The Giant Mountains
The Giant Mountains are called
Krkonose in the Czech language,
named after the legend of the
giant Krakonos.
This beautiful mountain area is
the highest of the Czech Republic
and has been a national park
since 1962. It is located on about
1000 km from Utrecht, to the
northeast of Prague, close to the
Polish border.
This area is pretty small when it
comes to surface: length of only
60 km (form Northwest to Southeast)
and a maximum width of 20 km.
It however has the style of high
Mountains: rough, bare tops
(the highest, Snezka, is 1602 m),
ravines, deep forested river valleys,
mountain meadows and waterfalls.
The Giant Mountains is the source area
of the Labe (Elbe) but also of the Upa
and the Jizera (Iser) with her numerous tributaries.
The house Benecko is located right in the middle of the Giant Mountains!
The bleak, wintry snow storms formed glaciated valleys in the course
of the history (German: Grund, Czech: jama and dul), in which some of
the arctic, Alps- and Caucasus flora and fauna have managed to survive
until today.
On maps, these kinds of places with their exceptional vegetation have
been called ‘garden’ (zahradka) for years and years.
On these kind of places the laymen-pharmacists collected medicinal herbs
in the 17th and 18th century and nowadays they are part of the, together
with the moorlands (raselininste) and the beech forest, most protected areas
of the Krknosse.
In the lower areas of the Giant Mountains a mishmash of forests, in which
beech, maple-tree and spruce dominate, causes a fantastic play of colors.
This is the area of the boar, of deers and roes, of fox, badger and marten
(unfortunately beers don’t live here anymore)
Banks and courtyards are planted with fruit trees, which cheer up the
landscape in spring with their beautiful blossoms and which again cause a
colorful spectacle in the late summer with their beautiful fruit decoration.
Bohemian Paradise
Only half an hour removed from the house you will find the Bohemian
Paradise (the Cesky Raj), with its fanciful rock formations, castles, ruins
(Trosky), lakes and gem winning.
You cannot miss the small city Hruboskalsko, because 400 aiguilles stick
up here with the Draci Skaly (the dragon rock) as one of the highest points.
Close to it you will find the lovely landscape park Broumovsko with many
protected views and the Adrspasske Skaly, as well-known highlight!
The extended rock city with a labyrinth of splits and crevices has been
separated from Teplice by Vlci Rokle (the wolf ravine).
Except for romantic walks between the bizarre rock formations you can also
make a boot trip on the lake which has been surrounded by steep rock faces.
The objects of interest also include the Great Waterfall, the bust of J.W.
Goethe in memory of his nature studies in 1790.
The well-known rock formations are: The couple in love, the mayor and his
wife, the sugar hat, the stool of Krakonos, the piano and many others.
The Czech spa guests called the Bohemian Paradise, already in 1870, one of
the most impressing areas of the Czech Republic.
The Iser mountains
The Jizerke hory mountains (Iser Mountains) start from Korenov, the southern
side and the northern border of Frydlantsky. Actually, our house in Korenov
is located right on the border of the Iser mountains and the Great Mountains!
The nature reserve the Iser Mountains is part of the eldest large protected
areas in Bohemia; it has been a nature reserve since 1968.
On one side you will find extended bare plains and damaged forest, on the
other side you will find exceptional valuable grounds with natural forest
communities, especially a continuous complex of beech forest on the northern
mountain slopes and unique eco-systems of peat with valuable flora and fauna.
An important part of the nature reserve consists of landscape without forest
with mainly meadows with a certain urban value, especially thanks to the
preserved examples of traditional village architecture.
There are locations of forest crane’s bill or plants from the orchid family.
For example a Gentianella grows here.
The flora of the area Frydlandsko differs from the rest of the Iser Mountains.
The forest mainly consists of flowery woods with mild warmth-loving kind of
plants.
Striking are the pond plant communities.
But the Iser Mountains are especially famous for their beautiful peats with
many kinds of rare plants.
Nowadays, this area is one of the areas in the Czech Republic which are most
rich in contrast.
Nature monuments: hamlet Jizerka, peat Smedava, dams Sous and Bedrichov,
the waterfalls of Stolpisske, rock formations Frydlantske cimburi, Jested.
TIPS EN TRIPS
Soccer camp Korenov
Yearly, the soccer club Dresden organizes a summer camp for children from
8-14 years.
The pitch can be reached from the house in Korenov (just a small walk).
22nd July until 5th August/5th August until 12th August / 12th August until
25th August.
We arrange the reservations!
Summer Activities
Winter Activities
FIS Nordic World Ski Championchips LIBEREC 2009
The region where the FIS Nordic World Championships will take place in 2009 is a region of lively sporting activity, beauty spots, historic and architectural monuments. The people, the countryside and the cultural heritage of the region form a single harmonious whole.
The mountainous region is situated in North Bohemia and 20 minutes driving from our holidayhome in Korenov! After the EU accession of the Chech Republic the region fully opened up for visitors, offering them rich opportunities for trips to the Jizera Mountains and there surroundings, to the rocks of Bohemian Paradise, to the chateaux and castles. The ridge between Jestêd and Kozákov attracts tourists with its extensive views of the countryside, Bozkov municipality offers the only dolomite caves in the Chech Republic, Jablonné v Podjestêdí can boast the Baroque Basilica of St. Lawrence. The history of traditional glass and bijoux making can be studied in Jablonec nad Nisou. It's the natural beauty of this area that attracts visitors the most. Its charm, variety, harshness, grandiosity and spaciousness - that is the Liberec Region.
In the valley between the Jizera Mountains and the Jestêd ridge, less than an hour's journy from Prague, the capital city of the Chech Republic, there is the metropolis of the North Bohemia and the Euro-Region with a population of 10,000. Liberec experienced its golden age at the 19th and 20th centuries, when several noteworthy buildings were erected, the Harcov dam was constructed, the tramline was estabilished and the botanical and the zoological gardens were opened. In recent decades the city has followed up this development by constructing new buildings, extending servicies, infrastructure and sports grounds. Even from a distance, the unmistakable domineering characteristic of the city is the unusual hotel in the shape of a rotation hyperboloid on the top of Mount Jested.
Winter sports enthusiasts, experts and lovers of cross country, ski jumping and nordic combined will be mentioning Liberec more and more often in the coming years. The championships will return Eastern Europe after a break of nearly forty-years.
Prague
When you're here to celebrate your holiday you must visit Prague.
It is only a one our drive to Prague, from both our houses.
Prague is the Capital city of the Czech Republic alongside the Moldau
and is also being called "The mother of cities".
Beautiful buildings and monuments will show you the history of this
thousand year old city.
It's an experience to wander about the small streets and alleys of the
"Altstadt" the oldest part of Prague.
Prague has olso got a wonderfull nightlive with: the opera, museums, ballet
and concerts.
There a many nightclubs and pubs, and nice bars where you can sit outside
with a nice drink to relax.