The Jizera Mountains

The vast mountain range in the very north of the Czech Republic near the Polish border belongs to the nicest and most interesting parts of the country. The first interest of the Jizera Mountains comes from the local geological conditions. The prevailing rock here is granite, which creates formations of bizarre shapes in the woods and open mountain plains: granite towers and cliffs pass into small rock towns. Wonderful views of the surroundings open from the granite blocks on the mountain peaks. Basalt effusions also attract the visitor's attention (e.g. Mount Bukovec is the highest basalt hill in the Central Europe). Considering quite a low height of the Jizera Mountains, we can find possibly the harshest climate of all the Czech mountains here. The extremely humid climate has created ideal conditions for the development of numerous peatbogs with rare plants. Beside peatbogs, there are also preserved original beech forests and remnants of real spruce primeval forests to be found here. The tradition of nature preservation dates back to the beginning of the 20th century, and resulted in the forming of the Preserved Landscape Area of the Jizera Mountains in 1967.

Several streams rise in the Jizera Mountains - some of them shrouded in mystery over former precious stone deposits, the others creating wonderful waterfalls or rapids in the rocky terrain. The streams end their journey either in the North or the Baltic Sea, depending on whether they flow into the Jizera or Nisa River. Several dams and buildings in typical secular or spiritual architecture put the finishing touches to the beauty of the landscape. Small memorials and monuments to the old tragedies of the mountain visitors are scattered all over the Jizera Mountains. The local glass-making tradition or the technical data of the local railway are also remarkable.

The Jizera Mountains are really worth visiting. They offer well marked cycling and tourist paths in summer and well-kept skiing slopes and tracks in winter. Every visitor can find here what he is looking for. Welcome to the Jizera Mountains!

Kralovka

A 23,5 m high tower opened in 1907. A chalet was built next to it in 1934. The lookout tower provides one of the best views in the Jizera Mountains. The distance from the Axa Cottage is 300 m only.

Kristianov

There is memorial of glassmaking. A one-time settlement of Kristianov with a sylvan cemetery, ruins of a glassworks and a memorial in a once glass-makers pub (the last cottage that has been preserved from one of the most important glass-maker settlement in the Jizera Mountains.

Nova louka - New Meadow

Nova louka, a hunter's hall is a relic of the North Bohemian glass making past. After restoration, it's used as a lodging facility with a restaurant. Law as a cultural monument protects the building.