An Adventure into Bohemian Switzerland.

After spending a few days in the magical capital of Czech Republic, Prague, we wanted to spend some time exploring what the countryside had to offer.  A little road trip was the perfect way to head up North towards the German border.  The region is known as Bohemian Switzerland – an area of lush trees, gorgeous hiking paths and amazing nature.

Most people won’t think of doing a road trip out of Prague when they visit this region but we were so glad we decided to do something different and explore some of the less visited areas of the country.  Historically, this was an extension of Switzerland, with plenty of castles created to defend the region along the trade routes.  These fortifications and castles definitely add to the character of the region, along with some of the most amazing landscapes and views.  This makes it a perfect little excursion from Prague, ideal for an overnight stay (in a farm) and some relaxation with the natural greenery!  Here is my itinerary for a quick detour out of the Czech capital.

Day 1

We started at the car rental in the centre of Prague, at the main train station. It was easy enough to register and pick up the car with the rental company.  We highly recommend using sites such as CarRental8 (link) to find the best deals for you car rentals.Our first leg was a 1.5 hour drive up to Hrensko, a little village by the river, near the national park. The drive up was very easy, with little traffic and very comfortable and wide roads. We stopped at the first restaurant we saw for some warm tea and coffees, in eager anticipation of our little hike. Our main target for the day was to see Pravčická Brana, also known as the Falcon’s Nest.

The walk up is very mild and easy with a very straightforward path to follow. As we visited in December, the greenery were replaced by these amazing autumny orange leaves, which was all really picturesque! After a bit of a hike, we finally got a glimpse of the archway. This is the largest natural stone arch in Europe and is absolutely massive as a backdrop, when you look up at it!

There is also a pretty old school looking building next to the arch that used to house guests of the park.

At the back of the building, there is a little path that leads you around and up some stairs towards a nice aerial view of the arch and house. It is well worth climbing up for some photos. Do bare in mind that it can get a bit foggy and cold!

Evening in a Modern Farm

After some (lots) of photos and getting a bit cold, we had to walk back down towards the car and head towards our stay for the night. We drove further into the forest, cruising around endless farmlands and fields towards Penzion Na Stodolci (The Barn Inn). This is an old farm (since 1881) and offers lodging for the night and some delicious food. On arrival, you will be greeted with a very homey like feel at the entrance, with wooden interiors and a very comfortable room for the night.  Alternatively, you can look for other accommodations around the area with Agoda, Booking.com or HotelLook for Cheap hotels.  I am a big fan of Airbnb but struggled to find anywhere nice around the area.  If you managed to find something let me know!  For those who haven’t used Airbnb before, it is a great alternative to finding homey and local places to stay! The best thing about it is meeting locals who actually live there.  Make sure to use my link! 

 

Dinner was served downstairs and were a selection of delicious hot meals and this unbelievable cheese plate. With some fine local wines, this was the best way to end a long day of hiking and driving.

 

Day 2

The second day started with a mighty breakfast spread of local cheeses, cold meats, hot food, cereal and fresh yogurt.  It was one of the best breakfast spreads I have had in a long time! 

We managed to do a little walk around and exploring of the farm and came across a fine looking Tesla by the barns (farm owner not doing too badly!).

We then started our drive towards Bastei, just across from the German border.  Sitting at 194 meters above the Elbe river, we wanted to check out the natural rock formations that were caused by water erosion over a million years ago.  It was quite unbelievable how incredible nature is when it comes to things like this.  It also really reminded us of Avatar the movie but in real life! The fog really added to the excitement!

With tourists visiting this site for over 200 years, a little bridge was created so that people can cross over and see the rocks closer.  Although this was not the original wooden bridge built in 1824, I did like how they have used stones to match up with the natural rocks.  There are a few paths you can take and explore while admiring the incredible rock formations.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Before your drive back to Prague, make sure to stop by at Panoramarestaurant Bastei after your walk around and treat yourself to a nice cup of tea with some stunning views. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

All in All

This is the perfect one night stay in the countryside, perfect for those looking for something different to do whilst visiting Prague.  It is super easy to hire a car and drive up and the natural scenes are just magnificent.  You also cannot beat a nice meal in a farm with some homey food and a comfortable barn stay!

Stick around for my next post!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Travel Essentials

Haven’t got that almighty travel backpack? Or in the market looking for the best mini suitcase? I got you covered with some of my go to travel essentials:

• Boundary Supply has probably the most functional travel backpacks on the market right now! Lightweight and perfect for any trip!
• WANDRD offers the best travel notebooks. All your travel thoughts, itineraries and details in one spot! They also do great travel bags too!
• G-RO: I have been a big fan of these guys since their Kickstarter days! I was one of the first backers! Their mini suitcase is so functional and easy to move around. Perfect for those long weekends!
• Priority Pass or Plaza Premium: This one is more for those flying in and out. Why not stop by a lounge for some relaxation and nibbles before your flight?
• Booking.com and Agoda are great places to look for hotels and places to stay!
• For those looking for a local home stay, try out Airbnb! Stay at someone’s home and get a chance to pick their brains for the best things to do in town! Check out my referral code!
• Viator: If you haven’t got time to plan out a trip, then check out some of their day tours and offers! Or head to Lonely Planet to grab a hard cover of the old school travel guides!

 

 

Don’t forget to check out my other travel posts!

Prague |Piedmont Itinerary |Piedmont | Turin |Brighton | Bali | Mumbai | Hyderabad | Baalbeck | Qadisha | Sidon | Jouneih | Beirut | Portland | Oregon Road Trip | Seattle | Sousse | Tunisia Road Trip | Around Tunis | Tunis | Northern Ireland Road Trip | Singapore | Penang Street Art | Penang | Ipoh Malaysia | Plovdiv | Rila | Sofia | Hoi An | Ha Long Bay | Sapa | Hanoi Food | Hanoi | Surrey Hills | Colonge | South Wales | Mostar | Sarajevo Food | Sarajevo | Croatia Coast | Mosselle | Krakow | Angkor Wat | Riga | Tallin | Tallinn-Riga Bus Tour | Dead Sea | Jerusalem | Tel Aviv |