Hřensko

The village, located in the valley of the Kamenice River at its mouth into the Elbe, was first mentioned in writing in 1475. A branch of the important Czech Road passed through Hřensko. The inhabitants made their living as boatmen, raftsmen and fishermen, and successfully traded in wood, grain and salt. Customs and tolls were collected here. The name of the village was derived from the name of the so-called lower tavern Hornskratschen. Until 1938, the dominant building of Hřensko – Herrenhaus (Manor House) – stood on its site. Due to annual floods, the houses were built on raised stone foundations.

The village is also historically connected with shipping. The Elbe has been used as an important transport route from Saxony to Bohemia since the Middle Ages. It began with the import of salt, documented as early as the mid-12th century. The floating of timber and goods was the foundation of the village of Hřensko in the 15th century. Local raftsmen and boatmen set out on difficult voyages along the unregulated course of the Elbe to Dresden, Magdeburg and Hamburg. The grain trade was particularly profitable. It was imported from Poohří. In Hřensko it was stored in the manor’s granary and then sold to the inhabitants of the surrounding villages, as well as the Šluknov Spit and Saxon villages. Timber, pitch, planks, shingles and building materials were transported from Hřensko. There were numerous warehouses in the village for transported goods. Smaller boats were built here.

Since the last quarter of the 19th century, tourism has been developing in Hřensko. A number of inns, hotels and guesthouses have been built. The village is a starting point for visiting the gorges of the Kamenice River, walking the nature trail around Pravčická brána and mountaineering. Hřensko is the lowest place in Bohemia (110 m above sea level).

The following local parts also belong to the municipality of Hřensko – Mezná and Mezní Louka.

Map of tourist routes here

What you should see

Kamenice Gorges – one of the most famous attractions of Bohemian Switzerland are the gorges on the Kamenice River. The formation of this landscape began many millions of years ago at the bottom of the sea. After the sea receded, natural processes began to shape the landscape, which are constantly at work. For a long time, the area around Kamenice was difficult to access and its mystery rather discouraged people. It was not until the end of the 19th century that the area was explored and developed for tourism. Visitors can enjoy a walk through romantic nature along the Kamenice River, surrounded on both sides by a wall of high rocks. You will walk under rock overhangs, through several tunnels, and over narrow footbridges. Two sections of the journey can only be completed by boat – these are Edmund’s (otherwise called the Silent) and Divoka Gorges. The human-powered boat will take us between rock formations, and the ferryman will introduce us to the living and fossilized inhabitants of the gorges. Gorges opening hours: Easter – end of October daily from 9 am to 5 pm.

Edmund’s Gorge – formerly called Tichá or Dolní, a rocky canyon of the Kamenice River, the last of three gorges in the lower reaches of the river, east of Hřensko. Its walls are formed by steep, often perpendicular rock walls, rising above the water level to a height of 50 to 150 meters, with clearly visible ashlar disintegration of sandstone, some boulders have fallen to the bottom of the canyon. In the section where the rocks fall directly into the water, boating replaces the road. Access from the upper edge of Hřensko is by foot, first along the left, then along the right bank of the Kamenice under rocky overhangs with three tunnels to the raft, above which is the lower boat landing. It is possible to cover another 960 m section by water, which is followed by a footpath along the left bank to the Mezní bridge, from where it is possible to continue to Divoká soutěska or climb the stairs to Mezná.

Wild Gorge – a deep rocky canyon of the Kamenice River, connecting to the Edmund Gorge at the Mezní Bridge. From the Mezní Bridge, a trail leads to the lower dock, another 450m long section accessible only by boat.

Pravčická Gate – the most famous and admired rock formation of Bohemian Switzerland, the largest natural rock gate in Europe. It stands in the Jetřichovicé stěny near the state border with Germany at the narrowed southwestern end of the rocky ridge. It was formed in Turonian ashlar sandstones by millions of years of weathering of sandstone grains in the less resistant part of the massif. The bottom of the Pravčická Gate lies at an altitude of 415 m above sea level, its width at the bottom is 26.5 m, the height of the opening is 16 m, the upper part of the arch is 21 m above the bottom, the width of the arch is 7-8 m and the minimum thickness is 3 m. The ascent to the Pravčická Gate itself has been closed since 1980, because the rock bridge was endangered by the large number of visitors. However, the rock lookouts in the immediate vicinity of the gate are accessible, from where there is a nice view of some dominants in the Czech and Saxon parts of the sandstone area. There is a paid entrance fee to the rock area.

Gabrielina stezka – the most popular tourist route of Bohemian-Saxon Switzerland, part of the educational trail of friendship from Mezní Louka to Pravčická brána, 6 km long. It was modified in 1892 and named after Edmund Clara-Aldringen’s sister. It winds along sandstone rocks almost along the contour line, offering partial views, especially of Růžovský vrch.

Janovská vyhlídka – on the lookout point, which offers a view of the village centre, there was a monument to the victims of World War I. Its author was the sculptor Friedrich Tampe (1887-1945) from Podmoky in 1925. A number of other Tampe war monuments were erected in local parts of Děčín. The largest bell in the church in Hřensko also commemorated the victims of the war. It was cast in 1924 by Richard Herold from Chomutov. The inscription on the bell “prayed for the fallen heroes of the border village”.

Where to go on a trip

Friendship educational trail

Hřensko – Tři prameny (3 km) – odbočka k Pravčické bráně (5 km) – Pravčická brána a zpět (6 km) – Mezní Louka (12 km) – Mezná (14 km ) – Soutěsky (14,5 km) – přístaviště v Edmundově soutěsce (15,5 km) – dolní přístaviště (16,5 km) – silnice (18,5 km) – Hřensko (19 km)

The route is moderately difficult and suitable for a day trip. If we want to save a few steps, it is worth parking in the upper part of Hřensko near the Klepáč hotel. We set off along the red tourist trail, which rises together with the road towards Mezní Louka. We need to watch out for motor vehicles, some of the bends are not entirely clear. It is worth taking the bus and getting to Three Springs. Here we finally turn left from the road and, still following the red trail, climb along a rocky forest path between individual rocks to the Pravčická Gate. This is followed by a fairly comfortable section along the so-called Gabrielina path, built in 1892. We continue to follow the red mark and, almost along the contour, we “draw” the monumental Wing Wall and other formations. Occasionally we enjoy partial views, especially of Růžovský vrch, and then we comfortably descend to the road and Mezní Louka. Here we find good facilities: a hotel, restaurant, refreshments, souvenir shop, campsite. From Mezní Louka we follow the green mark – about 2 km along the road to the small village of Mezná, from where we descend into the Kamenice gorges to the boat port. After completing the 960 m long section of the Edmundova gorge, we climb to the right bank and take a comfortable path to the road. We exit near the Klepáč hotel in Hřensko.

Hřensko – Edmundova soutěska – Mezná – Tři prameny – Hřensko (6 km)

This route is intended primarily for families with children, is only moderately demanding and can be completed as a half-day trip. From Hřensko we will set off on a pleasant walk upstream of the Kamenice River, which is wedged between sandstone rock formations providing plenty of shade on hot summer days. A boat ride through a picturesque rock canyon, where there is no other way but by water and with the accompanying word of a gondolier, is an unforgettable tourist experience for all ages. We climb a short but steep hill along the green path to the Na Vyhlídce restaurant in Mezná, where we can refresh ourselves after a demanding exercise and the children can have fun on the children’s playground. Then we take a leisurely walk back along the yellow path to Hřensko via Tři prameny (be careful, this path is also for cyclists).

You know that…

…For centuries, a direct connection between Děčín and the Saxon cities was only possible along the Elbe. It was not until 1942 that the road connecting Děčín, Hřensko and the border town of Schmilka was completed. The railway connection had been operating since the 1850s. You can therefore get from Děčín to Hřensko in several ways – by steamer, tourist bus, train and then by ferry across the Elbe and, last but not least, by road or by car.

Further information will be provided by the Hřensko Information Centre.