In the village centre, Staré Krecany brings together Baroque religious architecture and a protected Stations of the Cross. Visitors interested in architectural history beyond a single building will find two distinct points of interest here: the parish church of St John of Nepomuk and the Křížová cesta at the former cemetery. Other topics covered include half-timbered houses, the source of the Mandava west of Staré Křečany, and climbing and route information for Brtníky.

Church and Stations of the Cross in the village centre

The stone parish church of St John of Nepomuk was built between 1736 and 1741. This large Baroque religious building stands in the village centre and is surrounded by a cemetery. It has been protected as a cultural monument of the Czech Republic since 3 May 1958.

The Křížová cesta runs along the boundary wall of the former cemetery beside the church. The chapels and wall are protected as a cultural monument of the Czech Republic. In the Šluknovský výběžek, this Stations of the Cross is the sixth of fourteen in total.

Historic architectural styles

Staré Křečany has several half-timbered houses dating from the 17th and 18th centuries. They have plank cladding and are now protected as historic monuments. The houses complement the Baroque church with a different architectural style, so the architectural interest is not limited to the religious building. The rectory opposite the church is also protected as a cultural monument of the Czech Republic.

Brtníky is known for a distinct building style: the ground floors are built of logs, while the upper floors are made of logs or half-timbering and clad in slate or wood. The upper floor is supported by a so-called Podstávka structure. The cladding and the supporting structure describe different features of the houses: slate or wood describes the cladding, while Podstávka refers to the structure that supports the upper floor.

The Mandava and climbing routes

The Mandava rises at an altitude of 460 metres west of Staré Křečany. Its source was restored by the Klub českých turistů.

For climbers, the Kyjov Valley and Brtníky area is a separate point of interest: a total of 472 climbing routes are registered there. Those who would rather focus on a marked walking or cycling route than on climbing options will find a different way to explore the area on the routes that start in Brtníky.

Routes and access

Brtníky is the starting point for several marked walking and cycling routes for visitors to České Švýcarsko National Park. Specifically, these include the blue-marked trail and cycle route No. 3032. Both run from Brtníky towards the Křinice Valley and the Czech-German state border. The colour marking and route number help distinguish the two routes.

The trail to Brtnický hrádek leads over dozens of steps and stairways cut into the rock. If you plan to visit this destination, you can take into account when planning that the route described includes steps and stairways. The Brtnické ledopády are accessible only on foot. To get there, you can leave your car in one of the car parks or take a bus to Kyjov, Vlčí Hora or Brtníky. As parking and bus services may change, check current connections before setting off.

Discover more destinations: Velký Šenov, Starý Šachov, Dolní Habartice, Huntířov, Mikulášovice, Františkov Nad Ploučnicí, Kytlice, Těchlovice.

For the main travel overview: Děčín District.