Winter’s Allure: Discover Beautiful Escapes

In the Czech Republic, table mountains are not as plentiful as they are in places like the USA or Africa, yet some are among the most captivating natural features in our country. These sites offer stunning views, unique experiences, and the chance to learn about the fascinating geology and diverse plant and animal life in the area.

Table Mountain in Pálava

Above the village of Klentnice lies Table Mountain (459 m), a location known for its rare and endangered species of plants and animals. This peak is not only one of the heights of Pálava and a natural treasure in South Moravia, but it also holds the remnants of a fortified settlement from the Bronze Age. Other ancient hillforts were constructed on the nearby hills of Děvín and Kotel. Today, all that is left of this hillfort is gently rolling terrain, while historical evidence is clearer in the form of the Orphan’s Castle nearby. Did you know that below it, you can still spot the remains of a small botanical garden featuring Pálava flowers? This garden was established in the early 20th century by the original German settlers, who took care of it for many years. To reach Table Mountain, follow the red trail that starts in Klentnice and goes directly to the summit, passing by the Orphan’s Castle. The trail leads back to the road from Klentnice to Mikulov, not far from a public camping area located in an old quarry. You can take a break in the vineyards at Cat’s Stone, a hillside made of limestone rocks where fossils of ancient sea corals, shells, and cephalopods were once discovered. However, don’t confuse it with Cat Rock, which is located right next to the road.

Děčínský Sněžník, the king of the Table Mountains

At an impressive height of 723 meters, Děčínský Sněžník is the tallest of our table mountains and can be found northwest of Děčín. The top of this mountain resembles a large table, but its vast dimensions of 1,600 x 600 meters are best appreciated from higher viewpoints, especially as it is primarily covered in forests. Most of its edges feature tall sandstone cliffs, several tens of meters high, complete with pseudo-karst caves. You can enjoy stunning views of the Lusatian Mountains and Bohemian Switzerland not only from the edges of the trail, which leads through this nature area, but also from a historic stone lookout tower, which is among the oldest in the country. From the Dresden lookout located on the northern edge of the plateau, you can even glimpse the city of Dresden to the northwest and the Horse Head to the east. Despite the presence of the lookout tower and the tourist hut making Děčínský Sněžník appear easily accessible, the nearest parking lot and public transport station from Děčín is in the village of Sněžník, meaning you will need to walk to the peak.

Ruler of Žlutice and Chlumská hora near Manětín

If you’re looking to see a truly majestic table mountain, you must visit the West Bohemian Spa region, where the impressive Vladař Hill rises east of Žlutice. Standing at 693 metres, while it may not be the tallest, it rises 200 meters above the surrounding landscape, making it visible from great distances, and it leaves a remarkable impression. Unlike other table mountains in the Czech Republic, its summit is not covered in forest; instead, the slopes are wrapped in rugged, hard-to-access forests. There are trails leading to the mountain’s summit from both sides, where you can explore the remnants of an expansive prehistoric hillfort featuring massive ramparts, moats, and an acropolis, along with a small peat lake that once served as a water source for early inhabitants of the area.

Table Mountain can also be found near Manětín; Chlumská hora is fascinating not only for its unique plateau depression on the southeastern edge, revealing its volcanic origins as a former volcanic crater, but also because it hosts the rare Manětín crane tree, which is not found anywhere else globally! Just below the peak, you’ll discover a side fissure known as the Black Stone, which is over 4 meters deep and is another remnant of past volcanic activity. Additionally, you’ll come across numerous frost collapses and stonefields nearby.

Table Mountains and Rock Cities

Among the highest table mountains in the Czech Republic is Ostaš, which reaches an altitude of 700 metres. It stands out beautifully in the landscape near Police nad Metují, with the surrounding land almost 250 meters higher than its peak; its summit plateau extends over 500 meters and is about 400 meters in width. The edges are surrounded by rock towers, and the blue hiking trail leading to the top takes you past Kočičí hrádek and through two smaller rock towns. From Ostaš, you can enjoy breathtaking vistas over the Giant Mountains and the Broumov Walls. Rock towers and diverse formations are also found at Kozelka Table Mountain (660 m) located near Manětín. This popular climbing destination features dozens of rock towers that rise 100 to 150 meters above the surrounding area, and it is one of the largest of its kind in the Pilsen region, measuring 1,200 meters long and 200 meters wide. A red hiking path winds around most of the fascinating spots there.

Tabulova hora in Prague

You can even find a Table Mountain in Prague, known as Vidoule, which reaches a height of 371 meters and is located between the neighborhoods of Jinonice, Košíř, Motol, Butovice, and Stodůlky. It’s quite accessible from the Prague-Stodůlky train station or from the Šafránkova bus stop near Upolínová street (buses 184 and 174). Close by is the park of the former farmstead Cibulka, featuring a lookout tower and several romantic buildings, where Prague’s poor once lived in caves excavated in the rocks during the 20th century. Vidoule stands as one of Prague’s treasured undeveloped green spaces; this area contains numerous springs and wells, woven together with a fairly dense network of trails.

3 x about the Table Mountains

• • Table or tabular mountains come to exist because of the effects of water, wind, and frost acting on platforms with horizontally layered sediments. Due to steep slopes separating the flat tops from the surrounding land, these summits often host unique ecosystems with various plants and animals.

• • Table Mountains are not only found on land; they have also been found beneath the ocean as well, at depths of around three kilometers.

• • Some peaks are debated among geologists regarding their classification as table mountains. For instance, Děčínský Sněžník is considered by geomorphologists to be a bowed cuesta but closely resembles a table mountain.

• • Are you curious to see the table mountains of neighboring countries? For example, the Zschirnstein and Kaiserkrone table mountains on the German side of the border (as well as the deep Elbe River canyon, which is 130 meters deep) can be viewed from the Belveder viewpoint, which is one of the most breathtaking rock viewpoints in the Czech Switzerland National Park.