Tips for trips
1. HISTORICAL MONUMENTS
It was probably the very good climatic conditions by the big river surrounded by mountains, which attracted new inhabitants a long time ago. Archaeological excavations showing possibly all cultural levels were found on the territory of Bohemia and Moravia.
Lovosice is one of the oldest settlements in the Czech Republic. Within easy reach you can find many ruins of castles and churches of the middle-ages period.
Lovosice itself is first mentioned in a deed of donation of the king Vladislav II to the Strahov monastery in 1143.
The 18th century Baroque church of St. Václav is well worth seeing with the interior in the rococo style. There is a statue of St. Václav in a small square in the city centre from the year 1707.
Castle Libochovice
Present-day appearance of the castle is a work of Count Dietrichstein, who bought the burnt-out castle from a family of Sternberk. Dietrichstein rebuilt the castle in baroque style. A French park surrounds the castle. There are tours for visitors. In season there are unconventional guided tours with the attendance of various historical characters and ghostly beings.
Castle Ploskovice
Near Litoměřice in the years 1720 – 1725 a summer residence was built for Anna Marie Františka, later Grand Duchess of Toscana. The last Czech king, Ferdinand V lived in the castle in the later years of his life.
Water castle Budyně nad Ohří
Originally a wooden stronghold from 13th century was rebuilt many times, the last time in the 16th century, when it was adapted to be a renaissance castle - one of the most pretentious mansions in Bohemia. Nowadays it is only partly maintained. The castle contains a museum with a collection of historical items, which are associated with the city Budyně, and an alchemy workshop in the original room where alchemy experiments were actually done during the time of Jan Zbynek Zajic of Hazmburk.
Ruin of Hazmburk castle
The name „Hazmburk“ is a garble of the name „Hasenburg“ – Stronghold of Hare, according to the name of the owner Zbynek Zajíce (Hare) of Valdeka. The place was left at the end of the 16.century. Its romantic silhouette is formed by “Black donjon“and „White donjon“.
Ruin of the Hussite stronghold Kalich
On a rocky hill above the village Třebušín there are situated ruins of the castle of Hussite leader Jan Zizka. Hussite army settled here until 1437 when the army was defeated.
Ruin of Strekov castle
A castle from 14th century, which is currently a part of Usti nad Labem, belonged among king castles and guarded the river Labe. It is possible to see an exhibition of the viniculture, exhibition of romanticism and process of building of the castle.
Ruin of the Košťálov stronghold
A rocky hill above the village of Třebenice offers a view of a beautiful landscape. The stronghold was owned by St. Jiří monastery of Prague castle. Archaeological excavations from this locality and a collection of Czech-garnet jewels are available to the public in the Museum of the Czech-garnet in Třebenice in the spaces of the former Lutheran church. This museum is one of the oldest in our state – it was founded in 1872. The basis of the collection is a set of jewellery belonging to Ulrika von Levetzov, the last love of J.W. Goethe. The part of the exhibition is also the largest Czech garnet.
The City of Litoměřice
This royal and episcopal town is located at the confluence of the two rivers Labe and Ohře. This town has a beautiful historical square and a complex of church buildings on Dómský hill – cathedral, residence of the archbishop, canonicate houses, provost building... etc.
On the square there is situated „Goblet house“(named after its observation tower in a goblet shape). Goblet symbolises the wine tradition of the town.
In the house of the wine restaurant „Na Vikárce“lived the Czech famous poet Karel Hynek Mácha who died here on 6th November 1863. It is possible to visit his room.
For wine lovers there is a 366m long tour through historical wine cellars. It is also possible (subject of booking) to organize wine tasting.
Terezín
A fortress town Terezín was built at the end of 18th century. It is the only bastion fortress, which was built in the French fortification style of Maziéres School and it is also the first fortress of the modern period. The fortress was built by Joseph II., who named the town after his mother Maria Theresia. Almost the whole fortification is conserved. Apart from the town there was built a smaller fortress later, it served as a concentration camp during the Second World War. Former inhabitants were moved out in 1941. A ghetto for the Jewish population came into existence then, where over 160 000 prisoners were kept. 36 000 prisoners died in Terezín and the rest usually in Osvětim.
Historical sights are mostly from that period: Memorial Terezín and Museum of Ghetto (continuous exhibition of the history of the ghetto), Jewish Cemetery and Crematorium, The Small fortress – a former Gestapo police jail house.
Museum of folk architecture and Museum of railways – Zubrnice
Zubrnice is a complex of folk architecture buildings – the newest folk museum in Bohemia. Open to public there is an agricultural homestead, village shop and church. On the village square there is a well in the baroque style. Close to the village there is a small railway station with museum.
A tip for a day trip – PRAGUE - a capital city
Prague is within an easy reach by car (highway D8 – the journey takes approximately 45 minutes) and also by bus and train. Trains and buses departure to Prague every hour. For closer information please ask at the reception desk.
2. THE CZECH MIDDLE MOUNTAINS
The landscape around Lovosice is various. In the south there is situated the Czech Tableland, hills are rising sporadically above it. The best known is the hill Říp - a mythical hill where Czech history has begun. It is said that our forefather Czech (Čech) and his company climbed on the hill Říp and when they saw how beautiful the land spreading under them is, they have decided to stay.
In the north and north-west there are situated the Czech Middle Mountains, formed during Tertiary volcanic activity. Since 1967 has this area been a National park. Lovosice belongs to the „Milešov middle mountains“named after the highest and the windiest hill of Bohemia – Milešovka hill.
Říp hill
The hill is easily reached from Roudnice nad Labem. There is a small road up to the top. There is a view of the Czech Middle Mountains´ panorama and also view of Prague. On the top is a rotunda of Saint George (Jiří) from the 12th.century – one of the oldest buildings of the Romanesque style in the Czech Republic.
Milešovka hill (837m)
On the top of Milešovka hill there is a meteorological station. The top of the hill also provides a beautiful view of surroundings in fair weather. The area of this hill is a Nature conservancy reserve.
Lovoš hill (570m)Lovoš hill is a National Nature Park. An Educational trail is connecting the Lovoš hill and the Borečský hill. On the top of the Lovoš hill there is a small chalet with fabulous views of the meandering Labe River. |
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Borečský hill (446m)
Borečský hill is an interesting place with a „chimney effect“visible especially in winter. Cold air is drawing in at the bottom of the hill. Then it is warmed up inside the hill and springs from it at the top. Due to this, it is possible to find there blooming flowers in winter. Temperature differences could be up to 16°C.
Through Opárenské valley to Lovoš hill
From Malé Žernoseky (3km from the hotel Lev) through the romantic valley of Milešovský Creek, over ruins of Opárenský fortress and over Lovoš hill to Lovosice.
3. BIKING
Trails
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Labe River trail: This trail passes the River Labe and connects Dresden with Prague. It runs through Ústí nad Labem, Libochovany, Velké Žernoseky, Žalhostice. At Roudnice nad Labem it continues on the right river bank and at present goes along the road.
The other following trails join this one:
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Trail from Vlastislav to Malé Žernoseky: Over Košťálov, Boreč, Opárno. In Malé Žernoseky village it is possible to use a ferry boat over the Labe River and join the Labe River trail.
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Vineyard trail: Is identical to the Labe river trail in the part from Velké Žernoseky to Litoměřice, Roudnice nad Labem and Mělník, where the Vltava meets the Labe. The nearest bike hire is in Ústí nad Labem – information about reservations at the reception.
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Region of Vineyards
The Labe River is lined with vineyards from Velké Žernoseky village to the town of Litoměřice. These vineyards mostly originate from the period of Charles IV., Czech king and German emperor. The first mention of growing of wine dates from a foundation charter of Litoměřice canonry in 1057. There are tourist tours in the old wine-cellars of former Dominican monastery of Saint Jakub.
The real founders of the wine tradition of this region are Cistercian monks, who built large wine-cellars in Velké Žernoseky village in 1251.
Approximatelly 600 ha of local vineyards belongs in the northernmost wine growing parts in Europe.
Sightseeing flights
If you are interested in watching beauties of our mountains from height, take use of a possibility of the sightseeing flights. These flights are organised from Roudnice n.L. airport and you can choose from a helicopter, a sail plane or an ultra-light plane. Trail and the length of the flight depend on wish of a client.
Zoological garden in Ústí nad Labem
In the 1970‘s a big zoo was fielded in an area of almost 30ha called Mariánská skála. At that time was constructed pavilion of beasts. In the upper part of the zoo were built spacious paddocks for rhinos, giraffes, zebras and antelopes. Other paddocks were added later. Today it is a modern zoo, worth seeing.
The zoo has something to offer also for the youngest visitors, such as feeding and training of animals, „Children’s World“(a complex of slides and climbing frames), or „Children’s zoo“providing possibility to meet and touch domesticated animals. There is also a trail through a dinosaurian world with models of prehistoric animals and a "zootrain” transporting the visitors from the main entrance to the upper entrance.