Holidays without excursions are far from the real thing. Take a trip on foot, by car, bus, train or boat, row down one of the many navigable Czech rivers in a canoe, rent a bicycle and head off for a journey of several days sleeping in campsites or simply in the open air. 38 500 km of hiking trails and 19 000 km of routes for cyclists of various levels of difficulty winding through unspoiled natural surroundings are an aspect of the country few can resist. Keeping pace with you on your travels is an exceptional system of marked trails, one of the very best in Europe.
Set off on a hiking or cycling trip to one of the
Czech cliff formations, a unique geological rarity. The Bohemian Paradise, Czech
Switzerland and the Adršpach-Teplice Cliffs never fail to enchant.
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The Bohemian Paradise (Český ráj), a particularly noteworthy natural area of the
Czech Republic lying between the towns of Mnichovo Hradiště, Jičín and Turnov, fully matches its
longstanding designation. Romantic valleys with towering cliffs alternate with meadows,
half-timbered cottages and farmsteads, and clifftop lookouts offering a captivating view of the
surroundings. The region is also exceptionally rich in historic monuments, such as the well-known
ruins of Trosky Castle or the
Renaissance chateau of Hrubá Skála. Attesting to the importance of the
Bohemian Paradise is the fact that in 2005 it was declared a
UNESCO European Geopark.
If you visit the Bohemian Paradise, do not forget to take a particular look at one of its great specialties – the semi-precious, blood-red Czech garnets. Information about this gemstone’s history, working and use in jewellery is available at the Museum of the Bohemian Paradise in Turnov. - The region known as Czech Switzerland lies in the northwest part of the Czech Republic, adjoining the ‘ Saxon Switzerland’ directly across the German border. Among the most frequently viewed geological formations of the national park is the ‘ Pravčická brána’, a natural bridge of sandstone and the largest in all of Europe
- The ‘rock town’ of Adršpach lies to the northeast, very close to the border with Poland. A series of trails leads through this captivating grouping of stone outcroppings that often form unusual figural shapes. During the summer, it is also possible to enjoy a boat ride on the lake between the cliffs.
