BIKING AND SKATING

Did you know? The Elbe cycle route is the most traveled bike trail in the country. It runs the whole length of the river, from its headwaters all the way to the North Sea. The section in the Czech Republic measures 370 km. One of the most beautiful stretches on the trail is the Elbe canyon north of Decin. The massive sandstone bluffs lining the Elbe River corridor make a magnificent backdrop. The trail runs right through the heart of Decin, so there are plenty of cafés along the way. As you peddle along, you can watch the climbers on the via ferrata and take in the boats plying the river. Decin Castle is a perfect place for a stop. Located directly above the bike trail it is one of the region's major landmarks. As the trail nears the German border, it enters Bohemian Switzerland National Park, where it is definitely worth taking a break for a side trip up to Pravcicka brana, the largest natural sandstone bridge on the continent. More information...

THE WATER PARK

Did you know? Decin's swimming complex is a modern recreational facility with a natural thermal water source. It has both indoor and outdoor areas. The pool's thermal water source makes swimming outdoors possible year round. More infromation...

THE SYNAGOGUE

Did you know? Plans for the construction of the synagogue in Decin materialized at the end of the 19th century with a fundraising campaign. The synagogue was built in 1907 in a faux oriental Beaux Arts style on the site of an athletics hall in what is now Zizkova ulice. It was dedicated the same year by Rabbi Max Freund. The destruction of the synagogue in 1939 was prevented at the last moment by the mayor of Podmokly. In 1941 the building was occupied by the Nazis, who painted a map of England on its floor. After World War II the building was not used again until it was made an archive in 1966. More information...

VIA FERRATA

Did you know? Decin is the first Bohemian city with a via ferrata in the heart of town. There are several anchored climbing trails with steel cables and footholds on the cliff face. They climb 90 meters and range from 150 to 170 meters in length. More information...

DECIN CASTLE

Discover the romance of Decin Castle. Open year round, the castle offers three tour routes. And if you want to go beyond an ordinary walking tour (and you like solving riddles) check out the Thirteenth Chamber project. Decin Castle is one of ten sites in Bohemia taking part in the project. Tours start in April and run Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays 10:30 a.m., 2 p.m., and 3:30 p.m.

Decin Castle is one of northern Bohemia's top historical sites - in the Usti Region it is one of the most visited. Perched on a rocky outcrop at the confluence of the Elbe and Ploucnice rivers, it is the city's natural focal point. Over the centuries, it has served as a fortification for Bohemian princes, a military fortress, and home to several great families. In recent history it played host to a succession of armies; first the Czechoslovak, then the German, again the Czechoslovak, and from 1968 to 1991 the Soviet army. Today the castle is in the hands of the city, which has been partnering with various organizations to restore it to a semblance of its former glory.

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The carefully renovated castle interiors are the setting for group and individual tours, weddings, concerts, exhibits, and other cultural events. Decin's museum has a permanent exhibit here. Visitors can explore the castle living quarters, enjoy wonderful views of the city, and soak up the enchanting atmosphere of the rose garden. Over the course of the year the castle courtyard comes to life with various celebrations. The best known are the Historic May Fair, the wine festival in September, and the castle Christmas market. In summer months the castle lights up in the evenings for tours led by actors in period dress. Meanwhile, castle renovations continue in the gardens and park.

 

The Rose Garden

The castle's loveliest spot is, without a doubt, its rose garden. The garden's Baroque architecture combines with fragrant flowers to charm visitors all the way from the sala terrena (with frescoes dating to 1678) on its western end to its gloriette terrace (dotted with Baroque sculptures) on the east.

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It became widely known as the Rose Garden in 1881 when it boasted one of the greatest rose collections in the Habsburg Empire.

Where is it? Decin Castle, Decin

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Getting there