Discover Roßbach: Nature, Cycling Routes and Border History

Roßbach combines a cultural landscape near the border with varied routes through the Přírodní park Smrčiny nature park. Around Hranice, coniferous forests, moors, spring areas and lively streams meet traces of regional history. This creates a destination where active days, experiences in nature and historical discoveries can be combined.

Hiking and cycling between forest and border

A particularly vivid way to explore the area is the “Na cestě k Trojstátí” educational trail. The approximately 18 km circular route begins directly at Masarykovo náměstí in Hranice. Nine main information panels cover the local landscape, settlement in the border region and the history of the Iron Curtain. The route thus combines exercise with regional topics without separating the history of the landscape from its surroundings.

Hranice also offers several clearly described cycling connections. The EuroVelo 13 cycle route runs through Hranice, reaches the Czech Republic at Trojstátí and connects near Pastviny with cycle route 2058. Cycle route 2057 begins at the Ebmath border crossing, leads through the center of Hranice and via Pastviny in the direction of Aš and Skalka u Chebu. Cycle route 2058 starts at Krásňany, leads through the center of Hranice to Trojstátí and connects at Pastviny with EuroVelo 13 and at Aš with cycle route 2057. The cross-border Mockelbahn cycle route has its own historical character: It begins at Hranice railway station and follows the former railway line through dense forest, via the former Freiberg station, to Adorf in the Vogtland region. It is 8.52 km long.

Culture, landscape and border history

For a cultural excursion, Hranice offers the Protestant Church of St. Martin and the Church of the Visitation of the Virgin Mary. The roots of St. Martin’s date back to the 14th century; in 1719, the church was extensively rebuilt, with the nave designed in the Romanesque style. Inside is an original clockwork mechanism from 1881, which is considered a technical monument. The Church of the Visitation of the Virgin Mary acquired its present pseudo-Romanesque appearance in 1894.

The Knihovna a Muzeíčko comprises a small local museum that shares its premises with the adult library. The ground floor also houses an information center and a café. This makes it possible to combine a visit focused on the town’s history with practical orientation on site. In the immediate surroundings, the historic main border marker I/1 bearing the year 1844, the former cemetery of Trojmezí and preserved graves bear witness to the eventful history of the border region.

Nature, too, has remarkable features. Hoher Stein is a 636 m-high rock complex with a preserved stone lookout tower that can be reached from Hranice via hiking trails. The Bystřina – Lužní potok area contains natural dystrophic lakes and ponds as well as moisture-loving tall-herb fringe communities. Among other species, the marsh fritillary, brook lamprey and freshwater pearl mussel occur here. At the freshwater pearl mussel breeding center in Huschermühle, guided visits are offered by prior arrangement, focusing on the conservation of this species.

Further destinations and local pages in the same area can be found under Hohendorf - Abaschin, Marienbad, Wildstein, Untersandau, Oed, Lázně Kynžvart and Liebenstein.

For the higher-level travel overview: Eger District.