Czech-Saxon Switzerland

Village description

Hřensko

The small  village Hřensko on the  German border makes the entrance gate to the National park Bohemian Switzerland.  The road from Děčín to Hřensko itself is fascinating for its beautiful scenery of the huge canyon of sandstone rocks and the Elbe river that leads you quietly on and on.  The surrounding rocks rise from canyon up to hundred metres above the river´s level and as the guardians guard the country. With its situation on the confluence of  the Elbe river and Kamenice river, Hřensko is the lowest situated place in the Czech republic (its altitude is 115 m above sea).  Despite its low altitude the scenery around makes a unique phenomenon that makes  you  feel like being in the mountains. The whole village is in the deep gorge along Kamenice river with many restaurants, hotels and pensions around.
The first mention about Hřensko dates back to the 15th century where there was only one pub for sailors and rafters. Later on people started to settle there and their living was not only floating the lumber but also the salt, grain and glass that was stocked there too.  With the trade increase the village was becoming important.  Later the start of  steam sailing was very significant for the  development of the village. In 1838 the first steamship floated through here. In the 19th century the tourism started to increase supported very much by the owner of the manor, prince Edmund Clary Aldringen.  In this time many touristic trails were created.  E.g. the promenade path to Pravčická gate was adjusted.  The aristocratic tourists often visited this sight then. They did not walk on foot, but it was in the habit of renting mules and the group of porters.  The prince also let the passes of Kamenice river adjusted so the boats could have ride through them.  The reason was the bet of local people who in 1877 successfully floated the wild river Kamenice on rafts.  Later the lower pass was named after prince, it is called Edmund´s pass.
Hřensko and its surrounding was also a big inspiration for the famous fairy-tales writer Hans Christian Andersen who visited this place several times.  He was so fascinated by the whole area that he had to repeat his visit.  In the area of Labské sandstones and Pravčická gate - the largest rock bridge in Europe,  very popular american movie "Narnia, the Lion, the  Witch and the Wardrobe" was shot.  Watching the movie you will see the unique beauty of the area and Pravčická gate. Hřensko is the starting point for its visit.  Another interesting place that you should not forget to visit is the boatride through the pass of Kamenice river accompanied with the ferryman´s impressive stories.  Both these attractions are connected with all-day educational trail that leads from Hřensko to Pravčická gate, through the deep woods bordered with rocks you will get to Mezní Louka from where you go down to Kamenice river where the boatrides through the passes start and you get back to Hřensko.
From April do October you can use the steamship or the historical one-floor bus of german company and make a trip to the german side of the border. The steamship stops in every village along the river and you can get as far as Dresden on it. Once a day there is also a steamship going to Děčín and back. The historical bus drives from Mezní Louka through Hřensko to saxon Konigstein and back several times a day. All the information about it you find in the transport section. 

Attention!

Due to the floods The Gorges in Kamenice river are temporary closed.

Tourist attractions in a village

Pravčická gate, Small castle Sokolí hnízdo (Falcon´s nest), Soutěsky, Suchá Kamenice

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