Crossing the Lusatian Mountains is an approximately 50 kilometres long trek. Experienced hikers should manage to beat it in a single day, but if you decide to check out all the different viewpoints, trails, peaks, and rock formations along the way, the hike can easily double in length.
If you plan on traveling with children, we recommend breaking the trip down into several shorter sections, for example 15 kilometres a day. Keep in mind that while the Lusatian Mountains are not particularly high, they lack a continuous ridge, so you will have to climb each hill from the very bottom.
The trail begins in Rynoltice, in Jítrava – within the very first few meters, the White (Elephant) Rocks will draw you in, and the rest of the trail will be just as captivating. You will pass through Kozí hřbety, an area dotted with pillboxes, all the way to Horní Sedlo where both the Hřebenovka and the Stezka Českem trails pass through. The trail continues through Císařské údolí, where we highly recommend you take a detour – the rock theatre will pull you in and release you at Tobiáš’s pine tree. Unfortunately, the 250-year-old tree had to be cut down, so instead you can admire a new generation of pines.
Continue like that and you will gradually make your way to Petrovice – depending on your preference, you can also take a detour to Loupežnický vrch to explore the ruins of Větrov Castle.
In Petrovice, you can stay overnight at an apartment called U Tristana. If you are camping in the wild and it starts to rain, you can turn off at Loupežnický vrch and head toward Lví buk where you can spend the night in relative comfort of a shelter.
From Petrovice, you will head past Sokol and around Kočičí studánka to the German border – here you will briefly cross the border and walk along it to Hvozd. From Hvozd, you can walk past the thousand-year-old yew tree and the Upper Lusatian houses in Krompach straight to the Hvozd Resort. There, too, you can spend the night or enjoy a pleasant meal, this time with a view of Hvozd. From Krompach, follow the wooded slopes of Plešivec to Dolní Světlá, where you can take a walk through the Brazilka wetlands and to the former Zur Wache inn.
Along the border with Germany, follow the red-marked trail “Stezka Českem” all the way to Myslivny where a pleasant climb awaits you. A pleasant climb to no other mountain than Luž, the highest peak of the region. Continue along the Hřebenovka trail over Kozí hřbet to Jiřetín pod Jedlovou, where you can book a stay in the Rustic House apartments in the town centre or at the Tollendorf cottage below Jedlová. First thing in the morning, head past the ruins of the Tolštejn bandit castle to the Jedlová lookout tower, where you can treat yourself to the famous fruit dumplings at the on-site restaurant.
This challenging trip can be made even more special by stopping in nearby Chřibská, where you can stay overnight at Mencl Guesthouse or Usedlost Na Stodolci. At the latter, you can rent a horse and explore the surrounding area on horseback.
Your journey will then continue to Rybniště, a place where children can have some fun on the newly built playground in the village square. From Rybniště, we recommend taking a short detour to Malý Stožec.
Continue along the red-marked trail “Stezka Českem” past Široký vrch, around Kočičí skála, and on to Krásná Lípa. The route will take you past the Vápenka Nature Reserve and the tomb of Dittrich, a famous industrialist from Krásná Lípa. Can you believe that in the past, the tomb had its own heating system? You can wrap up your trip in Krásná Lípa at the Falkenštejn Brewery or simply enjoy a cup of coffee at U Frinda. Near Krásná Lípa, you can stay at Bohemian Cottage, a cottage where you can practice yoga and enjoy a delicious vegetarian breakfast.
Here is a list of points of interest along the way – both those mentioned in the text and those that did not make the cut:
- Bílé kameny (White Rocks)
- Ptačí kameny (Bird Rocks)
- Horní skály (Upper Rocks)
- Císařské údolí (Imperial Valley)
- Popova skála (Priest’s Rock)
- The ruins of Falkenberg Castle
- Sokol Hill
- The self-service bar Pod Sokolem
- The former Juliovka irrigation channel, rock formations at Juliovka
- Brazilka Natural Monument
- Čertova pláň (Devil’s Plain)
- Kozí hřbet (Goat’s Back)
- Lužická porucha (Lužická Fault)
- Velký rybník (Big Pond)
- Kočičí skála (Cat’s Rock)
- Široký Hill
- Vápenka
- Dittrichova hrobka (Dittrich’s Tomb)
Places to take a dip along the way:
- Polesí Swimming Area
- Cimrák Pond
Shelters for emergency overnight stays:
- Lví Buk (Lion’s Oak)
- Babiččin odpočinek (Grandma’s Rest)
- Stožecké sedlo
- Gazebos in Krásná Lípa
Entertainment for children:
- The mills in Oybin
- The playground at Myslivny
- The playground at Rybniště
- The playground at Cimrák
Did you bring your four-legged friend along? Check out this list of places where you and your pet are welcome.
