Varnsdorf: Churches, Hrádek and Excursions in the Lusatian Mountains

Varnsdorf combines a striking location at the foot of the Lusatian Mountains with an unusually diverse urban history. The town lies in a picturesque valley of the Mandava and borders Germany on three sides. As a result, landscapes, architecture, regional culture and excursion destinations come together in a small area – from historic churches and Upper Lusatian half-timbered houses to viewpoints, ponds and events.

Discover churches and urban history

The Church of St Peter and Paul is Varnsdorf’s oldest church. It was completed between 1774 and 1776, and its late Baroque interior was completed in 1777. The building gained particular musical significance in 1830: the first complete liturgical performance of Beethoven’s Missa solemnis took place there.

The Church of St Charles Borromeo is known as the “church without a tower” because of the distinctive design of its tower’s upper section. If you would like to visit the interior, tours can be arranged through the deanery office at Náměstí E. Beneše 471. Another striking place of worship is the so-called Red Church. It is protected as a cultural monument and is one of the few surviving North Bohemian churches made of glazed bricks. Its foundation stone was laid in 1904, and it was consecrated the following year.

The secular architecture also tells the story of the town’s development. Varnsdorf features Art Nouveau, Neo-Renaissance, Classicist- and Empire-style, and Historicist buildings. These include the buildings along Legií Street, the former bank on T. G. Masaryka Street, the school on Střelecká Street, the post office, house no. 512 on Národní Street, and villas on Seifertova and Tyršova streets. Upper Lusatian half-timbered houses with distinctive stone portals can also still be seen. The area of Varnsdorf also includes Studánka, with its Pseudo-Romanesque Church of St Francis of Assisi, built in 1872.

Hrádek, museums and events

Hrádek is a prominent destination for views over the town. The building was constructed in 1904 as a panoramic restaurant. From the observation tower, the panoramic view extends across Varnsdorf and the surrounding area, including the Lusatian and Zittau Mountains; in good visibility, it also reaches the Jizera Mountains and the Giant Mountains. Inside the entire Hrádek tower, there is also a permanent exhibition with maps, photographs and other exhibits relating to Hrádek and its wider surroundings.

The Muzeum Varnsdorf offers playful educational materials about important and interesting personalities from the town, as well as about the history of Varnsdorf. The museum is currently temporarily housed in the former premises of the children’s and music department of the Varnsdorf Town Library. For a stay featuring changing cultural offerings, there are also the Městské divadlo Varnsdorf and the adjoining D Gallery. Numerous exhibitions, concerts and other events take place there every month; the theatre also hosts theatrical performances and music concerts. Every autumn, the Mandava Jazz event returns to Varnsdorf.

Water, paths and excursions

The Mašíňák recreational area is intended for individual recreation and swimming. During the season, it is used mainly by anglers as a fishing water. Under suitable winter conditions, Mašíňák is used as a natural ice rink; sports and cultural events are also traditionally held there. The character of the place therefore changes with the season, without any particular winter conditions being assumed.

For hikers, Špičák is a destination in its own right. A comfortable forest path leads to a newly built wooden rest pavilion. A 300-metre-long bee educational trail runs around the Gerhus ponds. A 5-kilometre cycling route is specifically intended for family outings with children and complements the shorter explorations with a longer option for a shared bike ride.

At Pivovar Kocour, several interests can be combined. The brewery zoo displays numerous animal species. During brewery tours, you can learn interesting facts about beer production and taste several beers. Pivovar Kocour also has its own railway stop. The site is therefore part of Varnsdorf’s diversity not only because of its brewery, but also as an excursion destination in its own right.

More destinations for your search

If you would like to continue your research beyond Varnsdorf, you can also find information about Merboltice, Ceská Kamenice, Mikulášovice, Arnoltice, Bynovec, Tetschen-Bodenbach, Chřibská and Malá Veleň.

For the higher-level travel overview: Děčín District.