The best city hikes and walks in Severozápad

Construction of St. Nicholas Church likely began between 1220 and 1230. Only the west portal, parts of the north portal, and the lower sections of the east towers remain from the former basilica. The floor plan resembles that of Bamberg Cathedral, which probably served as a model. The three-aisled nave, the presbytery, and the sacristy date from the Gothic period. After a fire in 1742, the towers were rebuilt with Baroque domes based on a design by Balthasar Neumann, who was born here. In April, the roof was destroyed by a bombing raid. Source and further information: www.kathedralen.net/eger/eger00.html

The Thuns undertook two fundamental and comprehensive interventions in the palace. The first, the High Baroque remodeling, took place in the last three decades of the 17th century at the instigation of Maximilian Thun, the imperial envoy and diplomat. His primary aim was to strengthen the ceremonial function of his estate and appropriately demonstrate the family's wealth and influential position. The main axis of the entire project was the new access road, the so-called "Long Drive" ("Dlouhá jízda"), which leads to the upper gate in front of the completely rebuilt entrance wing. Along this road, he had an ornamental garden (now the Rose Garden) laid out symmetrically on one side and an equestrian area on the other. Down in the town, practically at the foot of the Schlossberg, Maximilian and his brother Johann Ernst had the palace church "Elevation of the Holy Cross" built (the architect remains unknown to this day).

Děčín Castle (German: Tetschner Schloss) is located on a rocky ridge near the Elbe River in the town of Děčín (Tetschen) in the Czech Republic. The castle dates back to a fortification built by the Přemyslids at the end of the 10th century (mentioned in 1128) to control shipping on the Elbe. In the 13th century, the wooden structure was converted into a stone castle and expanded. The Bünaus converted the complex into a Renaissance castle in the 16th century, but were forced to sell it to the von Thun family after the Thirty Years' War because of their Protestant faith. The von Thuns occupied the castle until 1932, then sold it to the state for financial reasons and relocated to Jílové (Eulau). See: https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schloss_D%C4%9B%C4%8D%C3%ADn

The Rose Garden is undoubtedly the most attractive part of the palace grounds. Its charm lies in the combination of unique Baroque architecture with the captivating beauty of blooming roses. To the west, the Rose Garden is bordered by the Sala Terrena, with its preserved frescoes dating from 1678; the eastern end forms a sweeping gloriette decorated with a Baroque statue gallery. The name Rose Garden came into use around 1881, after one of the most famous rose gardens of the Habsburg Monarchy was created here. See: https://www.zamekdecin.cz/de/info/uber-das-schloss/schlossgarten/rosengarten

Děčín Castle (German: Tetschner Schloss) is located on a rocky ridge near the Elbe River in the town of Děčín (Tetschen) in the Czech Republic. The castle dates back to a fortification built by the Přemyslids at the end of the 10th century (mentioned in 1128) to control shipping on the Elbe. In the 13th century, the wooden structure was converted into a stone castle and expanded. The Bünaus converted the complex into a Renaissance castle in the 16th century, but were forced to sell it to the von Thun family after the Thirty Years' War because of their Protestant faith. The von Thuns occupied the castle until 1932, then sold it to the state for financial reasons and relocated to Jílové (Eulau). See: https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schloss_D%C4%9B%C4%8D%C3%ADn

The reconstructed restaurant with the 18 m high observation tower stands on the Schäferwand, a sandstone cliff 160 m high above the Elbe in the town of Děčín.

Děčín Castle (German: Tetschner Schloss) is located on a rocky ridge near the Elbe River in the town of Děčín (Tetschen) in the Czech Republic. The castle dates back to a fortification built by the Přemyslids at the end of the 10th century (mentioned in 1128) to control shipping on the Elbe. In the 13th century, the wooden structure was converted into a stone castle and expanded. The Bünaus converted the complex into a Renaissance castle in the 16th century, but were forced to sell it to the von Thun family after the Thirty Years' War because of their Protestant faith. The von Thuns occupied the castle until 1932, then sold it to the state for financial reasons and relocated to Jílové (Eulau). See: https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schloss_D%C4%9B%C4%8D%C3%ADn

Always worth a trip. Magnificent view of Decin from up there.