Location
The Èeské Švýcarsko national park includes the most
valuable part of Labské pískovce (Elbe Sandstones), Jetøichovické
stìny (Jetøichovice Walls) and the border area of Dìèínské
stìny (Decin Walls). To the south and the north-east, the national park
is enclosed by the Labské Pískovce Protected Landscape Area, whereas
to the east the Lužické hory (Lusatian Mountains) Protected Landscape
Area lies adjacent to the park.
Area
NP - 79 square kilometres
History
Èesko-saské Švýcarsko (Czech-Saxon Switzerland) is
one of the most renowned traditional tourist destinations in Central Europe.
This tradition goes back to the period of Romanticism, when Swiss and German
romantic painters "discovered" the area. The first efforts to protect
Saske Svycarsko on a large scale date back to 1928. On January 1, 2000, the
Èeské Švýcarsko national park became the fourth national
park to be established in the Czech Republic. The park links to the Sächsische
Schweiz (Saxon Switzerland) National Park in Germany across the border, which
was founded in 1990.
Nature
The Èeske Švýcarsko national park, a unique sandstone "rock
town", is part of a large natural formation called Labské pískovce
(Elbe Sandstones). Jetøichovické stìny, an area of square
sandstones, displays leaks of basalt minerals, and the separate examples of
Jurassic sandstones to be found along Bilý potok (White Stream) are also
display interesting geological features. The park's relief, which contributes
to the local specific climatic conditions, markedly increases the biodiversity
of Èeské Švýcarsko, as do the local water streams,
above all the small rivers Kamenice and Køinice. Due to the flow of cold
air, climatic inversion develops in deep gorges and passes. As a result, piedmont
and mountain species of plant can be found at the bottom of cold, wet gorges,
at an altitude of approximately 150 metres above sea level. Owing to their vastness,
and at the same time extremely low population density, the Bohemian Switzerland
and the Saxon Switzerland National Parks form a unique unit that has no equal
in Europe.
National attractions
The Pravèická brána (Pravèická Gate) national
natural monument - a unique stone bridge, the Tichá and Divoká
Gorges of the small river Kamenice, the Jetøichovické Rocks, small
rock castles (for example, Šaunštejn, Falkenštejn), the Kyjovské
Valley, which passes on to the gorge of the small River Køinice, the
Rùžák Hill (619 metres above sea level), in which virgin
forest style ecosystems can be found, etc.
Main Tourist Centres
Mezná, an administrative part of Høensko and the only village
to be found in the national park, with valuable examples of folk architecture
(a cottage featuring a supporting wooden arcade), the Mezní Louka Hotel
- a starting point for trips to the Pravèická Gate and to gorges.