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09 July 2018 / 41 Comments

Pravcicka Brana - the largest sandstone arch in Europe

In co-operation with Czech Tourism

Pravcicka Brana is Europe's largest natural sandstone arch and is located in the north-west of the Czech Republic, in the area known as Bohemian Switzerland. The area is magically beautiful, with intensely green deciduous trees and high mountains, and is perfect for hiking.

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From Neuzelle to Pravcicka Brana

Our last stop in Germany (for now) was at the magnificent the baroque monastery in Neuzelle. From there we drove to Pravcicka Brana in the north-east of the Czech Republic, which took us just over three hours. It's not really that far in terms of distance, but the last bit took time to drive due to winding (and beautiful!) forest roads.

Can you drive a motorhome here, you might ask. You can! Besides driving our FREEDOM here, we saw buses and other motorhomes. If you do not want to drive such narrow roads, but still want to go to Bohemian Switzerland and Pracicka Brana, you can drive in from the south. There the roads are wider and less winding.

Wonderful environment to drive in
How beautiful is this!

Bohemian Switzerland

Bohemian Switzerland is not in Switzerland, although it may sound like it, but in the north-west of the Czech Republic. This picturesque region extends eastwards to the Lusatian Mountains, westwards to the Ore Mountains and southwards to the town of Decin.

The area is fabulous with its high mountains, dense greenery and all the hotels and restaurants. The Czechs seem to love the area and it is extremely popular for hiking, cycling, camping or perhaps kayaking in the river Elbe. The pictures below are taken just south of Pravcicka Brana, the day after when we continued on the road further south.

Hotels and the environment are growing together.

Camping at Pravcicka Brana

When you arrive at the starting point of the hikes towards Pravcicka Brana, you are greeted by a small tourist village with camping, cottages, hotels, restaurants and tourist information. There are a lot of people here (mostly Czechs and some Germans) and the atmosphere is great.

We checked in at camping Mezni Louka, which had a small number of pitches for motorhomes. However, most people here were camping in cabins or tents, and there was good humour around the barbecue all evening. We celebrated Peter's birthday with tuna and some white wine in the car.

Camp Mezni Louka
Tuna and white is never wrong!

Hike to Pravcicka Brana

The next morning it was time for us to hike to Pravcicka Brana. The nicest hiking trail is 6 kilometres long in each direction, and we loaded up with hiking clothes, egg sandwiches, water and cameras. None of us are really into hiking, but this route was really nice and varied! You walk through an intensely green deciduous forest, surrounded by mountains that get more and more dramatic.

A slow climb and great hiking trails

Europe's largest sandstone arch

Finally we arrived, and now it was almost crowded with people. You do not have to walk the 6 kilometres, but can take a bus so that you only have two kilometres to walk (but then you get a less beautiful hike). Once there, we finally got to see the huge arch, along with other cool rock formations. Fantastic!

Look, there it is - Europe's largest sandstone arch!

The sandstone arch (Pravčická brána) With a span of 26.5 metres, an internal height of 16 metres, 8 metres maximum width, it is the largest natural sandstone arch in Europe and one of the most striking natural monuments of the Elbe Sandstone Mountains.

Magical views from Pravcicka Brana
Great view!

Perhaps it is not surprising that it was here that Hans Christian Andersen was inspired to write the fairy tale of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, and that several scenes from the film Narnia were filmed here.

Do you see the people up there?

At the destination of the hike, there are also some services in the form of toilets, a small tourist information centre and a small restaurant where you could buy drinks, beer, snacks and perhaps the Czechs' most popular fast food - sausages served on a paper plate together with slices of bread and mustard. Full of energy, we could walk back to the motorhome, very happy with the day!

There is also a small food service.

Film from "Bohemian Switzerland"

Here's a film we shot in the northwest of the Czech Republic, featuring scenes from Bohemian Switzerland and Litomerice.

All our top tips for the Czech Republic. Click on the image!

You might also like:

Sněžka - Tjeckiens högsta bergThe highest mountain in the Czech Republic - Sněžka in Sudetenland Prachovské skályPrachovské skály in Bohemian Paradise, Czech Republic Devil heads in the Czech Republic - and two other spooky hikes Vandring i Bohemian SwitzerlandHiking in Bohemian Switzerland in the Czech Republic Saxiska SchweizSaxon Switzerland - day trip from the Czech Republic to Germany Tísa i TjeckienTisá in the Czech Republic - filming location for Narnia

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09 July 2018 6:00
Czech Republic
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Neuzelle Abbey in eastern Germany - stunning baroque architecture

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34 Comments

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  1. Maria says:

    Truly beautiful nature! Was it uphill for 6 km? Thinking about the hike... Taking the opportunity to say happy birthday afterwards to Peter!

    09 July 2018 - 8:33

    Reply

    • Comment by post author

      Helena says:

      It was both straight ahead and sometimes a little upwards (including some stairs). Not too tough. Just right for us who are completely inexperienced hikers 🙂 We saw both older people and quite small children walking this hike.

      09 July 2018 - 8:47

      Reply

  2. Liniz Travel says:

    But oh SO beautiful. I really want to see more of the Czech Republic and Europe! Hugs

    09 July 2018 - 8:33

    Reply

  3. 4000mil says:

    Oh what fun, we also did this hike last spring. Were you down in the gorge too?

    09 July 2018 - 8:38

    Reply

  4. Role o Carina says:

    Great trip you are on in your motorhome!
    And "Congratulations" to Peter 🙂

    Have a good time and keep enjoying yourself...

    09 July 2018 - 8:47

    Reply

  5. Our Vantastic Travels says:

    What a nature, love that kind of rock formations, Think what nature has formed very beautiful for us to experience. Waiting with excitement for more!

    09 July 2018 - 9:10

    Reply

  6. Britt-Marie Lundgren says:

    This is probably a destination that suits us perfectly. A moderate hike in beautiful nature! Oh, we have so much to look forward to.
    Congratulations to Peter.

    09 July 2018 - 10:10

    Reply

  7. Mr Steve says:

    Congratulations Peter! Tuna there too, I see.
    Stunning scenery and beautiful buildings. Fabulous and magical. Places I have never heard of before. It is so instructive to follow your journeys.

    09 July 2018 - 10:38

    Reply

  8. Emma, sun like sun? says:

    What an amazing experience! I love it when it's so magical, when you don't quite know whether to believe your eyes when something appears between the trees and the moss-covered rocks.

    A happy birthday to Peter as well, of course! When you wrote tuna and white wine in the car, I got a picture in my mind where you are sitting with a pava and a tinned food in front of you. That's how I think of tuna! Sounded a bit like that..., I thought. Luckily I was wrong! 😀

    09 July 2018 - 13:19

    Reply

    • Comment by post author

      Helena says:

      This was actually a great experience! And haha, what fun with the tuna! Of course I should have written fried tuna fillet, it's a favourite for us 🙂 Peter sends his regards and thanks!

      09 July 2018 - 13:51

      Reply

  9. Petra says:

    So beautiful, isn't it great to hike and see things from a different perspective! 🙂

    //petra

    09 July 2018 - 14:03

    Reply

  10. Daniela / Discovering The Planet says:

    We call all our walks walks. Get a better feeling that way :)))). What a nice and cosy trip you are doing. Oh Czech Republic is really nice.

    09 July 2018 - 14:26

    Reply

  11. Ditte says:

    I enjoy hiking but have mostly done it in Norway, Sweden, Austria and Switzerland and some in Spain. I understand that it was a nice hike in this beautiful environment. And the greenery is tangible. Fun to discover and see new things and also relive old ones.
    Sending a belated congratulations to Peter - I have been travelling for work and blog reading has not been an option.

    09 July 2018 - 14:29

    Reply

  12. Matts Torebring says:

    Maybe we work too much, because when we go away, we usually only visit four or five places during a five-week holiday. You discover new things every day. I want to enjoy scenic places in good weather, with some good books. You're still young, so it's important to look around.

    09 July 2018 - 18:36

    Reply

    • Comment by post author

      Helena says:

      We do different things. This trip is a bit of a "discovery trip", but sometimes we have also chosen to stand still for longer periods just to relax. It's needed sometimes!

      09 July 2018 - 22:43

      Reply

  13. Travel Linda says:

    How beautiful it was there! We are thinking of visiting the German side of the border in that area later this summer. Hope it's just as beautiful there!

    09 July 2018 - 20:33

    Reply

  14. Marina says:

    It really does look fantastic! Something to remember for any future trips to Europe. Congratulations in retrospect to the birthday boy 🙂 .

    09 July 2018 - 22:11

    Reply

  15. BP says:

    Congratulations to Peter in retrospect! Oh what a birthday in these beautiful surroundings! Understand that the area is called "Bohemian Switzerland"! Many similarities with Switzerland and Bavaria in Germany actually. The forest is again reminiscent of Poland. However, the rock formations are completely unique. I have not seen such dramatic formations in the Alps or in Poland.
    This was the best post from your trip so far. Castles and museums are impressive of course, but not really my thing;-)

    09 July 2018 - 22:24

    Reply

  16. Denandraresan.com says:

    Isn't it beautiful! We visited the stone arch in autumn. You don't have to go very far. We have small children so we parked the car about 3 km away in the nearest car park. A bit of cheating but it made it a bit easier.

    09 July 2018 - 23:35

    Reply

    • Comment by post author

      Helena says:

      Fantastically nice! Good that you can go a shorter way if you have children or for other reasons can not / want to go so far! We chose the longer one because they said at the reception that the road was much more beautiful.

      10 July 2018 - 7:55

      Reply

  17. BP says:

    What a great film! And the choice of music was perfect!

    12 July 2018 - 21:14

    Reply

7 Pingbacks

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