BOHEMIAN SWITZERLAND NATIONAL PARK (Ceske Svycarsko)

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.