Mikulášovice

The town of Mikulášovice is still a little-known starting point to the Bohemian-Saxon Switzerland from the north. In the seven-kilometre-long village, which follows the Mikulášovice stream, visitors will come across many remains of the industrial era and will also find a number of valuable church buildings.

The village was probably founded at the time of German colonization in 13. – 14th century as a settlement of coal miners. It was first mentioned in 1446 (Nickelsdorf). Mikulášovice was promoted to a town in 1916, as one of the largest villages of the Austro-Hungarian Empire (7,000 inhabitants). After the removal of the German population, the village declined for many years and was never again inhabited on the pre-war scale. However, the former tradition of cutlery and textile production survived among local firms.

What you should see

Church of St. Nicholas – the dominant feature of the town, standing in its centre. Its present appearance dates from 1743-1750. The Chapel of Our Lady on the eastern side of the present church has been preserved from the original building. The local organ, said to be one of the largest in Bohemia, is an interesting feature.

Former observatory – an inconspicuous building opposite the church. It was built by pharmacist Adolf Krause (died 1939), whose hobby was astronomy and he was a member of the World Astronomical Society. In the 1960s, it was confirmed that Krause’s astronomical observations produced extraordinary results in his time.

Tanečnice with a lookout tower (597 m) – the second highest point in the Šluknov foothills after Hrazené. Since 1905, an octagonal stone lookout tower, the northernmost in Bohemia, has stood at the top. The 26 m high tower is open all year round.

Conciliation Cross – near the Zlodějská cesta near the settlement of Tomášov (local part of the village). The stone cross was carved in memory of a tragic death in 1753.

Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary in Vilémov – a pilgrimage site above the Vilémovský brook in the local part of Dolina. The church was built in 1726-1731 near a well with healing effects (1646).

The Chapel of the Holy Trinity – a sandstone triangular chapel dating from 1741, located on the road from Mikulášovice to Brtníky.

Railway viaduct in Vilémov – 34 m high bridge with a length of 190 m over the Vilémovský brook. It was built in 1903-1904 and at that time it was the highest railway viaduct in Austria-Hungary.

Weifberg (478 m) – a lookout tower 1 hour away along the Mikulášovice Trail. It was built in 2001. Circular view, the tower is accessible all year round for free.

Hinterhermsdorf – resort and mountain village in the back of Saxon Switzerland. In the village there are a number of well-kept half-timbered houses, a museum with an exhibition of the interior of the half-timbered house and life in it in the 20th century.

Natural swimming pool – it was built after World War I near the Mikulášovice trail. It has been preserved in its original form. It is fed by a stream flowing from the northern slope of Hraniční vrch. There are three reservoirs – a pre-heating one with an island on which a gazebo used to stand, a water area for children and a large pond. The wooden changing cabins are also original.

You know that…

…there are three train stations in the village? Mikulášovice upper station at the eastern end of the village and Mikulášovice lower station at the western end. The best starting point for excursions is the Mikulášovice centre stop. The creation of the station was connected with the industrial boom of the local villages in the 19th century and the construction of the North Bohemian Industrial Railway in 1901. The railway ran from Rumburk through Panský and Brtníky to Mikulášovice.

…Mikulášovice was the birthplace of the cutlery industry in Bohemia? The local merchant Ignaz Rösler was at the beginning of the flourishing of knife production in the 18th century. Not only knives, but also cords, razors and surgical instruments were produced in the village. Knife making was at its most famous during and after World War I. The village was nicknamed ‘Czech Solingen’. The production of knives (e.g. the famous fish knives) has survived to the present day.

Organized events

Knife Festival

The Knifemakers’ Festival is held on the penultimate Sunday in June in the courtyard of the Mikulášovice factory. The event is a kind of promotion of traditional craftsmanship and social life in the region of Bohemian Switzerland. Knife making in Mikulášovice has a tradition of more than two hundred years. Although Mikov has made a plethora of knife products during its era, most of us associate the name of the company mainly with the silver fish-shaped pocket knife. It was already produced in Mikulášovice before the First World War, but it reached its greatest popularity in the second half of the 20th century, and a special production facility, nicknamed the “fish factory”, was established in the factory. Today, the factory premises also house a knife museum and a shop open on weekdays.

Easter rides

The traditional Easter Riders’ Ride, which has been continuously preserved in nearby Horní Lužice, has been restored in Šluknovský výběžek, specifically in Mikulášovice. Every year on Easter Sunday, men dressed in tailcoats, black boots and top hats sit on horses in the Catholic Upper Lusatia in Germany and take part in the so-called Easter rides. This is an ancient custom associated with faith and prayers for a good harvest. Only men take part in the rides and they first go round the cemetery of their village in pairs in a long line. In front of the church, the parish priest blesses them and hands over the flags, and then the procession sets off to the neighbouring parish, singing Lusatian-Serbian songs proclaiming Christ’s resurrection. Up to several hundred riders take part in these rides in Upper Lusatia. Similarly, in Mikulášovice, this procession of horse riders on horseback starts after Mass from the Church of St. Nicholas and ends again at the church with the final song.