ÚSTÍ NAD LABEM

Northwest Region: A mining riches under the slopes of the Ore Mountains

PERSONAGES

Johann Wolfgang Goethe

He is considered to be one of the most famous poets of all time. He loved the Central Bohemian Plateau, which he often depicted in his drawings of him. In Bohemia he spent three years of his life with him and there he fell in love with Ulrica von Levetzow, who lived in Třebívlice.

Giacomo Casanova

Casanova: a man known for his stories of love affairs, escapes and betrayals that were not enough to spare him a bitter departure. Yet there is a place in Europe where Giacomo Casanova is still remembered today for what he really was: a man of letters, philosopher, diplomat, poet and great adventurer. That place is a North Bohemian town named Duchcov. Here he accepted a job as a librarian in the castle of the Count of Waldstein and spent the last sad years of his life there.

Hněv je špatný rádce

Anger is a bad advisor

WHAT TO EAT

Žatecký červeňák

Žatecký poloraný červeňák is a variety of rotating hops grown in the Žatec area. It has a particularly bitter and at the same time delicate flavor and aroma. It is one of the finest hops in the world. North Bohemian hop plantations are located on particular and unique soil: red in color and very clayey, which maintains the right level of humidity.

The vineyard of Žernoseky

The bouquet of muscat and peaches, the color of Czech garnets - these are just a fraction of adjectives that describe the delicious wines of this sunny area. The Velké Žernoseky Vineyards rise above the meandering Elbe River, which reflects the sun's rays on the vineyards and thus contributes to the uniqueness of this location. The locality is also exceptional for its different pedo-geological conditions. You can enjoy different varieties of wines: from Müller-Thurgau, Mopr, Pinot Noir, Pinot Grigio, Riesling, Blue Portugal to St. Lawrence.

Krušnohorská vánoční štola

The Krušnohorská vánoční štola is a typical Christmas cake, filled with nuts, raisins and candied fruit. Ingredients: yeast, hot milk, flour, butter, margarine, condensed milk, ground sweet almonds, raisins, bitter almonds, vanilla sugar, candied lemon peel, sugar, salt, nutmeg, cardamom, lemon peel. Preparation: The day before cooking, put the raisins in the rum to soak, prepare the leavened dough with flour, milk and yeast and let it rise in a warm place for about 20 minutes. Incorporate all the ingredients except the candied lemon peel and the raisins and leave to rest for 40 minutes. Add the raisins and candied lemon zest, knead once more and let it rest. Form 2 rolls, place them on a baking sheet, let them rest for about 20 minutes and make 1 cm deep notches 10 minutes before baking. After cooking and cooling, cover the rolls with melted butter and sprinkle with icing sugar. Cooking time: approx. 60 minutes at 180-200 °C.

MUST-SEE

Prohlídková štola Starý Martin

Prohlídková štola Starý Martin is a historic mine in the territory of the town of Krupka in the Ore Mountains in the Ústí nad Labem region. The Starý Martin Observation Gallery offers visitors the working conditions of miners for tin extraction in the area of the northwestern part of the Lukáš vein, which has historically been one of the most important mining veins in the entire Krupka district. The Greisen Lukáš vein, with its length of about two kilometers, stood out among the others: it was the longest tin mining vein in modern day Czech Republic and Central Europe. One of the tourist attractions is the so-called "Source of Fortune" and stalactite cave. In the cave, in an open space, a museum of historical and also contemporary mining machinery was built. Guided tours last about 45 minutes, the route measures 1000 meters.

The Fortress of Terezin

It was founded in 1780 by the emperor Joseph II. to protect the border of Bohemia against attacks by invaders from the North. It was born as a city-fortress, with two distinct constructions: the "great fortress" and the "small fortress". The "small fortress" functioned for a long time as a prison, the "big fortress" is known above all because during the Second World War it was transformed by the Nazis into the Theresienstadt concentration camp, now a museum. The contiguous lands could be flooded to discourage attacks and facilitate defense.

Belvedere Tower

Děčínský Sněžník (723m above sea level) rises above the town of Děčín in the pristine Elbe sandstone landscape. The summit of the mountain is occupied by a vast plateau measuring about 1,600 by 600 meters, slightly sloping towards the north-east. It is bordered along most of its perimeter by sandstone walls several tens of meters high, the breaking and alteration of which has created numerous pseudo-karst caves with walls covered with fluorite. On the highest point of the mountain is the lookout tower, built in stone in 1864. It is 33 m high and is one of the oldest in the Czech Republic. After climbing 153 steps, a beautiful circular view opens up.