Valkeřice – Valley, Forests and the Lookout Tower on Kohout

Valkeřice combines an enclosed valley, wooded areas, historic village architecture and distinctive traces of its former ruling estates. The Valkeřice Valley is shaped by the Dolský Brook and surrounded by the flat, elongated ridges and cones of a volcanic mountain range. This gives the area a variety of possibilities for planning your trip: you can combine landscapes, local history and an excursion to Kohout.

Kohout: Lookout Tower and Access Route

A particularly tangible destination is the small stone lookout tower on Kohout. It lies about 1 km west of Valkeřice in the surrounding forests. Kohout is 589 m high; the lookout tower was built in 1908 by the Deutsche Turisten association. After its restoration, the tower was reopened to the public on 16 April 2011.

From Valkeřice, an approximately 1.5 km access route leads to the summit of Kohout. The route initially follows the former blue-marked hiking trail, which is now marked as a red bridleway. The former blue-marked branch then turns left toward the summit. The information about the former and current markings is particularly helpful if you want to trace the route before setting out and plan according to the actual trail length.

Valley, Forests and Quarries

Around one-third of Valkeřice’s cadastral area is forested. A considerable part also consists of permanent grassland. Together with the Valkeřice Valley, this creates a landscape of forests, open areas and the elongated forms of the volcanic mountain range.

Another distinctive feature is the Znělcové quarries (U lomu). The quarries include partially flooded extraction pits with ponds. Cleaning work and the construction of facilities for all visitors have begun at the Valkeřice trachyte quarries. Thus, alongside the viewpoint, the landscape shaped by quarrying is another aspect you can take into account when exploring Valkeřice.

Village History and Traditional Architectural Styles

Valkeřice was formed by the union of the two settlements of Elkeřice and Pertoltice, which were first mentioned in historical sources in 1363. The village contains traditional log houses, half-timbered houses and several Upper Lusatian houses; most of them are state-protected monuments. The rectory at No. 37 is a two-storey masonry building with a later two-storey wing on the west side.

The area’s aristocratic past is also present in the villagescape. In 1700, František Antonín Špork had a two-storey chateau with three wings built in Valkeřice, allegedly on the site of a former fortress. It was used mainly as a residence for the ruling estate during hunting trips. In the centre of Valkeřice there is also the remains of a hunting lodge, which forms a prominent feature of the landscape.

The Right Location for Planning Your Trip

If you are looking for a hotel in Valkeřice, you can choose the preferred location based on your interests: Kohout lies about 1 km west of the village, while the remains of the hunting lodge are in the centre.

Discover More Destinations

If you would like to compare more destinations, also discover Ceská Kamenice, Dittersbach, Jiřetín Pod Jedlovou, Arnoltice, Růžová, Janská, Malšovice and Tetschen-Bodenbach.

For the overarching travel overview: Děčín District.