Úštěk - a tour of the historic city center and trips vicinity
The town of Úštěk is a popular tourist destination. And there is no wonder why, the city offers a lot of tourist attractions and interesting places.
Our first stop can be, for example, the Jewish synagogue,, which was built in the years 1791 - 1794 in the Classicist style. Since 2014, you can see the exhibition "Jewish Education" here. Another stop is the Museum of Devils, which is located in the Picart Tower and in an adjacent historical local cellar. You can see figures of devils as well as the moving "Hell". Various infernal facilities are available to try. Other interesting stops in the city are, for example, the Bird Houses, the Water World or the historic city center itself, which is dominated by a Baroque church of St. Peter and Paul. There also are beautiful medieval gabled houses on the square. The historic city center has been protected as a Municipal Monument Reserve since 1980.
During the summer days, Lake Chmelař is also an ideal stop, because it is possible to go for a swim here. For multi-day recreation, it is possible to stay in a camp. The lake is one of the most popular and overall best recreational areas in the region. A visit to the town of Úštěk is suitable for families with children.
Possible trips around the town Úštěk
To the Helfenburk Castle
From Úštěk goes a yellow tourist rout, which will take you along the Hrádek brook to Helfenburk, which is also known as Hrádek. The trip is 5km. A shorter variant of the trip can be started in the parking lot below the village of Ostré, where there is a tourist parking lot and a red tourist route begins here. The two routes will later merge and go on a steep slope that you will have to ascend. But the reward is spectacular. The ruins of the castle are set on sandstone rock and are very accessible. The view of the landscape is unforgettable and definitely worth it. The castle was built in the 14th century by the Ronovec family. The walls are up to 12 meters high and are dominated by a 17 meter high tower. The castle is open to the public all year round. The trip is suitable for families with children and for walkers.
On Calvary Sharp
An attractive tourist destination is the Calvary on Ostrá. From the center of the town of Úštěk, follow the red tourist route and at the crossroads Lukovsko switch to yellow. It will lead you around the interesting rock formation Monkey's Head and then to the mountaintop called Calvary. A place that the locals do not call anything else than Kosteličky was in the past a destination for pilgrims and today offers a beautiful view of the surroundings. In recent years, thanks to the activity of the Association for the Restoration of Monuments in Úštěk, it has been completely repaired, thus the sacral building itself is an interesting tourist destination.
Sedlo
The third tip for a trip to the surroundings of the historic town of Úštěk is to ascent the highest mountain of the Verneřická part of the Central Bohemian Uplands, Sedlo Mountain. You can set off directly from the center of Úštěk, from where the red tourist route will take us to a crossroads just below the top. However that would mean a hike to the top longer than 8 km would await you. You can shorten the trip there and start in Habřina or in Hradec, Trnobrany or Lovečkovice. From the top of Sedlo, which reaches altitude 726 m, there is a beautiful view and in addition, the top part is protected as a National Nature Reserve so you can look for some beautiful species.
Stops
Sedlo Hill
Sedlo (The Saddle Mountain) - 726 m - is one of the dominant features of the Central Bohemian Uplands visible from a distance.
With its altitude of 726 meters, Sedlo Hill is the fourth highest mountain in the Central Bohemian Uplands and the highest mountain in the Verneřická part of the Central Bohemian Uplands. It is a significant landmark and a unique natural site. Sedlo is a massive volcanic trunk with a sharp peak ridge with numerous rocky outcrops and rubble fields. In the rubble we can find mixed coniferous forests, often of an ancientforest-like character, with massive specimens of lindens, sycamores, beeches and oaks. Rare thermophilic flora grows on rocks with columnar separation facing south. Fieber's leafless iris was first described on Sedlo. The local fauna has a purely forest character.
The top part has been protected as National Natural Reserve since 1968, due to the occurrence of rare flora. Several tourist routs lead to the top of Sedlo. You can go to the top of Sedlo, for example, from Úštěk, Habřina, from Trnobrany, Horní Vysoká or Lovečkovice. There is a lookout point that offers a view to the south, west and east. From the lookout point it is possible to see a number of hills such as Říp, Hazmburk, Radobýl, Košťalov, Vlhošť or Ronov. Ještěd and the Krkonoše ridge are also visible during weather with good visibility.
The saddle consists of two peaks: the higher Saddle, also known as the Great Saddle (726 m) and Malé Sedlo (534 m). The mountain got its name thanks to its shape, because the back resembles an ancient horse saddle from a distance. At the foot of Sedlo are the ruins of Litýš Castle, which was built in the 15th century.