Exploring the Tri-Country Region
The Tripoint lies approximately 24 kilometres from Liberec. It is the place where the borders of three countries – Czechia, Germany and Poland – meet. You will find it less than two kilometres from Hrádek nad Nisou, at the confluence of the Lusatian Neisse and the Oldřichovský Stream, with the national borders running through the middle of both watercourses. The flags of all three countries fly permanently at the Three-Country Point, together with the blue flag of the European Union. On the Czech side stands a symbolic three-sided granite obelisk, the German side features a cross, while the Polish side is marked by a monument commemorating cooperation between the three countries.
Discover Zittau’s Lenten Veils
The German town of Zittau, the south-easternmost town in Saxony, lies just 30 kilometres from Liberec. Its most interesting sights include the main square with its imposing Town Hall, the seven-storey Salt House dating from 1511, Baroque fountains, the former Franciscan monastery and the Butchers’ Bastion with its flower clock. Take a walk through Zittau and discover its historic landmarks. The town’s greatest treasures are its famous Lenten veils, which were once used to cover church altars during Lent.
The Great Zittau Lenten Veil, dating from 1472, measures 8.2 by 6.8 metres. Its 90 panels depict biblical scenes from the Old and New Testaments, from the Creation to the Last Judgement. The veil is displayed in the Church of the Holy Cross inside Germany’s largest glass display case. Its type and execution make it truly unique in Germany and one of the most important cultural treasures of the Middle Ages.
The Small Zittau Lenten Veil from 1573 measures 3.4 by 4.1 metres. Its central motif is the Crucifixion, surrounded by 40 instruments of Christ’s Passion. It is the only surviving Arma Christi veil of its kind in Germany and is displayed in the former Franciscan monastery. For a beautiful view over the entire town and its surroundings, climb the tower of St John’s Church.
Families with children should also stop at the tourist information centre, where they can pick up a free leaflet and map for the Zittau Legends Trail. Do not miss Tierpark Zittau, the local zoo in Weinaupark, or a trip to Olbersdorfer See, also known as O-See. This lake was created by flooding a former lignite mine and is now the largest body of water in the Zittau area.
You will find plenty of other inspiring excursion ideas on the Facebook page of the Zittau Mountains Nature Park. Another memorable experience is a journey on the narrow-gauge railway from Zittau. One line takes you to Oybin, with its distinctive table mountain and mystical ruins of a castle and monastery, while the other leads to the spa town of Jonsdorf, home to a year-round House of Exotic Animals.
Enchanting Horizons in Görlitz and Zgorzelec
Just 100 kilometres from Liberec lies a town divided into two parts by the Lusatian Neisse: the German town of Görlitz and the Polish town of Zgorzelec. In the historic German centre, you can see almost 4,000 listed buildings representing 500 years of European architectural history. The houses in the Old Town are particularly fascinating, with richly decorated façades, artistic vaulted interiors and painted ceilings from different periods. One of Europe’s most important historic trade routes once passed through the town: the Via Regia, or Royal Road, which connected Santiago de Compostela with Kyiv. Buildings representing almost every architectural style can be admired here, from Gothic and Renaissance to Baroque. It is therefore no surprise that Görlitz is considered Germany’s largest historic preservation area.
Thanks to its unique skyline and remarkably well-preserved architecture, the town is a popular filming location and has earned the nickname “Görliwood”. Families with children will enjoy Tierpark Görlitz, where many enclosures allow visitors to get close to the animals. Just outside the town, make sure to visit Lake Berzdorf. It is the fifth-largest lake in Saxony and today one of the region’s most popular recreational destinations.
Spa Relaxation and Outdoor Adventures in Świeradów-Zdrój
Just 40 kilometres from Liberec, at the foot of the Jizera Mountains, lies a Polish town worth visiting for much more than its health benefits. It is the only place of its kind in Europe where two spa resorts with completely different therapeutic and climatic properties are located within a single municipality: Świeradów-Zdrój and Czerniawa-Zdrój. Świeradów-Zdrój and its surroundings offer a wide range of outdoor activities and tourist attractions. The historic Spa House, with its mineral water spring, boasts a beautifully decorated colonnade that is also the longest covered promenade hall in the Sudetes. Another attraction is the grotto, an artificial cave featuring stalactite formations.
A typical example of the architecture of the Silesian-Bohemian border region is Czarci Młyn, or the Devil’s Mill. Its original equipment remains fully functional, turning the building into a working open-air museum where visitors can learn how baked goods were once produced. At Stacja Kultury, you can also see a free H0-scale model of the Jizera Mountain Railway.
Sky Walk, the tallest observation tower in Poland, invites you to follow a unique walkway among the clouds. From a height of 62 metres, it offers excellent views over the town and the natural scenery of the border region. Other nearby viewpoints include the observation towers on Młynica and Czerniawska Kopa.
The cable car to Stóg Izerski operates throughout the year. From the upper station, an easy trail of just three kilometres leads to Smrk, the highest mountain in the Czech part of the Jizera Mountains. More active visitors can enjoy around 100 kilometres of forest Single Track mountain-bike trails or ten kilometres of Run Track forest running routes.
