A trip through eastern europe

A Journey Begins…

Dear readers, it was finally time again, and I set off on a new adventure through six different countries in Eastern Europe. Unfortunately, not everything went as planned, but the many impressions of the different countries really managed to put a smile on my face. Maybe you too can take something new from this post for yourself, or even find the motivation to travel through these countries yourself!

This post will cover the following countries:

Czech Republic

Slovakia

Hungary

Austria

Croatia

Slowenia

It all started with the idea of driving south in my Caddy, crisscrossing to not only discover new countries but also to see my friends. But as I mentioned at the beginning, not everything went according to plan. My car broke down three days before departure due to damage to the suspension.
Therefore, a replacement car was needed, and I got a small, cute VW Up named “Patricia,” which carried me with its 68 hp over the high mountains of Austria and on to the traffic-heavy roads of Croatia. This was quite a challenge given the low power and the load. In addition, I could no longer sleep in the car, only in a tent or accommodations. What I want to tell you with this is that everything is still possible, and you should not let your problems stop you from carrying out your original plans.
I started my trip at the end of July and went to Frankfurt am Main airport to pick up a friend of mine. Together we would now travel through Eastern Europe for 9 days and experience some adventures.

But what exactly do you actually need to take when embarking on such a trip?
Since I spent several days only in nature, camping equipment is of course essential:

• Tent

• Summer sleeping bag, fleece blanket

• Air mattress

• Aluminum mat

• Scrubba wash bag

• Clothesline

• Dishes, cutlery

• Gas stove

• Rain poncho / rain jacket

Of course, aside from the must-haves like clothing, toiletries, sunscreen, etc., these items are only important if you want to spend a lot of time in nature and camp.

Attention: Vignette Requirement
There is a very important point that must be mentioned here: the vignettes.
Yes, in almost all the countries I traveled through, a vignette was required for drivers.
You need vignettes to be allowed to drive on certain roads in the various countries. Mostly, a vignette is required especially on highways and expressways, but for your own safety, you should already buy a vignette in advance either online through ADAC or directly at gas stations in the countries. Otherwise, high fines of between €50 and €500 can be imposed.

After I picked up my friend from Frankfurt airport, we set off for our first stop on the trip: Neuschwanstein Castle. The arrival was very straightforward because there were many parking spaces on site. Early in the morning, we bought tickets for the castle entrance. You can find the official site here.

We actually wanted to hike to the castle directly from the parking lot, but unfortunately, we discovered that at the time of our visit, the forest trail to the castle was closed. Anyone who wants a little more luxury can, instead of the tedious walk, also take one of the bus lines or horse-drawn carriages.
There was an alternative detour via the main road, which eventually led us to the castle as well. Upon arriving at the castle, we went through the gates to check in for the tour of the castle. Keep in mind that this castle is one of the most famous and most visited castles in the world, so the crowds are somewhat larger.
The annual number of visitors is over 1.5 million. Here you should therefore expect a waiting time of up to 10 minutes.
Admission is free for everyone under 18, and the regular admission price for adults is €18 + a booking fee of €2.50 per ticket.

Construction began in 1869 under King Ludwig II of Bavaria, but it has still not been fully completed to this day, which is why only a certain part of the castle can be visited. Through the long corridors leading to the huge decorated halls, a tour guide took us through the entire estate. This also allowed us to gain exciting insights into the life of the king. All in all, it is worth a visit for anyone interested in artistic architecture and historical background. Unfortunately, photography and video recording were prohibited inside the castle, so I cannot show much more. Nevertheless, there are many videos online that give a brief glimpse of the castle, such as the one from the National Geographic channel.

A little later, after our visit to Neuschwanstein Castle, we drove several hours further southeast to our next destination: the Danube Bend in Upper Austria near Schlögen. It is one of Austria’s natural wonders, and rightly so: at sunset, the Danube shines in all its glory. The 180° bend was formed completely naturally and is the result of millennia of erosion. In addition, this also seemed to be a place for many romantics, as many engraved padlocks from couples hung on the metal fences.

The viewpoint can be reached in about 30 minutes on foot through a small forested section from the parking lot. A suitable parking spot is available in the village of Schlögenleiten after a small climb, and it’s free.

We spent the rest of the evening at a campsite in Schlögen. It was truly idyllic and peaceful!

On the way to Austria…

After a quiet night in Schlögen, we packed our tents back into the car and drove deeper into Austria. Here there are many alpine pastures with a rich green color, which we had never seen before. The entire landscape was covered with it. In the distance, the huge mountains rose, with some roads even leading up them. From this point, I knew: the poor car would soon have to suffer. Our first and only stop of the day was the inconspicuous Gleinkersee in Roßleithen, which is said to be known for its emerald-green water. There is a campsite directly on the lake—perfect for a short stop or an overnight stay.

What we didn’t know, however, was that there was a mountaineering trail to Seespitz (1574m), the Rote Wand (1872m), and the Warscheneck (2388m). In my youthful recklessness, of course, I suggested that we should climb one of these mountains. My friend was not very enthusiastic about it, but he eventually let himself be persuaded—thanks for that!

We fought our way step by step through the densely overgrown forest, which, although it had a marked hiking trail, was quite steep upwards. We balanced over stones on the damp ground, pulled ourselves up on tree roots, and climbed along rock faces. It was very exhausting, especially since neither of us are experienced mountaineers. From time to time, a friendly hiker would pass us effortlessly.

After only 45 minutes, we reached our first glimpse of hope: a metal sign showing two directions: left would go further to Seespitz, right to Dümmlerhütte (a small stop) and further to the Rote Wand and Warscheneck. The ascent was so exhausting that we decided to go to Dümmlerhütte to have something to eat. That meant another 45 minutes of hiking. Our efforts, however, were not in vain, because shortly after we heard bells ringing in the distance. At the end of the path was a small farm, and at first, no cows were in sight. We rested for a moment as the first cow approached us; shortly after, we were surrounded by an entire herd. It was a very magical moment because the cows were very curious and literally circled us. They did not want to be touched, but they enjoyed the music of my ukulele, which I pulled from my backpack.

A little later, we continued on the way to Dümmlerhütte. Another 15 minutes passed until we saw a brick house in the distance. With hungry stomachs, we sat down in the restaurant and ordered, in typical German style, bratwurst, potatoes, and sauerkraut. To my surprise, there were actually many hikers there for a small meal before continuing their journey. After we had eaten our fill, we walked around a bit and reflected on our hike while looking exhaustedly at the landscape.

It was quite an adventure, unexpectedly more exhausting than we had imagined. Even though we did not make it to the Rote Wand or Seespitz, we are still proud of this achievement. Dümmlerhütte, at an altitude of 1495m, was thus our final station. With a little more preparation, proper footwear, and a jacket, it would certainly have been possible to cover a few more meters of elevation.

On to the Tscheppa Gorge…

Quite exhausted from yesterday’s hike to Dümmlerhütte, we set off again to find more natural wonders in Austria. Since we were heading further towards Slovenia that day, we drove south and parked in Ferlach, a small village. From there, we made our way to the Tscheppaschlucht, which is about 2 km long and definitely worth visiting due to the well-developed paths. But before you are allowed to enter the gorge, you have to pay a small fee, which was about 10€.

Through the entrance, it went along a huge crystal-clear river that stretched for kilometers to the north. The ice-cold water was a refreshing change on this hot day. About 15 minutes along the river, you reach the main highlight, the Tscheppaschlucht. Here, there is a signposted path that you simply need to follow. We walked along the rock walls and over roots, climbing higher and higher, getting our first impressions of the gorge. About 500 liters of water per second tumble from the rock walls into the depths, where a massive flood occurs. Over the well-built walkways and ladders, we continued to the Devil’s Bridge, which serves as a connection to the other side of the gorge. Here, you can press a button that remotely triggers a camera to take a photo of you, which you can print out at the exit.

Further across the Devil’s Bridge, you eventually reach a 26-meter-high waterfall called Tschaukofall, which springs from a rock wall. For those who want to spend a little more time here, there are different forks in the path leading either to a guesthouse, into the Bodental, or towards Windisch Bleiberg. A recommendation from the locals was to take the path towards Windisch Bleiberg because it connects to the Märchenwiese, which is said to be truly admirable.

Unfortunately, we were still quite exhausted from the previous day, so we did not continue hiking. Nevertheless, the Tscheppaschlucht is a beautiful place in nature, which invites further hiking!

On the way to Slovenia…

After our hike through the Tscheppaschlucht, we went back to the car and drove over the mountains to a new country: Slovenia. Neither of us really knew what to expect in Slovenia. So, we checked into a hotel and planned the upcoming day in Slovenia. After a quick research, one castle immediately caught my eye that I absolutely wanted to visit: Predjama Castle. It is considered one of the sights of Slovenia, and for good reason, because the castle was built into a mountain, or rather a cave.

And so, the next day we set off to the castle. When we arrived, we unfortunately realized that parking here was quite a challenge, as the parking spaces were very limited, so we had to wait until a spot became free. Parking here is also paid. After about 30 minutes of waiting, I was finally able to park the car, and we made our way to the castle. Tickets can be bought either online or on site. There are various combo tickets offered here. They include the entrance to the castle itself, the Postojna Cave (note: this cave is not under the castle, as we initially thought, but 10 km away!), the cave under the castle, and the vivarium. Depending on the ticket selection, prices range from €35 to €60. We bought tickets for the castle and went inside.

The castle was built in the 12th century and was historically first mentioned in 1274. The uniqueness of this castle is obvious: it was built against a 123-meter-high cliff and was therefore strategically very well protected against attackers, because only one access to the castle was possible. Inside the castle, the small exhibitions give a modest insight into the knight’s room, the dining hall, and the Renaissance hall with many hunting trophies of Prince Windisch-Graetz, who lived in this castle. It is quite cool inside, as very little warmth enters through the tiny windows. It was fascinating to see how the castle was built architecturally. There were sections that showed a transition from the castle into the cave areas.

A cold draft, mysterious apparitions on the walls, or eerie noises are things that are often reported in this castle. In connection with these ghost stories, the knight Erasmus of Predjama is mentioned, who according to legend resides in this castle. In the 15th century, he killed an imperial marshal in a dispute and hid in this castle. By order of the emperor at the time, the castle was supposed to be besieged until Erasmus surrendered. However, he held out for months, as he received food and drink through secret supply tunnels. In the end, due to the betrayal of one of his servants, Erasmus was brought down by a cannonball.

Now enough of all the ghost stories and on to the next thrill: the cave under the castle. The tour starts several times a day at regular intervals, and the meeting point is near the castle entrance. While we were waiting, we went down to one of the restaurants beforehand. Then it was finally time: we were greeted by the tour guide and given a miner’s helmet with a light. We then set off into the lower part of the castle. Through a very old gate, we went deeper and deeper into the cave until at the end, no light from the outside was visible.

From here, we turned on our headlamps and marveled at the cold and wet cave. Gold-reflecting surfaces revealed some stones, caused by the minerals. Stalactites hung from the ceiling, dripping continuously. Through a narrow rock crevice, we went further in until we took a short stop. Our tour guide asked us to turn off the headlamps and be completely silent for one minute. This was one of the most thrilling experiences I have ever had. Not a spark of light, absolute darkness surrounded us. I could not even see my hand in front of my eyes, no matter how close I held it. You could hear the irregular dripping of the stones onto the floor as well as bats communicating with each other or using their ultrasound to navigate the cave. After a good minute, we turned all our lights back on and continued toward the exit. The whole tour lasted about half an hour. It was highly recommended!

Croatia, Here We Come…

Of course, Slovenia has much more to offer than just Predjama Castle (for example, a beer fountain in Žalec, which I discovered through a friend’s recommendation), but due to time constraints, the next day we continued driving to Croatia. We quickly noticed that it was getting warmer the further south we drove. After about four hours of driving, we finally arrived: the Pazin Roof Waterfall. Croatia is not only known for its crystal-clear water and rocky beaches but also for the many waterfalls scattered throughout the country. While some waterfalls and lakes are under strict environmental protection, this waterfall was accessible for swimming. There is a parking lot near the waterfall, where you need to get a parking ticket at the counter. We took our swimsuits and walked toward the sound of the splashing water. It was already 11 a.m., and many people were there, so it’s worth arriving early to grab a good spot. At the end of the short hiking trail, the small waterfall and the green lake were already visible. We were lucky and managed to find a shaded spot to rest first.

In the meantime, we watched people jumping into the lake from the cliff repeatedly. The height is about 5–6 meters, so still quite harmless. A little later, I couldn’t resist and jumped in myself. You can really spend a beautiful day here in nature. Nearby, there is also a second waterfall called Sopot, which was unfortunately quite disappointing. Depending on whether it is the dry season or rainy season, the water flows strongly or not at all. Unfortunately, at the time of our visit in August, there was no waterfall to see.

Sopot Waterfall

Pazin Roof Waterfall

Later, we had seen enough waterfalls and found an interesting sight further south on Google Maps in Pula: a Roman amphitheater. It is considered one of the best-preserved amphitheaters in the world and was built between around 27 BC – 68 AD, which corresponds to the same time as the construction of the Colosseum in Rome. It is estimated that around 20,000 spectators could fit here. This really sounded like a very exciting destination, but when we arrived in Pula, we were greeted with chaotic traffic, very narrow streets, and many people. It was quite a struggle to get to the amphitheater by car. Once at the top, there were few parking spaces, so we only made a short stop. A quick look through the large columns allowed a direct view of the arena, which at that time was used for tournaments and fairs. Even today, the amphitheater is still in use, hosting concerts, film festivals, and “gladiator shows.” In the underground levels, there is also a small museum exhibiting wine and oil production from antiquity.

Personally, I cannot really recommend this sight unless you plan to spend several days in Pula—the drive there is inconvenient and quite time-consuming. At the time of our visit, a grandstand was already set up, which suggests a concert. Public events in this theater are certainly a unique experience.

The next day, we continued south and made a stop on the island of Krk. There is only one bridge connecting the mainland to the island, which often causes heavy traffic, especially during the vacation season. The island is really beautiful and invites exploration—from the many shopping streets, public jazz concerts at the marketplace, to nature, there is a lot to see. On our first evening, we wandered a bit around the city of Krk. It was really bustling—there are many small shops selling jewelry, food, and souvenirs. We even met a nice shop assistant who gave us some recommendations about Croatia, which I will mention later.

Early in the morning, we set off to one of the beaches on Krk. This is my absolute secret tip, because when we arrived, there was literally nobody there. We parked the car at the roadside near an old church and walked along a path beside the church. I can’t say for sure whether we were on private property, but the risk was definitely worth it. Continuing west, we entered a small forest section, where we took the left path down. After about 15 minutes, we finally arrived. You can’t really call it a proper beach, as we sometimes had to step over rocks into the water, but we really had complete peace here. Probably this was because of the path leading there. At some points, we even doubted we would ever arrive. But it was worth it! The water was surprisingly cold, but crystal clear. Here, you should also expect some stronger waves, so it’s better to keep a distance from the sharp rocks. After swimming, we sat on a piece of grass and enjoyed the day with some music and guitar.

Uvala Sveti Martin

4FCC+V5 Porat, Kroatien

Town of Krk

We then continued toward Rijeka, leaving the wonderful island. That day we made a short stop there so I could meet a few of my colleagues who happened to be nearby. I can’t say much about Rijeka and the beaches, because we were really only there for a short time. For us, it was onward to the next destination: the Sea Organ in Zadar. It is a sound artwork that stretches along Zadar’s promenade. When we arrived, many people were already there to experience this architectural wonder themselves. We sat on a stone bench and heard a very faint whistling, created by the waves of the Adriatic hitting tubes. At first, the wave movement was weak, so we didn’t expect much from the organ. But after a while, the wave movement increased due to passing boats and wind. This made the Sea Organ play in its full glory.

Zadar has not only the Sea Organ but also a beautiful old town with impressive buildings. Additionally, there is another architectural wonder called “Greeting to the Sun,” a light spectacle where sound is transformed into light, creating a magical moment at sunset. And for those interested in optical illusions, the Museum of Illusions is the perfect stop!

Sea Organ in Zadar

• Opened since April 15

• 200570m long steps with a system of 35 tubes of varying lengths

• Symbolically represents the connection between humanity, nature, and art.

Zadar has not only the Sea Organ but also a beautiful old town with impressive buildings. Additionally, there is another architectural wonder called “Greeting to the Sun,” a light spectacle where sound is transformed into light, creating a magical moment at sunset. And for those interested in optical illusions, the Museum of Illusions is the perfect stop!

The journey with my friend was slowly coming to an end, so we now drove on toward Split. We were advised not to use the highway (which, by the way, is always tolled once you get on it!) and instead drive along the country road. This gave us a great view of the Adriatic Sea and allowed us to enjoy the scenery. After a longer drive, we made a stop in a village called Tisno, a small fishing village. There wasn’t much going on here, so we spent the night. In the surrounding area, there are many secluded beaches that can be reached either by footpath or a bumpy drive over gravel. Be careful at some beaches where you step, as there are sea urchins!

On our last day together, we made a small trip to Split to visit the large shopping hall. As expected, there was really a lot of traffic in the big city. I bought a snorkel set, which is an absolute must-have on this trip because the clear water allowed for excellent observation of underwater life. Our final stop was at a beach bar, before continuing to Split Airport. It was time to say goodbye for now, as my friend unfortunately had to return to Canada. For me, the journey continued to Trogir to see more of my friends. We met at a small restaurant and shared stories about the trip so far. Shortly afterward, I checked into our Airbnb where I would spend the next few days.

We made some day trips to the nearby beaches. It was really busy, with tourists coming from all over the world for a relaxing vacation. The advantage in Trogir is that almost everything is within walking distance—from the beaches and supermarket to the restaurants and old town. Prices in the supermarkets and restaurants are quite similar to those in Germany.

The alarm went off—it was 5 a.m. Today, we hurried to Trogir in the early morning hours, because we had booked a tour through GetYourGuide. You can find all the details here. The tour lasted about eight hours, with the longer distances covered by motorboat. Upon arriving at the meeting point, we boarded the boat and headed to our first highlight of the trip: the Blue Cave / Blue Grotto. It is located in a small bay on the east side of the island of Biševo. The journey took about 1.5 hours, but it was never boring, as our boat captains took advantage of every little wave they could. On the open sea, the waves grew even bigger, causing our boat to lift into the air several times. It felt like riding a roller coaster!

Upon arrival at the cave, we had to wait for a moment, as other boats were going in and out. Finally, it was our turn, and we slowly passed through the small rock opening. It became dark, but from a distance, we could already see a blue shimmer on the cave ceiling. When we turned the corner, the crystal-clear blue water shone like a Hollywood movie. While marveling at this natural spectacle, the tour guide shared some historical and general facts about the cave.

For a long time, this cave was only known to fishermen until a baron officially described it in 1884. He requested an additional entrance to the cave, which was built in the same year. This allowed smaller boats to enter the grotto. The cave itself is known for its mystical blue light, created by sunlight entering through an underwater opening. White sand and light-colored rock floors make the water appear a radiant blue.

A little later, we drove to Vis Island. This island is known as the filming location for Mamma Mia 2. The small fishing village has many small tourist shops and some restaurants—a perfect stop for a quick meal. Afterward, we continued to Hvar, a 300 km² island. With 2,800 hours of annual sunshine, it is considered one of the sunniest regions in Europe. There is plenty to discover here: more shops, a 626-meter-high mountain, the Fortica Fortress, and a few beaches ideal for snorkeling. Snorkeling here is highly recommended, as you can see many fish like trout, and with some luck, even an octopus.

After a very long day, we were taken back to the port of Trogir, got into the car, and drove back to the apartment. From the balcony, there was a perfect view of the red sunset before going to bed.

The tour offers a good balance between culture and nature, although for me personally, the nature highlights felt slightly too short. Nevertheless, it gives a good overview of Croatia’s islands and a fun boat ride in just one day.

On the way to Hungary...
The following days consisted of restaurant visits, beaches, and a small hike. Although I would avoid hikes in summer around Trogir, because in the midday sun without shade you are practically grilled. Afterwards, it was time for me to say goodbye again, because I now began my return trip to Germany. For that, I drove about 9 hours along the mountainous country roads of Croatia until I finally reached the border from Croatia to Hungary. For the night, I looked for a suitable place to sleep where I could pitch my tent. At a remote spot far from the main road there was a forest entrance, which seemed perfect to me for the little camp. Quite exhausted from the drive, I prepared my dinner with the gas stove before, after a short walk at sunset, I went to sleep. One thing to be said: whoever camps in a very remote place must of course also expect unannounced visitors in the night, just as it was the case with me. During the night the bushes rustled to the left and right of me, you could hear small footsteps scurrying around the tent, and in the distance bucks were bellowing, probably talking about the new visitor. In short: I did not sleep much that night, but it was definitely worth the experience!

In the early morning all the animals of the night had disappeared, only the birds started to chirp while the sun gradually rose and heated up my tent quite a lot. After a small breakfast snack I dismantled my camp and drove on to the largest inland lake of Central Europe: Lake Balaton. It is about 77 km long and 14 km wide. All around the lake there are many bathing places that are freely accessible. From my location the lake was not particularly deep, you would probably have to walk a kilometer inside before you actually need to swim. But the view of the volcanic hills and vineyards from the southern shore was really beautiful!

After I had finished my morning swim, I drove on to Budapest, the capital of Hungary. Another four hours passed before I finally reached the “Paris of the East.” The city is not called that without reason, because the many architectural styles of the houses, museums, and bridges are truly impressive. It is composed of the two districts Buda and Pest. Buda is more historical with its churches and castles, is hillier, and has many narrow alleys. Pest, on the other hand, is designed in a more modern way and has many theaters, shops, and cafés. This was exactly the area where I was, because it was quite an effort to find suitable parking spaces and to fight through the city traffic. To get to Buda would have certainly cost me another hour. In Pest you can, for example, admire the Parliament as well as many statues and monuments. From the Parliament I had a beautiful view of the Danube and the many ships passing through it. In Buda, on the other hand, there is the Castle Palace and the Fisherman’s Bastion to see. I will definitely come back at some point to have also seen Buda and to report back to you!

A little fun fact on the side: the Danube also flows through this city. Whoever still remembers the beginning of the blog post already knows where the Danube could be seen before. Especially at night, a breathtaking scenery arises here when the many lights of the bridges and the buildings are reflected in the water.

On the way to Slovenia...
I also have to point out here, just like with Slovenia, that all of the following countries are only short glimpses and have so much more to offer, but due to time constraints I had to limit myself to the most important things in order to be back in Germany on time.

And so in the late afternoon I continued on to the northwest through the Slovakian border. When I drove into the country, I was struck by the first shock of every Gen-Z: I had no signal, and Google Maps didn’t work anymore either. So I just drove along the main road for an hour until I suddenly had connection again. But through that I also had the time to admire nature instead of just staring at Maps. I looked out of the side window: to my left still flat agricultural fields, in front of me an endless forest with huge green hills, and to my right massive mountains. I wouldn’t have thought that Slovakia could be so beautiful! On the further journey the Slovakian nature showed itself from its best side. About 2 hours from my next day’s destination I found, through the app Park4Night, a free campsite in the middle of the forests on one of the many green hills. When I reached the top, there were only a few campers there, who had either pitched their tents or spent the night in the car. I set up my camp, opened a can of beer, and looked up at the starry sky, because on this evening it was the Perseid night. The evening could only have been more perfect with a campfire. On the site itself there are some fire pits as well as an adjoining pond with a diving board that invites you to swim. But only jump into the water if the many fish in the pond don’t bother you. So that is my insider tip for you if you are looking for a perfect free place to camp.
Here are the coordinates:
N 48° 51' 7.45", E19° 5' 24.97"

After a quiet night it was then time for my second to last big hike on this trip: Off to the Kráľova Skala in the Low Tatras. Again it went through hilly forests along a road to a small village called Telgárt, where there are parking possibilities. At the bottom there are signposts for hikes on foot and a bike rental. I packed my small backpack and set off on the last mountain that I would climb on this trip. Through forests it went steeply uphill, while the sun shone through the many pine trees. It was a strenuous path, but by far not as exhausting as the mountain in Austria! Along the way you can always take a little break at one of the many raspberry bushes. The breaks were urgently needed at those temperatures. After one hour I had already reached the third stop and had a first view of the valley: an endless green hilly landscape with many pine forests. Simply beautiful. From the third stop I took one of the bike paths that also led uphill. The advantage of these paths is that the ascent is not quite as steep as in the forest. In addition, the bike paths consist of asphalt, which was a nice change from the stony ground. It was not far now, because to my left I saw the highest viewpoint of the mountain, while in front of me an inconspicuous path led to another mountain peak. Curious as I am, of course I took that path, which finally brought me to the Kráľova Skala. 1690 m above sea level. Compared to other mountains of the Low Tatras, the Kráľova Skala is one of the smaller ones, while the highest mountain, called Ďumbier, reaches a height of 2043 m. The Low Tatras therefore offer a good entry into mountaineering and are even for untrained hikers like me a good way to start the hobby. Whoever dares further into the north will find even bigger mountains in the High Tatras on the Polish–Slovakian border.

The last trip through the Czech Republic...
On my last day I drove across the Czech Republic to the border just before Germany. Because there you can find one of the most impressive rock landscapes in Central Europe: Bohemian Switzerland. The drive there is uncomplicated and leads through villages and a forest. At the end of the road there are also many parking possibilities. As soon as you get out, do not follow the main road, because it leads you to nowhere. Instead, you have to go down at the small inn that is located to the right of the main road. That way you enter the impressive rock landscape. Bohemian Switzerland is a sandstone mountain range. Through thousands of years of erosion, canyons, deep gorges, rock bridges, and table mountains were created. Walking along the path here you will quickly notice how unique nature is in this place. To my left huge rock walls, to my right a never-ending riverbed – bordered by another giant rock wall that stretches for kilometers. The hiking path invites you to take trails off the main way. This way I was able to find smaller spots for a picnic on a stone gorge and even climb up a rock myself.

Special landmarks in this area are Pravčická Brána, the largest sandstone rock gate in Europe, and the Edmund Gorge or Wild Gorge, deep romantic ravines that can be explored with a boat tour. Whoever brings a lot of time can even find ruins of castles and villages that are hidden behind the sandstone rocks.

That was the 3-week journey through Eastern Europe. Every single country has by far so much more to offer than I could ever describe here with words and pictures. It was an exciting adventure that I would not want to miss anymore. That’s why I can only recommend to everyone to travel this route yourself. Maybe with your friends, maybe also alone. Both are possible, as you can see!