Behind the mystery of the Rychleby Mountains

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Javorník

Javorník, the Ráčí Valley with Tančirna, ruins, a castle or a monastery with a dark history - this region close to the Polish border is a great starting point for exploring a large part of the Rychleby Mountains.

Right at the beginning, in the Račí valley, you will be surprised by a beautiful Art Nouveau building of the Dance House in the middle of the woods. It remembers the times when this locality used to be the centre of the whole Principality of Nysa. From the dancing hall, you can walk to the romantic ruins of Rychleby Castle via the Devil's Pulpit lookout point and then on to Javorník.

The town is dominated by the Janský vrch castle. If you like places with a very turbulent history, you can also visit Bílá Voda near the border with Poland. The monastery there became a refuge for nuns who were forcibly transported and imprisoned here in the 1950s. The local cemetery is also a reminder of their often tragic fate, and you can find out more in the museum. You can also read about the fate of the sisters in the novel Bílá Voda by Kateřina Tučková.

Tip for families with children

Be sure not to miss one of the enticing castle tours. In the summer season, it's not just the guides who dress up in historical costumes - even children can feel like princesses or knights for a little while. And that's not all - the whole family will have fun in the Fairytale Castle Park.

If you come to Javorník from Žulová, you will definitely notice the Giant Table and Chairs at Skorošice on Lánský vrch - an ideal place to relax with a great view. Hiking From Javorník, you can go through the village of Travná and Zálesí to the border mountain with Poland - Borůvková hora with a lookout tower.

If you are attracted by the unique natural attractions, take a walk to the unusual rock formation called Venus Bowls or to the waterfalls of the Silver Stream - known as Nýznerovské waterfalls.

In summer we have a great tip for refreshment - around Žulová or Uhelná there are flooded quarries, suitable (of course at your own risk) for swimming - visit the Kaolinka, Transgranit, Pelnář, Vycpálek or Žulový vrch quarries.