In Cvikov, striking sandstone formations meet a rich history of monuments and a local brewing tradition. For planning, the trails described offer different ways to explore: one leads to the city’s monuments, another to rock viewpoints and rock reliefs in the surrounding area. The natural monuments also vary considerably—from a sandstone ridge shaped by geological processes to a fissure cave.

Rock Landscapes and Protected Nature

The Dutý kámen Natural Monument protects a sandstone ridge with rock formations created by erosion or human activity. A distinctive feature is the geological alteration of the Upper Cretaceous sandstone where it meets a basic Tertiary igneous rock intrusion: this is visible in the sandstone’s columnar and platy jointing. Dutý kámen lies in the cadastral areas of Drnovec and neighboring Kunratice u Cvikova. The area covers 6.63 hectares and was designated in 1963.

Part of Cvikov’s area lies within the Lužické hory Protected Landscape Area. This includes part of the Cvikov cadastral area and the entirety of the Trávník u Cvikova and Naděje cadastral areas. The protected area was designated in 1976. This boundary is important: it does not cover the whole of Cvikov.

The Naděje Natural Monument is a fissure cave with pseudokarst features, located in a scree field on the northern slope of Suchý vrch, near the Naděje reservoir. It was designated in 1966 and covers 0.75 hectares. The Cvikovský, Třeťák and Veselák ponds also shape the landscape; they are used for fish farming and recreation. The surviving Schillerova vyhlídka rock viewpoint is partly overgrown with trees. From there, the view extends across the surroundings of Mařenice and to the peaks of Luže, Hvozd and Jezevčí vrch.

Trails with Different Focuses

The red walking trail leads to the city’s monuments. The green hiking trail has a different focus: it passes the area’s main rock viewpoints, rock cities and rock reliefs. This makes it possible to choose a route based on the kind of outing you want, without attributing the same destinations to both trails.

Tourist information boards with maps are available to help you find your way. Visitors can use QR codes to access digital information on the city or cultural website; printed materials are available from the information center. In Cvikovsko and the surrounding area, people hike and cycle in summer. Cross-country and downhill skiing are possible in winter; snow conditions may vary.

Churches, the Calvary and Other Monuments

The Church of St. Elizabeth of Hungary is a protected cultural monument. Between 1553 and 1558, its original Gothic structure was converted into a three-aisled church by the Italian architect Benedikt Ferrvi. Its present appearance dates from the Baroque renovation carried out between 1726 and 1728 to a design by Prague master builder Václav Špaček. It has been protected as a monument since May 3, 1958.

The Křížová cesta–Kalvárie complex on Křížový vrch is also protected as a monument; its history dates back to 1730. The original wooden Chapel of the Holy Sepulchre was replaced by a stone building in 1847. In 1830, the complex was expanded with the Calvary group above the chapel; the Stations of the Cross date from the late 19th century. It has been protected as a monument since May 3, 1958.

The Marian column was erected in 1697. In 1995, it was moved from its original location by the town mill on Mlýnská ulice to the church. The sculptor is believed to have been Johann Christian Ulrich of Zittau. At Lesní divadlo, which a Cvikov amateur theatre group built in 1920 in a quarry at the foot of Zelený vrch, there were even two wooden houses on stage. The surviving remains include a room carved into the rock with a window, a short passage with a niche in the opposite wall, and remnants of the auditorium on the quarry’s low slope.

The Skalní kaple Panny Marie stands at the edge of the forest. It has a pointed-arch vault and distinctive relief decoration inside. The Niessnerova vila was the family residence of textile factory owner Josef Niessner. The historicist building in the Alpine style has an original Art Nouveau interior. In 2017, proceedings began to designate the villa a national cultural monument.

The Brewery and Planning Your Outing

At the foot of the Lužické hory, traditional bottom-fermented beers mature in the Pivovar Cvikov’s original stone cellars. The range includes the pale Klíč lager, with 12 percent malt extract, as well as Luž with 10 percent and Sklář with 8 percent malt extract. The brewery is said to have a brewing tradition dating back to 1560. It closed in 1968 and resumed operations in 2014 following an extensive reconstruction.

A guided tour lasts about 40 minutes. It follows the beer-making process from the basic ingredients to the finished product, provides insights into the brewery’s history and present-day operations, and includes a tasting of beer brewed there. Tours are available for groups of ten or more: on weekdays between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., on Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m., and at other times by prior arrangement. The tour must be arranged and booked in advance; check the conditions before planning your visit.

For the summer holidays, the 2025 municipal program lists the Horský expres as a full-day trip from Cvikov to the German towns of Jonsdorf and Oybin. As the service is seasonal, check whether it runs during your preferred travel period before planning your trip.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Stvolínky, Horní Libchava, Žandov, Újezd, Blatce, Bohatice U Zákup, Volfartice, Kamenický Šenov.

See the main travel overview: Okres Česká Lípa.