native of Děčín, Tyrš.
… In 1835, F. Chopin stayed at the castle, where he composed the Děčín Waltz?
… Dr. Miroslav Tyrš, professor of art history at Charles University, philosopher and founder of Sokol, was born in Děčín?
… The Elbe Trail, which is part of the Hamburg – Vienna cycling route under construction, passes through Děčín?
What you should experience
Boat trips on the Elbe
Cruise on the route Děčín-Hřensko-Bad Schandau-Dresden and back. The ship departs daily from the dock under the Děčín Castle on Smetana Embankment. www.labskaplavebni.cz
Inflatable boat and raft rental
In Děčín, it is possible to go beyond the boundaries of everyday life and get to know the landscape of the Elbe Canyon from the surface of the Elbe. When the water is good, you can also try the now forgotten lower reaches of the Ploučnice River. www.zahranice.com (link is external)
Bear trail on the Shepherd’s Wall
Combine a visit to the Děčín Zoo with a new tourist attraction prepared for you by the Děčín Orienteering Club. It is an unconventional walk with an orienteering map through the forest park on Pastýřská stěna, which is suitable for absolutely all age categories. http://pastyranda.kobdecin.cz (link is external)
City festivities
Every year in mid-May, the city of Děčín hosts city festivals, which are a set of cultural and sports events for the general public. A lantern parade has become a tradition, ending with fireworks. There are also historical markets and a music and sports festival.
Aquapark Děčín
The most modern recreational sports complex with thermal water in the Czech Republic. The complex offers a wide range of outdoor and indoor attractions – 25 and 50m swimming pools, a stainless steel pool with parameters for water polo with a 6m deep diving hole, 3 water slides, a water mushroom, a wild river, a bottom grate, a children’s river and other children’s attractions, a wellness center – saunas, massages, a solarium, a spinning gym, a sports field for beach volleyball, streetball, beach football, football, petanque, and a restaurant.
Where to go on a trip
Imperial Lookout and Elbe Guard Lookout Pavilion at Kvádrberk, Děčín
The Kvádrberk City Forest Park is a popular place for walks and numerous tourist routes in Děčín; an educational trail with information about the local flora and fauna was opened here in 2009. A promenade path leads along the Kvádrberk ridge to the observation pavilion from 1890 called the Labská stráž.
Lookout tower on Velký Chlum, Děčín
The lookout tower is located on the top of the basalt lookout hill Velký Chlum 736m high. It offers views of the Děčín Basin, part of the Bohemian Central Mountains and Děčínský Sněžník.
Lookout tower on Sokolí vrch, Dobrná
It is located at an altitude of 506 m. above sea level. The observation tower is 51 m high with an external spiral staircase. It was opened on May 1, 2004. There are 162 steps leading to the roofed observation platform. The observation tower offers a beautiful circular view of Děčín and the surrounding area.
Děčínský (Vysoký Sněžník), Jílové
It is a prominent landmark and, with its height of 723m, it is also the highest table mountain in the Czech Republic. At its peak, a stone tower with battlements rises. This lookout tower from 1864 is the oldest stone building in Bohemia.
Viewpoint Belveder, Labská Stráň
The oldest viewpoint in Bohemian Switzerland from 1701-1711. It offers a view of the Elbe River canyon.
Ruins of Vrabinec (Vrabín) Castle, Těchlovice (Babětín settlement)
Vrabín Castle, later known generally as Vrabinec, was built above a stream valley near the settlement of Babětína, on a steep jagged rock.
Kohout Lookout Tower, Valkeřice
At the top of Kohout (589 m above sea level) there is a lookout tower of the same name. The lookout tower is a 12 m high stone structure and has one viewing platform at a height of 12 m.
Buková hora, Verneřice
Buková hora is located in the Verneřické středohoří above the Elbe valley between the cities of Děčín and Ústí nad Labem. Buková hora is a 683m high basalt hill, dominating this part of the Bohemian Central Mountains. At its peak, an impressive landmark of the region rises to the sky – the Buková hora transmitter, which with its height of 223m is the tallest concrete structure in the Czech Republic.
Humboldt’s Lookout, Verneřice
Humboldt’s viewpoint is located just a few dozen meters from the Buková hora transmitter, at a turnoff from the red hiking trail. It offers a magnificent view of several bends of the Elbe canyon from Děčín to Ústí nad Labem. The trail to Humboldt’s viewpoint leads past a period tourist hut called Děčínská Bouda, where you can buy tourist cards with local motifs and have a snack.
Vitus’s Lookout, Verneřice
Vítova (or also Mukařovská or Náčkovická) lookout is located near the village of Náčkovice on the Verneřický ridge, at the other end of which rises the Buková hora transmitter. The lookout tower is not very large, but its location is sufficient so that nothing obstructs the beautiful views.
Castle of Jílové
A Renaissance chateau surrounded by a romantic park with a pond, garden areas and sports fields, the former seat of the noble Thun family.
Bohemian Switzerland National Park
Děčín is an ideal starting point for trips to the center of the national park – especially the Hřensko area, where you can go boating in the gorges of the Kamenice River or climb to the rocky landmark of the region – Pravčická Gate. In the summer season, a tourist bus also runs from Děčín to the national park.