Bohemian Switzerland – Jetrichovice

Bohemian Switzerland, part 5-day 4 – Educational path Jetrichovicke steny

We spent the last day of our trip climbing from one viewing point to another, hiking not more than 14 kilometers, admiring breathtaking panoramas and taking as much of those memories as we could with ourselves. It all started in Jetrichovice.

JETRICHOVICE

We started in Mezni Louka, took bus to Jetrichovice (bus station: Jetřichovice, ObÚ) and follow the red trail, which goes through Mariina’s Rock, Vileminina’ Wall, Purkarticky forest and Rudolf’s Stone next through Ceska Silnice, Saunstejn castle and Small Pravcicka Gate back to Mezni Louka. There’s also a shorter version – for those who choose it, the hike will end right after climbing the Rudolf Stone. Follow the red path until you reach a crossroad-then follow the green path back to Jetrichovice.

VIEWPOINTS

Don’t be mistaken by the short distance. Even though it is 14 or 7 kilometers only, reserve a whole day for it. Climbing the viewpoints is not only strenuous but also time consuming. Count at least 30 to 45 minutes more for each. We started at 9 a.m. o’clock and finished around 5 p.m., while the sole hiking-more than 30 thousand steps took us “only” 4 hours. In case you have enough time, I strongly recommend visiting all the points I mentioned above. Every and each of them carry out new sensation and feeling. Every and each have different ascent and unique panorama on the surrounding uplands. Finally every and each tell different story about its origin.

MARIINA’S ROCK

• Mariina’s Rock, which previously carried the name Velky Ostry (German: Grosse Spitzigen) was renamed after Princess of Lichtenstein in 1856. Back when started the campaign helping the reconstruction of all the significant and meaningful observation points in the region.

SCHWARZE WAND

• The platform on the previously called Cerna Stena rock (German: Schwarze Wand) emerged after 1825 and was named after Rudolf Kinsky’s wife. The forest surrounding Vileminina Stena is overgrown with white panes.

HOHEN STEIN

• Not long after prince Rudolf Kinsky managed to climb the “Vysoky kmen” rock (German: Hohen Stein) in 1824 at its summit a wooden summer-house was built. It was the oldest standing arbour in Jetrichovice. Today it protects from heavy wind those, who succeed at the peak, back in XIX century it served a forest ranger Johan Ramisch as a fire lookout.
• Ceska silnice was the old trade route extending from Bohemia to Saxony. It used to serve also as a border between two neighbouring families: Clary-Aldringen and Kinsky. Nowadays it’s a cycle route number 3029 leading from Vysoka Lipa in direction to Germany.

RUINS OF SAUNSTEJN CASTLE

• Ruins of Saunstejn castle called also thief’s castle stands on the sandstone block wall, where you can get by climbing very narrow metal stairs. It’s quite a stunt, but I’ve seen very small kids or older people ascending there as well. The 70 meters long sightseeing point is connected with small bridges.

PRAVCICKA BRANA

• Small pravcicka gate-the last “attraction” on our way back to Mezni Louka compared to the biggest in Europe natural sandstone gate: Pravcicka Brana seem tiny, but it’s more than 2 meters high and 3 meters wide. Definitely, an advantage is a fact that there’re not so many people here. You can easily take a photo with no one unwelcome on it.

At the end of the day I felt knackered but satisfied and full of memories about Bohemian Switzerland.

If I have a chance I will definitely want to come back to Bohemian Switzerland and explore places I didn’t manage to visit within those 4 days. I’m pretty sure there’s much more to see than the most visited spots here.