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...
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...
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...
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...
Did you know? The historic stone bridge spanning the Ploucnice not far from Decin Castle was built in 1564-1569 after a flood washed away the original structure in 1561. The sandstone bridge has four arches and is built in the late Gothic style with crenellated sides. It is 84 meters long, 4.8 meters wide, and rises 7.7 meters above the river. The sculptural grouping portraying St. John of Nepomuk, St. Vitus, and St. Wenceslas, with reliefs showing their deaths as martyrs, was done by M. J. Brokof in 1714. The structure is a protected landmark accessible only for pedestrians and cyclists. More information...
The southern castle gardens were founded in the 18th century. Over time they were populated with numerous ornamental structures, greenhouses, an orangery, and a charming tea pavilion (1737).
The zoo is easy to get to on foot or by car, with a parking lot at its front gate. Nearby (roughly 700 m from the zoo) is the Paradise Islands exhibit (Rajske ostrovy).
Shepherd's Bluff (Pastyrska stena) is a sheer sandstone cliff rising 160 m above the Elbe. It is topped by an observation terrace and a small restaurant.
Decin's swimming complex is a modern recreational facility with a natural thermal water source. It has both indoor and outdoor areas.
Decin is the only place in Bohemia with a via ferrata in the heart of town. You can ascend one of several anchored trails from the riverside to the clifftop restaurant.
Enjoy a unique riverboat cruise from Decin to Hrensko, Bad Schandau, and Dresden, with your family or friends.
The library building on the right bank of the Elbe just beyond Tyrs Bridge playfully evokes a bookshelf stacked with colorful tomes.
A rock in the Elbe River, just off the left bank downstream of the Tyrs Bridge, is visible above the waterline whenever water levels are low.
This late Gothic sandstone bridge, with its crenellated sides and sculptural ornamentation, was built across the Ploucnice River in 1567.
Decin's Church of the Ascension of the Holy Cross is an early Baroque structure. It is located just below Decin Castle in Krizova ulice.
The synagogue was built by the Jewish community in Podmokly between 1906 and 1907 in a faux oriental style with striking Beaux Arts details.
The chapel rises above the Thun family crypt, established 1822–1835. The chapel holds a sculpture collection and an exhibit exploring its history.
One of Bohemian Switzerland's most beguiling attractions is the Kamenice River gorge in Hrensko.
Decin's museum was established in 1945. Its permanent and temporary exhibits are certainly worth a visit.
Decinsky Sneznik (723 meters above sea level) is the oldest stone observation tower in Bohemia. There are a restaurant and lodging on site.
