Usti nad Labem Things to Do

VARHOST (640 m) on a woody hill over Sebuzin is a circular metal tower construction, the third in order, the two preceding wooden towers having decayed. From the top of the tower one can have a circular view as far as Rip Hill on one side and over Hasmbug, Lovosice, Milesovka to Kletecna. The view of the Erzgebirge includes Jedlan, Bournak, Naklerov and many other hills and communities. The surface of Labe can be seen in eight different places from Strekov dam to Steti.
The watchtower is accessible from Sebuzin by a marked tourist path with a high elevation difference. Varhost can be reached by car, there is a parking place in the Varhost Gap some 15 minutes of walking to the hill top.

ERBEN'S WATCHTOWER (401 m) was constructed over the village of Stribrniky (a suburb of Usti today) in 1934 on the Brandt’s Height by the German Mountaineers’ Club. Visitors can have a view of nearly the whole of Usti, Bohemian Highland from Bukova hora over Milesovka to Boren near Bilina, as well as the remote Ore mountains from Jedlan to Naklerov. A marked path leads to the stone tower from the suburb Dobetice and a path without marks from Stribrniky.

The stone watchtower in NAKLEROV (701 m) in the Naklerov Gap was opened in 1913. It was called after the Emperor Joseph Franz and later renamed after K. Weiss, a top member of the Mountaineer’s Club. The tower collapsed during a winter storm and was never reconstructed. Still, the ruins offer one of the best views of the Bohemian Highland including Lusatian Mountains and Ore mountains.
Access from Telnice, Kninice by paths without marks. The easiest access from the road in the gap (no public transportation) a 10 minute walk, without elevation difference.

40 meter high waterfall on the Podlesinsky brook issuing from a basalt wall. In winter the waterfall creates ice curtains, laces and stalactites. From the waterfall a marked path leads to the right. Notice the moss-grown stone with a carved inscription from March 19, 1916. We will reach the view point with the remains of benches and handrails. The view of the Strekov castle and the river Labe with its environs is beautiful.

Vrkoc ? a European curiosity
Columniform disintegration of the basalt rock similar to female hair (vrkoc). Its picture can be found in many scientific libraries of the world. While descending the stone path from Vanovsky waterfall you cannot miss this columniform formation.

The St. Jacob?s Church in Svadov was built in the 14th century (see the latest discovery of the Vartenberks? gravestone from 1370), but has attributes of the Saxonin Renaissance architecture (1580-1610). The church belongs to the most valuable landmarks in the region. The Baroque parish house and with the Three Magi column were built by the order of Ann Francisca of Tuscany.

The Museum of Vernacular Architecture in Zubrnice maintains buildings and the equipment documenting the life and housing in the area of the Czech Highland in the past. It is the youngest open-air museum within Bohemia. A complex of timbered farm houses with preserved interior and exterior including a unique hot air fruit drying house are open to the public. Another interesting display is a little village shop and a village school. The village square is decorated with a wooden Baroque fountain from 1695 that was brought to Zubrnice from Strizkovice near Usti nad Labem. The Church of the St. Mary of Magdala is also a part of the open-air museum.

The community of Tisa is a gate to the Romantic area of Elbe Sandstones. The Late Baroque St. Ann?s Church in the centre of the village is the starting point for trips to the Tisa Rocks. The Rocks are a fanciful rock city with bizarre sandstone formations?for instance Napoleon?s Shoe. The name of the rock reminds us of the Napoleonic wars when a treasure was allegedly buried in the rocks. The treasure is thought to be the treasury of the French army defeated on August 30, 1813 in the battle of Chlumec.
Until early 20's of the 20th century entrance without a guide was prohibited. Today the area is a climbers? paradise with 113 registered climbing rocks. Besides the Small and Big Walls north of Tisa there are other two, less frequented rock cities?Ostrov Rocks and Rajec Rocks.

The Protestant church of the St. Barbara in Dubice from 1579 was erected on a high plateau at 340 meters above the sea level. The place has a wonderful view of the Elbe valley and of the Porta Bohemica (Gate of Bohemia).