Bohemian Switzerland: Hiking Tour to Pravcicka Brana
The Bohemian Switzerland National Park is one of the most beautiful nature places in the Czech Republic and one of the ultimate must visit attractions. The famous Pravcicka Brana sandstone bridge is the landmark of the region, and so locals as well as tourists make their way up to the montain to see this natural jewel. But at Bohemian Switzerland are many more unforgetable things to do: Not only the hike to the Pravcicka Brana is beautiful, also the boat ride through the Kamnitz Gorge is a highlight of every trip.
In this blog post we give you all the important information about Bohemian Switzerland, hiking trails and the boat tour through the Kamnitz Gorge. We will tell you about the prices, accommodation and where you can find the best tour to Bohemian Switzerland from Prague.
The Hiking Trail to the Pravcicka Brana
We started our hike to the Pravcicka Brana from the parking lot of the restaurant Hotel Mezni Louka. Here you will find many parking facilities and the best access to the hiking trail (red route). The hiking route leads over the Gabrielensteig, a very easy walk through the beautiful forests of Bohemian Switzerland. Already at that time you will notice the many sandstone formations.
The initially wide path becomes a bit narrower up to the mountain, but still all the time very comfortable to walk. During that hike you often have magnificent views over the deep forests and the fantastic nature of the Bohemian Switzerland National Park. From the car parking to the Pravcicka Brana arche you can expect a comfortable 70 minutes hike.
The last ascent will be a bit steeper. Reaching the restaurant at the Pravcicka Brana you have to pay a small entrance fee of about 3 Euros. From there you can enjoy the sandstone arche and the overwhelming view. Tip: The Prebischtor opens quite late at 10:00 in the morning. Unfortunately, it is pointed out nowhere and so we, as well as other hikers, had to wait in front of closed doors. There is no other access to the viewing terrace.
- Opening hours: The opens hours in summer are from 10:00 to 18:00 o’clock. In winter, i.e. from November to March, the gate opens Friday, Saturday, Sunday from 10:00 – 16:00 clock.
- Prices: The entrance fee for adults is 3 Euros, children will pay 1 Euro.
Hiking to Pravcicka Brana
Once you reach the viewpoint, you have an incredible view of the stone archway and the wonderful landscape of the forests. Take your time to enjoy the panorama over the Bohemian Switzerland. The majestically towering rock towers, as well as the Pravcicka Brana, offer really amazing photo motifs for landscape photographers and invite you to linger. In order to preserve the Pravcicka Brana, the arche itself cannot be climbed.
The landscape of the national park is very special, almost like in a fairy tale and so even some parts of the movie The Chronicles of Narnia were produced here.
The cozy restaurant just at the arch invites you to take a break. Then the hiking trail continues with a 45-minute descent, in the direction of Edmundsklamm.
Boat ride at Kamnitz Gorge
The Kamnitz Gorge is an idyllic rock canyon also located at the Bohemian Switzerland Nationalpark and another highlight of the hiking trail (yellow route).
The access to the gorge is near the Klepac restaurant. If you are thirsty, you can take a break here. The first part of the Edmundsklamm you have to walk, but at the second part of the hike you will take a beautiful boat trip. From the entrance of the gorge to the ticket corner you walk for about 20 minutes through the Kamnitz Gorgeand, enjoy, especially in the summer, a pleasantly cool atmosphere. If you hike with your dog, you can take it (with a muzzle) on the boat.
- Opening hours: The Kamnitz Gorge opens from 30.03. – 07.10.2019 from 09:00 to 18:00. In the autumn of 08.10. – 04.11.2019 from 09:00 to 17:00. In winter the gorge is closed.
- Prices: The boat trip costs 3.50 euros for adults and 1.50 euros for children
The boat tour through the gorge takes about 20 minutes and is quite entertaining due to the funny anecdotes of the boatman. On top, the river and the steep cliffs provide plenty of great photo opportunities.
Tip: If you still feel like hiking a bit more, you can extend the hike and visit the Wilde Klamm.
Otherwise, it is about 30 minutes further in the direction of the Penzion Na Vyhlídce. This lovely pension not only has nice rooms, but also a restaurant that serves really delicious food! If you want to stay in Bohemian Switzerland, we can recommend you this cosy accommodation. The last 2 kilometers you walk back along the road to the parking lot. If you are very tired, you can also use the shuttle bus.
Map
The map below shows you the hiking trails at Bohemian Switzerland and the recommended hiking route to the arche. As you can see, you can shorten or extend the route as you like.
Duration: It took us around 4-5 hours. But we had a lot of breaks, took lots of pictures and walked relatively slowly.
How to get there & Parking
The access by car is well signed. It is best to park your car at one of the parking spaces marked on the top of the map and to use the shuttle buses which are provided. You can park in the village of Hrensko, near the Kamnitz Gorge entrance, at the Hotel Mezni Louka and at the Pension Na Vyhlídce.
Tours from Prague
If you are staying in Prague you still have the possibility to book a tour from Prague to Bohemain Switzerland. Wonderful Tours can be found here:
Where to stay
In Bohemian Switzerland you will find a small selection of good and cheap accommodation. Here is a selection of lovely places to stay. All of these accommodations are ideal for exploring Bohemian Switzerland and for hiking tours:
- Penzion Na Vyhlídce: This pension is not only a great starting point for a hike, it also offers free parking, really delicious food and an idyllic location.
- Stara Plynarna: This guesthouse offers its guests really nice rooms and an exceptionally good breakfast. The quiet location is excellent.
- TRIXI’S GUESTHOUSE: Trixi’s Guesthouse is a great place to stay, offers very good breakfast and also the location to the trails is excellent.
Conclusion: The Pravcicka Brana and the beautiful Kamnitz Gorge are the absolute highlights of Bohemian Switzerland. All the National Park Bohemian Switzerland is really beautiful and there are so many exciting things to see. So if you have enough time, we recommended staying here for a few days.
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