Bohemian Switzerland in the Czech Republic
Rating: 8,5/10 ( votes)  Bohemian Switzerland is a picturesque corner of Northern Bohemia, a sandstone mountain range located in the upper Elbe. The German part is named Saxon Switzerland, geographically occupies ? territory of the entire massif. The Czech part is called Bohemian Switzerland. In January 2000, Bohemian Switzerland was declared a national park. In 2009, the park won the EDEN competition and became the main object deserving the honorary status of a European tourist destination in the Czech Republic. Czech Switzerland, according to geographers, is not a mountain range, but rather an erosive a landscape that arose in the Mesozoic era - more than 100 million years ago. At that time, this area was hidden under water, as a result of which several meters of stratified sandy deposits were formed at the bottom. After the sea retreated, the layered sediments were fractured due to a series of geological movements caused by volcanic activity. Over the following centuries, the appearance of the landscape often changed under the influence of various erosive forces. According to sources, the massif got its name thanks to two doormen - the artist Adrian Sing and the engraver Anton Graff, who worked on the restoration of the Dresden galleries from 1776. In their spare time, the two doormans traveled around the area, and often visited the Czech border. They liked this place so much that they refused to return, stating that it was here that they found their Switzerland. One of the most popular and valuable sites in Czech Switzerland is Edmund's Gorge. The gorge got its name in honor of Prince Edmund, who in 1890 created a boat crossing here, especially for tourists. This place is incredibly beautiful and romantic - all kinds of plants and flowers grow on the coast and right on the rocks, and on one of the sections of the path you can see a picturesque artificial waterfall. Another interesting natural attraction of the park - Pravcicka Brana, which is the largest natural sandstone arch in Europe. Pravchitskaya Brana is 16 meters high and 26 meters wide. This arch, according to scientists, arose as a result of centuries of erosion of the less stable part of the massif. Today, an observation deck and small cafes are located directly under the arch. Falcon's Nest - a small castle erected in 1881 by Italian craftsmen at the direction of the prince Edmund Clary-Aldringen. Nowadays, the castle houses a restaurant, the interior of which will allow you to plunge into those forgotten times.     We also recommend reading Krkonose National Park (Giant Mountains) in the Czech Republic Topic: Bohemian Switzerland in the Czech Republic. |
