Bohemian Explorer

A week of exploration in Northern Bohemia in the Czech Republic. The Bohemian Highlands, Bohemian Switzerland and the lovely nestled cities of Decin and Usti.

May 26th - June 1st, 2008

Location: Bohemia, Czech Republic

Having just flown over from Belfast in Nth Ireland it seemed a good idea to get out and explore some of the local areas to Yani.
We decided on this day to do some trekking through some of the nearby mountains - the Bohemian Highlands.
We started out from Usti nad Labem and worked our way into the forest trails nearby.

On the way - the locally famous leaning church.

Our 1st climb in sight. An impressively placeed venue and restaurant on top.

As we climb higher we see the River Labe winding its way through Usti. From here it heads towards Germany to become the Elbe river.

Some spectacular views of the city behind start to emerge.

Beautiful templates of temperate rainforest gave me this wonderful shot. Very proud of this one.

Winding back to the south we see the Labe river working past the ruins of Strekov Castle - once used to control the river trade on this ancient passageway between Dresden and Prague.

Blimey! Where's me 303 rifle?

Paths and trails were conveniently marked. Here also, proud national symbols of an ancient people and nation - the Czech people.

As impressive as our trek through mountains near Usti had been, there was much better to come from our Bohemian trekking. Near to the border with Germany lies the famous Bohemian and Saxon Switzerland national park. Bohemia is the Czech side, Saxony the German side of the border.

On May 28th we set out to explore parts of the very impressive serenity and scenary of this part of Bohemia.

Majestic and impressiver gorges greeted us on our way.
Much of the area geographically is sandstone and has been carved by wind and water into marvellous shapes.

None is more impressive than this though. Amongst the largest sandstone canyons in Europe is featured the Pravčická brána. This natural arch is one of very few in the world. Others exist in India, the USA, Australia and Africa.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natural_arch

If you have seen the latest film of the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe you may well recognise this arch - it featured in it.

There is also one on the South coast of England that I have more recently had the pleasure of visiting too. See my upcoming Summer Holidays 2008 post for that.

Like the consummate adventurer I am, I must have my pose.

Yani has her moment as well.

A clearer shot.

The joy of a fine Spring day: bathing sunshine and clear windswept skies.

Using the Force!

Surveying my lands... ;)

Manly pose time.

Traditional Czech and German Architecture in the region.

We start trekking deep into some of the gorges in the park. Cold misty air met the deep shadows and green of the forest and its stream ways as we progressed.

Mysterious coombs and lichened rocks stratified the landscape.

And finally, captivating in every way, the Suchá Kamenice river Canyon. This deepest coomb of the forest has great depth of mystery. Calm, clear waters are surrounded by sandstone carved naturally into fantastic shapes.

Here, we are about to embark onto our ferry journey down this final stretch of the Kamenice waters.

Somewhat serendiptiously we came across a party of Australians at the ferry as well.

A charming and endearing ferryman beguiled us with far-fetched stories of note and awe.

A secretly located pully brings out this wonderful surprise on the boat trip.

A wonderful and magical day - one to remain in the memory for many a day to come.

May 29th.

Another journey along the Labe river. This time to the picturesque town of Decin in the Northwest of the Czech Republic.

Here the roadway leading up to Děčín castle (zámek Děčín), originally built in 1305.

The Labe river has cut through much of the sandstone in the region - leaving behind the harder basalt stone. These rise to impressive heights and provide impressive spectacles for local architectural accomplishments.

A laid back Australian - well who would have thought.. hehe

Děčín castle started as a mere fort (useful during the Seven Years' War), but greater glories awaited it. It became a Renaissance castle in 1673, before receiving the Baroque treatment after its restoration in 1788.

While it has indeed been used by Bohemian kings (having been built by order of Premysl king Václav III) the castle has also functioned as the administrative centre or a military garrison for German and Soviet troops after being handed to the Czechoslovak state in 1932. It now serves as a tourist and function site.

The castle has also inspired musicians - Chopin wrote his Valse in A flat major here.

The river Labe running through the town.

A special dinner that night with some friends of Yani's - Mila and Jara - and other guests. Mila and Jara finished off the day with a bang when they announced their recent engagement.

Well my 2nd last day dawned and it was time for a bit more local exploration around Usti nad Labem. I have mentioned Strekov castle already, well it was time to properly explore this majestically situated guardian of the river.

Our tour took us through the political history and architectural features of the castle.



The end of our tour revealed a fascinating political history to the castle. And, just as Decin Castle had inspired musicians so we found too that this castle had.

Of particular note, the famous operatic composer Richard Wagner stayed at the castle for some days and was inspired to write his famous opera - Tanhauser.

A nice sense of the mood of the day created.

We also managed to include a trip to Usti zoo into our day. Was much pleased and surprised to see some Papua New Guinean Bibbed Lorikeets in one of the sections.

Many of you probably know of my love for Australian Lorikeets - particularly Rainbow Lories, so it was a very nice surprise to come across these very close relatives.

Well that finished my time in the Czech Republic. It was time to get back to work. A quick trip over the German border the next day got me to Dresden airport and a flight home to England.