Autumn Adventure: Discover the Enchanting Brothers’ Altars near Česká Kamenice
You can start your visit to the Brothers’ Altars from a place called Česká Kamenice. A blue marker will guide you from Peace Square to the Jehla rock lookout. This unique hill, shaped like twin peaks and made of basalt, stands at a height of 478 meters and is located about 1 kilometer northeast of Česká Kamenice. From the southwestern point of this hill, a narrow rocky ridge extends steeply into a Valley that features pointed basalt rocks, which likely inspired the hill’s name. When you reach the top of the Needles, you can enjoy a beautiful view of the Český Kamenice valley, which includes Castle Hill, the distant town of Kamenický Šenov, and the lush hills of the Lusatian Mountains. To the west, you can see the Bohemian Central Highlands that include Beech Mountain, as well as the scenic Bohemian Switzerland featuring the grand Růžovský vrch (Růžovský Hill). On clear days, you might even spot Děčínský Sněžník, Milešovka, and the table mountains of Saxon Switzerland in Germany from this vantage point.
In the forests surrounding the Needles and the nearby Kunratice Hill, a large natural park has been established in the past. It boasts many resting spots and places to explore. Within a small sandstone rock formation, a chapel of the Holy Trinity had been carved long ago. This chapel, after being decorated following World War II, fell into ruin but was restored in the spring of 2019.
On the northeast side of the Needles, you will find the Brotherly altars tucked away in a green and wooded ravine. There’s a small platform that you can access by climbing some stone steps, where you will find frames and niches carved into the sandstone rocks. These are copies of paintings of the original Stations of the Cross dating back to the late 19th century. These paintings were unexpectedly discovered in 2010 by P. Jordan Red from the Roman Catholic parish and deanery of Česká Kamenice. New paintings by artist Michal Janovský, from Česká Lípa, were added in replicas of the original wooden boxes after renovations were completed on the stone staircases. Meanwhile, the site was also restored to include copies of the statues of St. John of Nepomuk and the Genius of Death (an angel).
According to local tales, during the years from 1515 to 1614, a Protestant noble family owned this estate, where Catholics met secretly. After the Battle of White Mountain, it flipped, and secret services were held for Protestants in the same place. However, some local historians argue that these stories only emerged in the early half of the 19th century and assert that the worship location was actually founded in 1867.
Therefore, the exact date and reason that led to the creation of the Brothers’ Altars remain unclear. It’s possible that the “Brothers’ Altar” was connected to the activities of the religious brotherhood from Česká Kamenice. What is known is that this area, filled with many paintings and statues, became a place of pilgrimage during the 19th century, drawing in visitors from nearby parishes in the summer. It has also been a well-loved excursion destination ever since those times.
