Šluknov Region

While the heart of Bohemian-Saxon Switzerland enchants its visitors with rock towns, canyons and tourism, the Šluknov Region – its northern part – tells a different story. It is a region that has retained its unpretentious, honest character, an area with deep forests, traditional architecture, and the influence of an industrial history that has left a strong mark here.

The Rumburk Loreto Chapel is an exact copy of the Italian original and is not only the northernmost Loreto in Bohemia, but also in Europe.

The Šluknov region is the northern tip of the Czech Republic, sandwiched between Germany and the Lusatian Mountains. It includes the towns of Dolní Poustevna, Chřibská, Jiříkov, Krásná Lípa, Mikulášovice, Rumburk, Šluknov, Varnsdorf, Velký Šenov and less than a dozen smaller villages. Geographically, it is related to Bohemian Switzerland, but its character is different – while the south is touristically exposed, the north is quieter, sometimes forgotten, but all the more authentic.

Basilica of Our Lady Help of Christians in Filipov. It was founded on the place where the so-called miracle of Filipov took place on 13 January 1866 – the miraculous healing of the seriously ill Magdalene Kade after the apparition of the Virgin Mary.

While the southern parts of the Děčín region were traditionally more agricultural and recreational, the Šluknov region has been a center of textile industry and small-scale production since the 19th century. . There were small factories specialized in weaving, stockings, embroidery or glass buttons in practically every larger village. At the time of its greatest boom, the area was nicknamed “Bohemian Manchester”. After 1945, and especially after 1989, many businesses disappeared, but the industrial spirit still remains – even in new forms of crafts, manufacturing, and business.

Half-timbered house no. 424

One of the oldest half-timbered houses can be found in Lipová, built between 1723 and 1727 and underwent extensive reconstruction in 2010 and 2013. Today it serves as an information center, museum and hosts various social events.

Despite its industrial past, nature of the Šluknov Region is surprisingly well-preserved and rich – it is just different from the Bohemian Switzerland. You won’t find dramatic sandstones here, but a more gentle, rolling landscape, forests, lakes, pastures and views of the Lusatian Mountains. The region is ideal for cycling and quiet wandering.

Šluknov Castle is the northernmost castle in the Czech Republic and its historical charm combined with modern use makes it an ideal destination for a trip.

Some natural attractions:

  • Spravedlnost (Justice) – a hill in Doubice with a beautiful view of the whole Šluknov region

  • Vlčí hora – basalt cone with a lookout tower, in the surroundings you can also find the springs of the Mandava river

  • Pond landscape between Lipová, Království and Mikulášovice – ideal for fall walks

The Šluknov Region is for those who are not in search of crowds and tourist attractions, but rather for places that have a soul. It is a region of contrasts – where nature and industrial heritage, dilapidated factories with the poetics of the old days and forests that engulf you in silence intertwine. For many, it’s the undiscovered North – for others, it’s a matter of the heart.

And a few more tips:

  • Best season: escape here from the crowds in summer, in winter wander through the quiet countryside
  • With children: definitely yes, there are many outdoor and indoor activities for children in the whole Šluknov Region, for example the Dinoherna in Rumburk
  • How to get here: the whole Šluknov Region is served by a number of bus lines, and the National Park Railway runs here, connecting Děčín, Rumburk, and the German town of Bad Schandau. From Prague and other stops along the rotue, a special retro Lusatian Mountains express train will also bring you here.