Pravčická brána Hike: A Guide to Europe's Largest Sandstone Arch and the Gabriel Trail in Bohemian Switzerland

Have you ever seen a stone bridge that nature built? Pravčická brána is the largest natural sandstone arch in Europe. It is 26.5 m wide and 16 m high, and it sits high up among the pine trees and rock towers of Bohemian Switzerland National Park in the north of Czechia. Next to it stands the Falcon's Nest (Sokolí hnízdo), a lovely old summer house built for a local prince in 1881. If it looks a bit like a film set, that is because scenes from The Chronicles of Narnia were filmed nearby.

We haven't hiked this one yet, but it's high on our bucket list, so I've researched every detail for you. Bohemian Switzerland is right next to Saxon Switzerland in Germany, so you can easily combine it with the Bastei Bridge hike on the other side of the border.

Before you plan, there is one important thing to know. The famous Gabriel Trail (Gabrielina stezka) from Pravčická brána to Mezní Louka has been closed since the big forest fire in 2022, and it was still closed in November 2026. The good news is that you can still reach the arch from Hřensko and Tři prameny. So this guide covers the route that is open now, plus what you need to know about the Gabriel Trail.

At a glance

• Distance: about 10 km return from Hřensko, or about 6 km return from the Tři prameny bus stop
• Elevation gain: around 300 m
• Allow 3–4 hours from Hřensko, including time at the arch
• Difficulty: Moderate. A good forest path, with some steeper climbs and steps near the top
• Route type: Out and back on the red-marked trail (the Gabriel Trail onward to Mezní Louka is closed)
• Start/finish: Hřensko, or the Tři prameny junction on the road from Hřensko to Mezní Louka
• Best season: April–June and September–October
• Prices: the trail is free, but the arch viewpoint costs 125 CZK (€5) for adults
• Toilets: use the cafés and restaurants in Hřensko before you start
• Dogs: allowed on a lead

Route description

Hřensko to Tři prameny

Hřensko is a small village where the Kamenice river flows into the Elbe, right on the German border. From the village, follow the red waymarks towards Pravčická brána. After about 2 km you reach Tři prameny (Three Springs), a junction with a bus stop on the road to Mezní Louka. If you want a shorter walk, take the bus straight here.

The climb to the arch

From Tři prameny, the red trail climbs through the forest for about 3 km to the arch. The path is wide and well made, but it gets steeper in places, with some steps near the top. You will see sandstone walls and rock towers all around you. You will also see a lot of dead and burnt trees. This area was hit hard by bark beetles and then by the 2022 fire. It is a bit sad, but it is also interesting to see how quickly young trees and plants are coming back.

Pravčická brána and the Falcon's Nest

Just below the arch you reach the ticket office. The area around the arch is private land, so you pay to enter. You can't walk on top of the arch itself. It has been off limits since 1982 to protect it from erosion. However, a network of steps and viewing platforms takes you right next to it and up to viewpoints above it. From the viewpoints you look out over the forest and rock towers of the national park. I think this view alone must be worth the climb.

The Falcon's Nest (Sokolí hnízdo) stands right next to the arch. Prince Edmund Clary-Aldringen built it as a hotel and summer house in 1881. Today it has a restaurant and a small museum.

The Gabriel Trail (closed in 2026)

Before the fire, most people continued from the arch along the Gabriel Trail. This red-marked path runs for about 5 km to Mezní Louka, and it is the classic way to continue from the arch. Unfortunately, it is inside the fire-damaged area, and the national park still listed it as closed in November 2026. A reopening is expected around 2027, but there is no official date yet. Please don't ignore the signs! Burnt trees can fall at any time.

For now, walk back the same way to Tři prameny. If you want a longer day, the national park suggests the yellow Mlýnská cesta (Mill Path) between Mezní Louka, Mezná and Tři prameny as an alternative. You could take the bus up to Mezní Louka, walk down the Mill Path to Tři prameny, and then climb to the arch from there.

How to get there

By public transport

• Train: express trains run hourly from Prague to Děčín and take about 1.5 hours. From Děčín, it is about 12 km to Hřensko.
• Bus: bus 434 runs from Děčín to Hřensko and continues towards Jetřichovice and Krásná Lípa. Buses on this road stop at Hřensko, Tři prameny (u Třech pramenů) and Mezní Louka. You can pay by contactless card on all buses and trains, or buy tickets in the DÚKapka app.
• From Germany: take the U28 train to Schöna, then the little ferry across the Elbe to Hřensko. It only takes a few minutes.

By car and parking

Hřensko is 12 km from Děčín. From Dresden, you cross the border at Schmilka and Hřensko.

Parking: use the paid car park in Hřensko (behind Restaurant Klepáč) or the car park at Mezní Louka (by Hotel Mezní Louka). Parking anywhere else along the road is strictly prohibited, so please park considerately!

Permits, fees & opening times

• Opening hours: the official website lists daily opening from 10 am to 6 pm from late March (28 March) to October. From November to March it opens on Fridays and at weekends from 10 am to 4 pm, with limited services.
• Prices: adults 125 CZK (€5), children aged 6–14, students and seniors 65+ 50 CZK (€2). You can buy tickets online to skip the queue.
• Trail closures: check the national park's page on available trails before you go. In November 2026 the Gabriel Trail was closed, and Pravčická brána was only reachable from Tři prameny.
• Fire risk: the national park publishes fire risk levels. In dry periods, please follow all restrictions.

When to go

In my opinion, spring and autumn are the best times. In spring the forest is fresh and green, and autumn brings lovely colours. The arch is open all year, but only on Fridays and weekends in winter. Summer weekends are the busiest time.

Visitor numbers have dropped a lot since the fire. Around 100,000 people visited in 2024, compared with up to 270,000 a year before 2019. So this could be a great time to see it without the big crowds. To have the arch almost to yourself, arrive when it opens at 10 am on a weekday.

Avoid the forest in strong wind, heavy rain, snow or ice. The national park warns of a high risk of falling trees in these conditions.

Hiking with kids

Suitable for children: yes, this is a great family hike. The path is wide and not too long, especially if you take the bus to Tři prameny. Kids will love the rock towers and the giant arch.

• Pushchairs: not suitable. There are steps on the way up to the arch. Bring a baby carrier for little ones.
• Shorter option: start from Tři prameny to cut the walk to about 6 km return.
• Keep them close on the viewpoints above the arch. Some are high, with steep drops.
• Keep it fun: tell them the story of Narnia, look for animal shapes in the rocks, and finish with a boat ride through Edmund's Gorge.
• Prices: children under 6 don't appear on the official price list. Children aged 6–14 pay 50 CZK.

What to pack

• Sturdy walking shoes or boots, as the path can be slippery on the steps
• Water and a picnic
• A light waterproof jacket
• Czech crowns or a card for the entrance fee and the bus
• A baby carrier for small children

Snacks are a must when you hike with kids. Nuts, energy bars and dried fruit are easy to carry and great for tired little legs. I share more ideas in my post about the best food for expeditions.

Safety tips

• Never enter closed trails. Dead and burnt trees can fall without warning.
• Stay away from the forest in strong wind, storms or heavy snow.
• Watch your step on the sandstone steps, which get slippery when wet.
• Keep children close on the high viewpoints.
• In an emergency, call 112.

Leave no trace & sustainable tips

• Never light a fire or smoke in the national park. The 2022 fire shows how quickly it can spread.
• Use public transport. If you stay at least two nights in a participating hotel, you can get free travel on buses and trains in the Ústí nad Labem Region and on some Saxon routes.
• Stay on the marked trails. The sandstone and the young forest are fragile.
• Take all your rubbish home.
• Keep dogs on a lead to protect wildlife.

Where to stay & eat nearby

• Hřensko is right at the start, with guesthouses, cafés and restaurants.
• Mezní Louka and Mezná are quiet villages higher up, with a hotel and guesthouses. They are good bases for the gorges.
• Děčín is a bigger town on the Elbe with lots of accommodation and a train station.
• Falcon's Nest: the restaurant next to the arch is a lovely spot for lunch with a view. Check opening times, especially in winter.

More to explore nearby

• Edmund's Gorge (Edmundova soutěska): it reopened on 18 June 2026 with guided boat trips through the gorge. Boats leave hourly from 10 am to 5 pm, and you buy tickets at the entrance on the Hřensko side. The gorges are not passable on foot.
• Wild Gorge (Divoká soutěska): the second boat trip on the Kamenice river, reached from Mezní můstek near Mezná.
• Saxon Switzerland: cross the border for the famous Bastei Bridge and the Schwedenlöcher gorge.
• Jetřichovice: while parts of the park are closed, the national park suggests visiting the area around Jetřichovice, in the neighbouring protected landscape areas.

FAQ

Is the Gabriel Trail open?

No. The Gabriel Trail from Pravčická brána to Mezní Louka has been closed since the 2022 forest fire. It was still closed in November 2026, and a reopening is expected around 2027.

How do I get to Pravčická brána?

Walk from Hřensko on the red trail via Tři prameny (about 5 km one way), or take the bus to Tři prameny and walk about 3 km up to the arch.

How much does it cost to visit Pravčická brána?

The official price is 125 CZK (€5) for adults and 50 CZK (€2) for children aged 6–14, students and seniors.

Can you walk on Pravčická brána?

No. Walking on the arch has been banned since 1982 to protect it. You can see it from viewing platforms right next to and above it.

Is Pravčická brána open in winter?

Yes, but only on Fridays and weekends from November to March, from 10 am to 4 pm.

Have you visited Pravčická brána? Did you walk the Gabriel Trail before it closed? Let me know in the comments!