A week walking in the Ústí region
Explore the beauty of the diverse Ústí nad Labem region. One of the following 12 tips will definitely suit both experienced or occasional hikers.
Tisá Rocks
One of the largest rock formations, situated 20 km north of Ústí nad Labem. What is the origin of the rocks in the protected landscape area of the Elbe Sandstone Rocks? They originated from alluvial sand deposits on the bed of a fresh water sea which then slowly retreated. Ninety million years ago the sand plate of the Chalk period of the Mesozoic era split up as a result of earth pressures and weathering conditions, and individual walls, towers, bridges and rock labyrinths were formed. The Small and Big Rocks have 74 named rock formations (marked in black numbers in white squares) connected by the nature trail (marked in a white square with a diagonal green stripe). 15 stops feature information panels informing about the geological origin (with the first one being situated at St. Anne’s Church, and the fifteenth one at the Tourist Cottage). Two cycle circle paths run through the rocks, they proceed further to Děčínský Sněžník (7,5 km) with its 30 m high stone outlook tower. The red marked trail ends in Děčín (19 km).The entrance to the rocks following the red mark begins 200 m above St. Anne’s Church (1789). A simple guide leaflet can be bought at the box office on the Rock square. The red mark leads us to the right to the Big Rocks. Turn left at the crossroads past the Elephant Rock to follow the green mark, which will take us along the upper circle with towers 70 m in height until we reach the tourist cottage standing at the road junction towards Sněžník. Here you can decide whether to return following the red mark to the Rock Square and go through the Small Rocks circle or to follow the red mark to the north-east, to the picturesque area of the village of Ostrov, displaying 93 labelled rocks and towers reaching a height of up to 20 m, and very popular with climbers due to the hardness of the sandstone rock. The visitor’s rules of the protected landscape area also here restrict where you can walk in order to preserve and conserve the nature of a remarkable beauty. Walk along the road to return to the tourist cottage, where you can freshen up and then following the red mark leading on the rock ridges return to the initial Rock square.
The Small Rocks situated on the left-hand side (24 marked rocks) are marked in green. Behind the „Janus´ Head“ you climb the timber stairs to the rock plate called „Western View“, from where you can enjoy the panorama of the Northern Rocks, closed to the public, as well as the silhouettes of mesas in Saxon Switzerland. Walk across the bridge leading to the observation point with a view of the towers of the Big Rocks and Děčínský Sněžník in the background. From the north, we return to the Rock square.
The Tisá Rocks link to the north-west Rájec Rocks of the hard sandstone massif with the distinct Hawk Tower. A road leads us to the village of Rájec with scattered properties and a system of ponds and a road finishing at the FRG border. The northern part is called Bird Rocks, on the right side, the rocks continue along the Rájec Valley. A total of 28 of rock formations are labelled here. To explore everything, you need to spend a whole day in the Tisá Rocks area. Plenty of restaurants and kiosks as well as natural swimming pools can be found there. In winter, a 500 m ski lift operates here. In spring, you are welcomed by birches, in summer you can find huckleberries, autumn is abundant in mushrooms, violet heather and colourful flora.
Eastern Ore Mountains Natural Park
It comprises an area along the state border - from Cínovec to Petrovice. Its total area amounts to 4000 ha at an average altitude of 700 m above sea level. The area has been continuously revitalized and it is used as a recreational area. Marking of tourist trails and cycle paths is being renewed, water courses are maintained. The park is divided into several core zones. The whole area is open to tourists unless relevant conditions for stays say otherwise.A part of the Habartice zone - a mountain meadow near Telnice, stretches into the Ústí nad Labem district. It covers 30 ha and stretches as far as the ski lifts. Get off at the bus terminal in Zadní Telnice in the ski resort of Adolfov. A Black Cross is erected in the tip of the FRG border (1.5 km). Flora is represented by the knotweed, cotton-grass, spignel, bent-grass, buckbean, and rarely even orange lily. From Adolfov you can walk through Habartice and visit Komáří vížka in the Teplice district (5 km, it can also be accessed via the „longest“ funicular from Bohosudov). Here you can fresh up, enjoy the picturesque landscape below the Ore Mountains and the ridges of the Ore Mountains and the Bohemian Uplands.
The largest and the most interesting zone is the Špičák reserve with an area of 405 ha. The easternmost top of the Ore Mountains, Špičák (723 m) comprises adjoining turfed and dry slope florid meadows of the alluvial plains of the Rybný, Hraniční and Větrovský Brook basins. Its geological structure displays rocks of three eras (primitive gneiss, Mesozoic sandstone from Tisá and the volcanic peak formed by the Tertiary basalt). The eastern foot displays a cleftcave. The peak, to which we can get via a few access steps, has a tourist cottage and panoramic views. Dry meadows are dominated by the spignel, arnica and Dianthus sylvaticus. Wet meadows are dominated by the globe-flower, aconite, Siberian iris and Dactylorhysa majlis. Along the streams featuring stony banks we can find dipper’s nests and rarely even the king-fisher.
The last zone is the so-called Mordová Canyon in the basin of the Slatinný Brook, draining into Germany. Here you can also see dippers, rarely black storks and the Euro-Asian Eagle Owl. Fauna is represented by the perennial honesty and Senecio fuchsii on sunny slopes. Go through Petrovice and its southern cottage settlement and follow the red mark, which will lead us to Panenská. You can get to Telnice either through the Nakléřovský Pass with its wonderful view of the valley below the Ore Mountains, or continue following the red mark, which shall take you through charming countryside back to the bus terminal Krásný Les - Telnice. The red mark continues to Adolfov and then you turn left down the unmarked road by the Bystrý brook in Telnice.
Access from Ústí nad Labem – ČSAD line bus to Krásný Les or Petrovice (here you have to change the order of the route)
Svádov, Valtířov, Velké Březno - Zubrnice
You can freshen up in Svádov at the Baroque vicarage built by Anna Marie Františka Toskánská (1731) and see the Three mages Column with the Piety in the vicarage park. Crossing the railway line and turning left you reach the Gothic Curch of St. Jacob the Greater (1477). The abutment wall of the church built by Anna of Vartenberk features a portal and a chapel (1606). Behind the church you will start ascending left towards the village of Olešnice where you can chose between two circuits:First circuit: Cross the bridge over the Olešnický Brook and walk towards the village of Varta. On the peak of Zámecký Hill there used to stand a guard castle with a similar name. Descend following the yellow mark through the part called Vítov to Velké Březno. The new chateau was built (1844) as a late Empire summer seat for Duke Karel Chotek, who held the position of senior Bohemian burgrave in Prague from 1826. In 1910, the chateau reconstruction in the New Renaissance was completed together with the chapel and the English park. Once you have seen the chateau, go through the municipality to the Tivoli garden restaurant. You can freshen up here and walk west to the old chateau, where Sofia, the later wife of Ferdinand d’Este was born. The chateau was rebuilt from a fort by the Salhausen family after the Svádov estate was purchased from Jan of Vartenberk (today a retirement home) in 1528. Pass the brewery (1753) and the textile plant through the Nový Les settlement to Valtířov.
St. Wenceslas´ Church in Valtířov (1574) displays an epitaph of the Bocek Family (1615) which is the largest in the Czech Republic. Next to the church cemetery there is a New Gothic chapel (1869) with the Duke Chotek tomb/vault. You can rest in the park by the column of the 14 Holy Helpers. A train or bus can take you back to Ústí n.L..
Second circuit: From Olešnice walk to the edge of the forest and take the path on the left leading to Valtířov, go through Velké Březno in the reverse order and explore the Elbe River ferry.
Zubrnice is a village monument reservation in the Luční Brook basin. Get off the bus from Ústí nad Labem on the village green at the wooden information panel. The Church of St. Mary Magdalene was rebuilt in the Baroque style in 1739. Reconciliation crosses have been relocated to the steps from Chabařovice and Hrbovice. The timber Baroque well (1695) was relocated to the village green from Střížovice. The statue of St. John of Nepomuk stands nearby on a carved plinth (1723). The house opposite, No. 61, features the main exhibition of the Museum of Folk Architecture, opened in 1987. Here you can see a cart shed, fruit drier, a half-timbered barn and a grange as well as other artefacts relocated here from different places of the Bohemian Uplands. Along the church abutment wall you can visit the village school, explore the school equipment from the period after WWI and visit a typical village shop. A museum of the railway line from Velké Březno to Úštěk displays an exhibition established in the train station, which documents the line operation between 1889-1978. The yard features several historic vehicles (i.e. a crane, trolley, locomotive, carriages, etc.). The museum organises occasional trips along the section between Velké Březno and Zubrnice. Cross the railway line and continue to the historical water mill in Týniště on the left. On your way, you can follow information panels explaining the nature trail. Past the mill walk across the Baroque bridge to the cemetery above the village, where the half-timbered chapel from Zihlice in the Teplice region was relocated. Go along the fence of house No. 61 and you will get back to the village green in Zubrnice, from where you can get back to Ústí nad Labem by a line bus.
The “Přemysl“ Stadice and its surroundings
The trail begins in Trmice at the Church of the Virgin Mary’s Birth (1898) and the statue of St. Joseph. Walk under the motorway slip road and see the chateau built by the Nostic Family in the Elizabethan Gothic style (1863). Relax in the chateau park and follow the red mark along the Bílina River Basin. Walk through the village of Koštov to the Empire chapel (1820) under the motorway slip road. You then come to the village of Stadice, connected with the legend of the beginning of the Bohemian state as written by Cosmas the chronicler.At the edge of the village you can relax at the King’s Spring, sheltered by the crown of a „Slavonic“ lime tree. The Baroque bridge will take us to the village green with a belfry and Baroque statue of Immaculata (1770). The stone plaque placed on house No. 24 informs us that on this site there used to stand a farm of the dynasty founder – Přemysl the Ploughman. Walk through the village to the King’s Field, formed by 3 fields, left for the Crown by Charles IV after he paid the village from the pledge. In the middle of the field with a legendary hazel tree, from which hazel nuts were delivered to the Royal Chamber, a memorial displaying a plough was erected by Duke E. Nostitz-Rieneck. The memorial was unveiled on 3. 9. 1841. The embossments by J. Max depict the messengers who found Přemysl the Ploughman while he was ploughing and his arrival at Prague Vyšehrad castle. The King’s Field, the memorial and the well are national cultural monument. From the Empire lodge (1841) following the green mark you walk around Volská Hill from its left, where, according to legend, Přemysl´s bulls disappeared, walk around the village of Suchá, between the Homolka and Černý les Hills, then through Dubice to a part called Dubičky.
On the hill (220 m above the River Elbe) there is an observation point at St. Barbara’s Church (1643). The views of the valley with the River Elbe meanders, the hills of the Bohemian Uplands and the remote Radobýl and Říp Mountains are an unforgettable sight. You can freshen up in the “U svaté Barbory“ restaurant and then choose which way to get back.
1. Following the green mark you descend to the village of Dolní Zálezly. On the way you can enjoy the rare steppe flora on the sunny rocky slopes, i.e. a burning bush, St. Bernard’s Lily, spinifex as well as iris. The Dubice hill offers an observation point (238 m) and a metallic so-called Miller’s Cross. Continue past the old white china clay quarry, the cemetery and sculpture of St. Joseph, past the Art Nouveau villas to the village green featuring St. Anne’s Chapel (1780) and the belfry. Walk to the train station past the Praha hotel. The station building (1850) is a cultural technical monument, built by ing. Negrelli during the construction of the Prague-Podmokly-Dresden line. Get a train or a line bus to return to Ustí n. L.
2. Walk back about 450 m following the green mark towards Dubice and on the right turn to follow the yellow mark to Moravany village. Walk across the picturesque green featuring a Baroque Cross and a small belfry and then join the red mark to the canyon of the Mlýnský brook with its waterfall cascades. At the china clay quarry join the green mark and go to Dolní Zálezly.
A trip to Větruše and Vrkoč (8 km)
Route: Go along the path marked with yellow hiking signs from the Central Train Station to the railway viaduct, cross the small bridge over the Bílina River to Větruše, from Větruše follow the green hiking signs for about 4 kilometres until you reach the waterfall in Podlešínský Brook (Podlešínský potok); from the waterfall, turn right to the lookout platform. After enjoying the view of the Labe river valley, return to the waterfall, turn sharply right at the green hiking sign and go along the Podlešínský Brook downhill to Vrkoč foot (interesting view upwards). Then you can go left along the road (Čajkovského Street) with minimum traffic to the city or follow the yellow hiking sign on the right under the railroad subway to a parking place in Vaňov. Here you can get refreshments or use city bus No. 13 to get back to the city centre.Berta Valley - Erben Lookout Tower - Mariánská Rock - ZOO - new (Mariánský) bridge (8 km)
Route: At the first curve of the serpentines, enter Berta Valley (Bertino údolí) behind the garages and walk uphill to Stříbrníky along the Stříbrnický Brook (Stříbrnický potok). Cross the Dobětice estate and walk uphill through the forest to Erben Lookout Tower (Erbenova vyhlídka). Return by following the green hiking sign to the crossroads in Dobětice and follow the blue hiking sign on the right and go to Výstupní Street across Dobětice (final station of trolley buses No. 53 and 54). Continue to Mariánská Rock (Mariánská skála) and back to the city centre or follow Výstupní Street to the upper entrance to the ZOO (bus No. 5). By the lower entrance to the ZOO in Krásné Březno, there is a trolley bus stop for trolley buses No. 51, 55, 57 and 58. The Mariánský Bridge (Mariánský most) is accessible on foot by crossing the crossroads behind the railway viaduct (be careful of intense road traffic).A trip from Ústí nad Labem to Píšťany (23 km)
Route: From the central train station over the Dr. E. Beneš road bridge (most Dr. E. Beneše), turn right just after the bridge and then along bikeway No. 2 to Střekov, Brná, Sebuzín, Církvice (city bus No. 1), Libochovany, Velké Žernoseky, Žalhostice, Píšťany. If you want, you can enhance your trip through in Libochovany on route No. 3057 to Kamýk, Kundratice with vista from Varhošť, then go on route No. 3058 across Miřejovice, Knobloška to Žalhostice and Píšťany. The one who wants to shorten the trip, get on city bus No. 1 to Církvice and then follow the route described. The one who wants to go directly to Píšťany may travel by train from Ústí nad Labem Central Train Station to Lovosice - město and then via ferryboat located about 1.5 km from the train station. Or from Ústí nad Labem - Střekov railway station to Velké Žernoseky (it is located almost in Žalhostice) and now go about 500 metres to the lake. You can also travel by bus on Ústí nad Labem - Litoměřice line, get out in Žalhostice. At the ferry in Velké Žernoseky, there is connection to the MODO bikeway (Most - Doksy).Strenuousness of the route: mostly along the Labe river, vertical climb 5 m (riverbank at the bridge 140 metres above sea level, Píšťany 145 metres above sea level). When turning off the route in Libochovany to Kalvárie and Hrádek (268 metres above sea level) and then on the road to Velké Žernoseky, the vertical climb is 128 metres and when turning off to Varhošť (639 metres above sea level) the climb is 499 metres.
Battle of Chlumec 1813 - TRACING THE BATTLE (6 km)
Route: 1. Russian Memorial - the memorial's foundation stone (a cast-iron pyramid with a statute of Niké, Goddess of Victory and lions along the pavement) was laid in 29 August 1835 in the presence of the heads of the countries that participated in the winning battle (Austrian Emperor Ferdinand, Russian Tsar Nikolas and Prussian King Frederick William III). The memorial was built according to a design by Pietr Nobile, the court's councillor, in memory of the regiments of A. I. Ostermann-Tolstoy (4,000 Russian soldiers died there). 2. Mass grave - a large-scale grave of the remains of almost 10,000 of the 20,000 fallen soldiers. 3. French Memorial and Russian Leather (Yuchta) Chapel - the baroque chapel stands on the axis of the main battle line, where the Russian artillery with guards of infantry defeated the oncoming Frenchmen but with huge losses. The adjacent French Memorial was built in 1991. In neighbouring Stradov, there is one more memorial dated 1843. 4. The Chapel of Trinity at Hůrka - a triangular baroque chapel built in 1690-1691 to commemorate victory over the plague. General D. R. Vandamme took his stand here during the battle. 5. Jubilee Memorial - ceremonially opened in the presence of many heads of state in 29 August 1913 to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the battle. Inside, there is a small battle exhibition. 6. Vandamme Memorial - designates the place where the superior commander of the French divisions, Dominique René Vandamme, was captured by Russian Cossacks. 7. Prussian Memorial - a New Gothic memorial built in 1817 in memory of the fallen Prussian soldiers of General Kliest (following the architectural design by Karl Friedrich Schinkel). 8. Austrian Memorial - a cast-iron obelisk with a sculpture of a lion, embossment of the bust of Austrian military leader Hieronym V. Colloredo-Mansfeld and an Austrian eagle wearing a regal garland at the top; dated to 1825. Created by Czech sculptor Václav Prachner and commemorating the repulsion of Napoleon's attack on 17 September 1813. 9. Kleist Memorial in Nakléřov - built in 1913 on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the Napoleonic battle of Chlumec and the awarding of the honorary predicate "von Nollendorf to Prussian General Fridrich Kliest. Here, Kliest crossed the mountains from Saxony when retreating to Dresden and with his soldiers he penetrated the rear of French General Vandamme's division. 10. Napoleon Stone - a stone in the ground and a nearby standing wooden cross resemble the baroque church of St. Wenceslas (demolished in 1975) whose tower was supposedly used by Napoleon on 17 September 1813 to oversee his attempt to invade Bohemia. On the nearby Nakléřov Uplands, the Emperor Lookout Tower was built on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the battle, but it collapsed on 29 January 1944 after a winter storm (a pile of ruins is all that remains there now). A model of the lookout tower can be seen in the Museum of Ústí nad Labem.A trip to Střekov Castle, "Painter’s Nook” and sluices (4 km)
Route: Go on the path marked with red hiking signs - from Střekov behind the railway bridge on Labe riverbank to the train station in Ústí nad Labem - Střekov, still go on the path marked with red hiking signs to the castle, visit the castle, now go on the path marked with yellow hiking signs from the castle across the road to the "Painter Nook (Malířský koutek), walk across the sluices and back to the city by city bus No. 13. You can select the inverse way.To Velké Březno (8 km)
Route: From the central train station over the Dr. E. Beneš road bridge, under the bridge turn off to the road downstream the Labe river to Olšinky, Svádov, Valtířov and Velké Březno. (In Olšinky, you can turn off and keep on blue hiking sign to Budov and there is Vlčí Canyon (Vlčí rokle) with 11-metre-high waterfall - best viewed in winter or spring. From the canyon, you can use an unsigned road to Svádov.) Svádov is accessible via city bus No. 13 and Velké Březno is accessible also by train from Ústí nad Labem - Střekov railway station.A trip to Krkavčí Rock and Varhošť (about 10 km)
Route: From Ústí nad Labem Central Train Station over the Dr. E. Beneš road bridge (most Dr. E. Beneše), then turn off upstream along bikeway No. 2 (or city bus No. 1) to Brná and Sebuzín. You can also travel by train from the Střekov railway station. In Sebuzín, you can choose where to get off the bus:1. about 0.5 km before Sebuzín, use the railroad subway and follow blue hiking signs for about one kilometre, then turn right to yellow hiking signs and join the green hiking signs (then see 2 below).
2. from Sebuzín, follow green hiking signs under Havraní Rock (Havraní skála) - a lookout with more difficult access, 385 metres - to the crossing with yellow hiking sign, turn right to Krkavčí Rock (Krkavčí skála) - a lookout - or turn left to the lookout on Varhošť (639 metres above sea level). Go back on the yellow hiking signs to the crossing with green and down to Sebuzín.
A trip from Ústí nad Labem to Brná along a nature trail (10 km)
Route: From the terminal bus station in Brná towards the baroque chapel of St. Ann (1756) go uphill through the rocky Průčelská Canyon (Průčelská rokle) along the brook on the nature trail marked with hiking signs (white square with green oblique line - there are eight boards on the way with descriptions of the surrounding countryside). The path changes to a wood path and continues uphill, and at the broken stones by Výří Rocks (Výří skály), there is a waterfall and going further uphill will take you to vistas over the Labe River valley and a part of Bohemian Midlands (České středohoří). At the group of red, yellow and green signs, go along the road on the left towards Vysoký Ostrý (587 metres above sea level) with a platform lookout, then go back to the nature trail where the protected Sluneční Hillside (Sluneční stráň) awaits you, down on the left-hand side you can see a rocky giant - Samotář, turn left off the path boards along the road marked with hiking signs, walk uphill again and now you are in Nová Ves (refreshments available in the village) and now downhill to Střekov Castle. Or you can terminate the trip in Nová Ves and go back to the city by city bus No. 9. The journey can be done in reverse as well and at the end, you can get refreshments in the Srdíčko restaurant and in thermal spa in Brná.
Accomodation in the surroundings
Name: Interhotel BOHEMIA***
Address: Mírové nám. 6, 400 01 Ústí nad Labem
Phone: +420 475 311 111
Email.: info@ihbohemia.cz
URL: www.ihbohemia.com
Name: IBS Hotel VLADIMIR****
Address: Masarykova 36, 400 01 Ústí nad Labem
Phone: +420 475 235 111
Email: booking@hotelvladimir.cz
URL: www.hotelvladimir.cz
Name: Hotel VĚTRUŠE****
Address: Fibichova 390/25, 400 01 Ústí nad Labem
Phone: +420 474 620 330
Email: hotel@hotelvetruse.cz
URL: www.hotelvetruse.cz
Name: Guesthouse DUEL
Address: Moskevská 30, 400 01 Ústí nad Labem
Phone: +420 475 210 640, +420 776 185 513
Email: pension.duel@volny.cz
URL: www.pensionduel.o1.cz
Name: Hotel CAMELOT Tisá**
Address: Tisá 355, 403 36 Tisá
Phone: +420 475 222 358
Email: hotelcamelot@seznam.cz
URL: www.hotel-camelot-tisa.cz
Name: Hotel OSTROV****
Address: Ostrov u Tisé 12
Phone: +420 475 222 428
Email: hotelostrov@hotelostrov.com
URL: www.hotelostrov.com
For other options for accommodation please refer to the accommodation database
Catering in the surroundings
Name: Restaurant VĚTRUŠE
Address: Fibichova 392/25, 400 01 Ústí nad Labem
Phone: +420 474 620 330
Email: restaurant@hotelvetruse.cz
URL: www.hotelvetruse.cz
Name: Restaurant LABSKÁ BAŠTA
Address: Střekovské nábřeží 981, 400 03 Ústí nad Labem
Phone: +420 475 530 250
Email: LabskaBasta@seznam.cz
URL: www.labskabasta.cz
Name: Restaurant HOTEL SRDÍČKO
Address: K Srdíčku 28, 400 03 Ústí nad Labem
Phone: +420 475 541 384, +420 777 105 050
Email. srdicko@quick.cz
URL: www.hotelpenzionsrdicko.cz
Name: Restaurant TIVOLI
Address: Alej Sportovců 148, 403 23 Velké Březno
Phone: +420 774 338 118
Email: tivoli-restaurace@seznam.cz
Name: Restaurant U SVATÉ BARBORY
Address: Dubice 39, 400 02 Dubice
Phone: +420 721 177 404
Email: info@penzion-dubicky.cz
URL: www.penzion-dubicky.cz
Name: Restaurant TURISTICKÁ CHATA
Address: Tisá 257, 403 36 Tisá
Phone: +420 475 222 275
Email: turischatatisa@volny.cz
URL: www.turistickachatatisa.cz
For other options for catering facilities see the catering database.
Publications
8 tips for a trip – a set of postcards with a description and a map – available in the Information centre
Photos