Žalhostice – between Radobýl, the Elbe and wine

Žalhostice brings landscape, water, wine and history together in a compact area. The town lies on the Elbe and offers a variety of ideas for a stay: a marked trail to Radobýl, Lake Píšťanské with its sandy shores, a traditional water event, and winegrowing with a regional character. If you would like to combine experiences in nature with cultural discoveries, you will find several distinct reasons here to plan your trip.

Lake, the Elbe and the Radobýl natural monument

Lake Píšťanské lies between Velké Žernoseky, Píšťany and Žalhostice. It is a popular recreational area with sandy shores and offers good conditions for windsurfing and other water sports. Alongside the riverbank of the Elbe, this provides a second landscape for days by the water.

The Radobýl natural monument covers 6.256 hectares and extends across the cadastral areas of Litoměřice and Žalhostice. It protects a geomorphologically significant neovolcanic mountain with preserved columnar basalt structures. The protected habitat also includes rocky, rocky-steppe, scree and grassland communities. Radobýl is therefore not only a viewpoint, but also a geologically and scenically distinctive part of the surrounding area.

Hiking with expansive views

A yellow-marked hiking trail leads south from Žalhostice railway stop to the summit of Radobýl. From there, you can enjoy an almost panoramic view of Litoměřice, the Elbe, Lake Píšťanské, Lovosice, the Terezín Basin and the adjacent part of the České středohoří. The trail begins south of the railway stop on railway line 087, allowing you to combine your day of hiking with a clear point of orientation in the town.

Water, wine and history

The Žalhostická Neckyáda is a traditional public water event on the Elbe riverbank in Žalhostice. Boats of various shapes, colours and sizes compete for a trophy from Žalhostice. The event complements the quieter experiences of the landscape around the lake and Radobýl with a local tradition of a distinctly different character.

Žalhostice is known for fruit growing, especially apricots, and, together with Velké Žernoseky, for winegrowing. The town belongs to the Litoměřice wine subregion. By prior arrangement, Vinařství pod Radobýlem offers guided tours with wine tasting at its winery in Žalhostice. The tour presents the technology used and the methods of wine production. In suitable weather, the visit can be extended with a walk through the vineyard to a chapel and a bell tower.

The Chapel of Saint Nicholas was founded in 1360 among the vineyards on the slope of Radobýl. After being damaged during the Thirty Years’ War, it was restored in 1672. In the 19th century, its interior furnishings included an altar and wall paintings of Our Lady of Sorrows, Saint Nicholas, God the Father and the Dove of the Holy Spirit.

Cycling and choosing your location

The Elbe Cycling Route runs along the Elbe between Dresden and Prague and passes through Velké Žernoseky and Žalhostice on its way to Litoměřice. Along its route, further cycle paths connect with or cross the route. Žalhostice also has bus and rail connections. When choosing accommodation, you can therefore assess the town according to various day plans: hiking on Radobýl, water activities at Lake Píšťanské, a wine tour or a cycle trip along the Elbe.

More places for your research

For further orientation, you can also find Bříza, Sulejovice, Lukavec U Lovosic, Michalovice U Velkých Žernosek, Polepy, Černouček, Kostomlaty Pod Řípem and Úštěk-Vnitřní Město.

For the higher-level travel overview: Litoměřice District.