The best running trails around Reinhardtsdorf-Schöna

The confluence of the Kamenice (Kamnitz) and the Elbe is located in the Czech village of Hřensko, directly after the border. The Kamenice originates in the Lusatian Mountains (Czech Republic) and is about 35.6 kilometers long. On its way through Bohemian Switzerland, the Kamenice flows through famous rock gorges (like the Wilde Klamm and Edmundsklamm) before it flows into the Elbe on the right.

The border market in Hřensko is located directly behind the Saxon border and is a popular destination for shopping trips to the Czech Republic. On offer at the market: Cigarettes, shisha tobacco, and alcohol are often noticeably cheaper than in Germany. Along the main street, many stalls offer textiles, shoes, and bags. Note: Watch out for possible counterfeits, as Czech customs regularly confiscate fake branded goods here. Local specialties, waffles, and baked goods can be found in the permanent shops.

Beautiful motif against an impressive background.

Unlike nearby Hřensko, Schmilka has managed to retain its original charm. You can conveniently arrive by car (day ticket 8 Euros) or by bus from Bad Schandau (or Hřensko). Additionally, a regular ferry connection leads to the other side of the Elbe, from where the S-Bahn travels via Bad Schandau and Pirna to Dresden. In Schmilka, you will experience old customs and culture, partly with Slavic roots. You can purchase homemade jam and freshly baked bread from the mill here. A clean toilet is also available for one Euro. You can continue your tour from Schmilka across the Czech border to Hřensko, or explore the German Saxon Switzerland National Park with the Großer Winterberg, Affensteine, and Schrammsteine. All these destinations can only be reached from the small village on the Elbe with good stamina, as you are ultimately starting deep in the valley.

Placing cups on the fence is a tradition originally from the Czech Republic and Slovakia, which symbolized hospitality for travelers. Thirsty hikers could take a cup and ask the homeowner for water or milk. Additionally, the cups protect the wood from the weather and allow the earthenware to air out. In Slavic folklore, the custom is associated with the Vodník (the water spirit). This mythological figure is said to keep the souls of drowned people in inverted cups. In some regions, placing the vessels was considered a small offering to appease the water spirit. The original purpose has since faded into the background. Today, colorful ceramic cups on wooden fences primarily serve as a nostalgic design element, lending rural gardens a traditional, cozy flair.

The hut looks very new and sturdy and is perfect for seeking shelter from wind & rain or simply a place to rest and have lunch. There are seating options both inside the hut and on the outer wall.

There are no set times here, when you are at the ferry pier it comes immediately to the other side and takes you across, perfect.

Very early on, Elbe boatmen, rafters, stonemasons, charcoal burners, pitch boilers, or forest workers lived in the small village, which has belonged to Bad Schandau for several decades. Today, guests play the main role in the spruced-up village, and not without reason. Schmilka is located directly on the Saxon Switzerland National Park and, of course, on the Elbe Cycle Route. In Schmilka, there is an organic brewery and an organic bakery. The village has therefore also become a center of enjoyment.