Jizerské and Lužické Mountains region

Mountainous region with a tradition of manufacturing the famous Czech glass

Czech Tourism

Written by Czech Tourism Published on 11.01.2012 14:15:10 (updated on 11.01.2012) Reading time: 3 minutes

Jizerské and Lužické Mountains region

This mountainous region with a tradition of manufacturing the famous Czech glass offers you the opportunity for adrenaline and relaxing sports in the summer and winter seasons.The Jizerské and Lužické Mountains, the Frýdlant enclave, Mount Ještěd and the so-called Mácha’s Country area – from this simple list of destinations it becomes obvious that in this region you can find a place of interest almost at every turn. Among the most popular sites are the region’s castles and chateaux, with Bezděz, Zákupy, Frýdlant and Houska leading the pack.

Czech glass factories from the Česká Lípa and Jizerské Mountains region have been popular around the world since as far back as the Middle Ages. Come and have a look how glass is made and have a rest in this industrious region of mountains. Where there is mountainous terrain there’s also going to be great conditions for winter sports. In addition to downhill ski resorts you’ll also find countless cross-country skiing trails, one of the most popular being the Jizerská Route. Fans of summer bathing, tanning, water sports and sightseeing cruises will prefer Máchovo Lake; the surrounding rocky terrain attracts those in search of extreme sports fun. Of course this is ideal country for walkers and cyclists, especially when they choose viewing towers, the pride of the region, as their final destinations.

Máchovo jezero (Mácha's Lake)
Máchovo jezero (Mácha’s Lake)

Display of traditions
In this region, the Jizerské Mountains are a Protected Landscape Area the same as the Lužické Mountains. The Jizerské Mountains, with peaks rising to a height of around one thousand metres above sea level, offer several rock lookout points, which you can visit while hiking or cycling. Popular places to visit include castles and chateaux. You can visit museums of glassmaking and glassworks, which have a long tradition, as well as the well-preserved folk architecture, which make up village monument preservation zones. But do not forget the atypical building of the restaurant on Ještěd, which the architect won a prestigious award for.

Jizerské Mountains
Jizerské Mountains

A “motorway” for cross-country skiers
The mountain ranges will welcome you in the winter with superb conditions for winter sports – apart from the carefully maintained centres for downhill skiing, you will also find popular trails here for cross-country skiers, for example the “Jizerská magistrála” offers 75 kilometres of maintained routes. Every January it hosts the Jizerská 50, the best known skiing race in the country, which starts and finishes in Bedřichov. However, if you prefer skiing of the downhill persuasion, exchange boots and skis and head for one of the nine downhill slopes at the Bedřichov Ski Resort. The Ještěd Ski Centre in Liberec is the ideal destination for experienced and adventurous skiers. There’s a cable car, four-seater and two-seater lifts, a snowpark and evening skiing available.

Jizerská 50 cross-country skiers race
Jizerská 50 cross-country skiers race

Higlighted from the region

Liberec
The regional capital in the shadow of Mount Ještěd boasts fascinating period and contemporary architecture. The botanical gardens, the zoo with its rare white tigers and the Babylon Centre’s iQpark science centre, mirror maze , water park and fun fair are all definitely worth a visit.

Jablonec nad Nisou
This town boasts Art Nouveau buildings from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The region’s glassmaking traditions are the focus of the Museum of Glass and Jewellery. There are superb views of Jablonec from the town hall tower in the town centre.

Ještěd
One of the dominant features of North Bohemia (1012m), Ještěd has a 90m-tall TV tower, a restaurant with a view and a hotel built by architect K. Hubáček in 1973. A cable car climbs from Liberec to the top of Ještěd; on the approaches to the mountain there is a ski jump arena.

Ještěd
Ještěd

Bezděz Castle
This Gothic castle and palace, featuring a burgrave’s house and a 30m-tall viewing tower, dominates the area of the country dubbed Mácha’s Country. One of the architectural highlights is the early Gothic chapel.

Bezděz Castle
Bezděz Castle

Castle complex at Frýdlant
This is an exquisitely preserved example of a medieval castle which has been combined with a Renaissance chateau. In 1800 it became the first castle in central Europe to open its doors to the paying public.

 

Frýdlant
Frýdlant

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