České Švýcarsko National Park

České Švýcarsko National Park is a protected area in the Ústí nad Labem Region of the Czech Republic, preserving part of the Elbe Sandstone Mountains. The park was created to protect striking sandstone formations, deep gorges and mixed forest landscapes.

Prominent natural highlights include the large sandstone arch known as Pravčická brána and the narrow Kamenice River gorges where small boat passages run through steep rock walls. The park has a network of marked hiking trails and several established viewpoints and visitor gateways.

Conservation measures formalized the park at the end of the 20th century to manage tourism and protect fragile rock formations and habitats. Over time trail infrastructure and visitor facilities have been developed around primary attractions such as Hřensko and the arch.

The park lies in northwestern Czech Republic along the border with Germany, forming a continuous sandstone region with Saxon Switzerland across the frontier and accessible from towns such as Děčín and Hřensko.

• Protection: Park status was established in 2000 to protect the distinctive Elbe Sandstone landscape shared with neighboring Saxon Switzerland in Germany.
• Visitor highlights: Most visited features include the sandstone arch and the Kamenice River gorges; trails range from short walks to multi-day routes in the protected area.

What to See #

• Pravčická brána: A large natural sandstone arch and the park's best-known landmark, situated on the park's eastern edge and serving as a major visitor attraction and viewpoint.
• Kamenice Gorges: A series of narrow sandstone gorges carved by the Kamenice River, offering boat passages and marked walking routes through steep rock walls near the village of Hřensko.
• Hřensko: The village that functions as the main gateway for visitors, with trailheads, visitor services and access to boat trips into the gorges.