In the center of Staré Křečany stands the monumental Baroque parish church of St. John of Nepomuk. It was completed in 1741 and has been protected as a cultural monument of the Czech Republic since May 3, 1958. Its architectural features include a so-called bread-loaf vault. The municipal development plan notes that only four churches in Czechia have this type of vault.
Churches and historic crosses
The Stations of the Cross near the parish church run along the perimeter wall of the former cemetery. Kopec is also home to notable historic monuments: the Kaufer Cross is a wrought-iron cross dating from 1804. Painted sheet-metal depictions show Jesus Christ, the Virgin Mary and Mary Magdalene; the pedestal is made of sandstone. The cross was restored in 2016. The Chapel of the Virgin Mary in Kopec dates from 1809 and has an altar painting of the Virgin Mary.
Another monument in Kopec is a column shrine with a statue of St. Anthony of Padua. It was erected in memory of miller Johann Zimmer, who died in an accident in a quarry in 1707. In Brtníky, a preserved Stations of the Cross leads to the restored chapels of the Holy Trinity and the Holy Sepulchre on Křížový vrch. Half-timbered houses and houses with timber framing also shape the village landscape across all the settlements. Many of the surviving houses date mainly from the 17th and 18th centuries and are richly clad in slate.
Rocks and seasonal nature experiences
Parts of the municipality of Staré Křečany lie on the western edge of České Švýcarsko National Park. Near Brtníky, a green-marked trail leads to Kyjovské údolí. Velký Pruský Tábor, a large rock overhang, lies along this trail. Nearby are the remains of the medieval rock castle of Brtnický hrádek, with a viewpoint; it is also on the green-marked hiking trail.
The Brtnické ledopády are a seasonal nature attraction. In winter, ice formations several meters high, in varied shapes and colors, form on rock overhangs. Their formation depends on cold winter conditions. The ice formations are therefore seasonal and depend on winter weather.
Plan cycling and climbing
Three cycling routes offer different distances and recommendations for bicycle types. The 27 km route along the Mandava runs from Brtníky through Staré Křečany, Rumburk, Seifhennersdorf and Varnsdorf to Großschönau. It is suitable for road bikes, gravel bikes and e-bikes. There is a rest area with seating and a small spring along the route at the source of the Mandava. The Mandava rises west of Staré Křečany at an elevation of 460 m; its source was restored by the Klub českých turistů.
The moderately difficult cycling route 211 is 34 km long, passes through Staré Křečany and runs through the Šluknovský výběžek. Mountain bikes and trekking bikes are recommended. Route 3032 is also moderately difficult and is 11 km long. It starts in Brtníky, a settlement within Staré Křečany, and runs via Kopec and Kyjovské údolí to Kyjov; mountain bikes and trekking bikes are recommended here too. Check the route information for 211 and 3032 before setting out.
Based on the stated distances, route 3032 is the shortest, the Mandava route is in between, and route 211 is the longest. Mountain bikes and trekking bikes are recommended for the two moderately difficult routes; the Mandava route is explicitly suitable for road bikes, gravel bikes and e-bikes as well. This information can help you choose a route and bicycle type together.
There are 472 registered climbing routes in the Kyjovské údolí and Brtníky area; the route inventory may change. To protect rare nesting bird species, climbing is prohibited in the upper part of Kyjovské údolí and in the valley of the Bílý potok from March to June. Check this seasonal restriction before climbing.
Discover more destinations: Dolní Poustevna, Nové Hrabecí, Dolní Podluží, Krásná Lípa, Krasne Pole, Markvartice U Děčína, Verneřice, Ceská Kamenice.
For the full travel overview: Okres Děčín.
