Surroundings & Day Trips
The idyllic landscape of Mácha Lake offers walking, hiking, cycling routes and day trips to castles, chateaux and sandstone rock formations.
Staré Splavy offers ideal conditions for leisure — water sports, sport fishing, an indoor swimming pool, tennis court, mini-golf and horse riding. The abundance of sandstone formations is a paradise for both children and rock climbers. The sandy subsoil also means that summer rain drains quickly, leaving dry forest paths and almost no unpleasant insects in the area around the pension.
Activities in the area
Water sports
The lake offers ideal conditions for swimming, paddleboarding, sailing and other water activities. Only motorised boats are prohibited.
Cycling
The surrounding area is criss-crossed with cycling routes for all abilities. Discover the beauty of the Česká Lípa region by bike.
Sport fishing
The pond near the lake offers excellent conditions for sport fishing.
Sport & wellness
Nearby you will find an indoor swimming pool, tennis court, mini-golf and horse riding.
Hiking
Plenty of marked hiking trails. Dry forest paths thanks to the sandy subsoil.
Rock climbing
The abundance of sandstone formations is a paradise for rock climbers and children alike. The rock city of Sloup is nearby.
Distances from the pension
Mácha Lake
The water begins just a few steps from the pension — perfect for swimming and walks along the shore.
Sandy beach
You can reach it along a shaded forest path or a pleasant stroll along the water's edge.
Sloup Rock City
Bizarre sandstone formations with a rock castle and hermitage.
Castles & chateaux
Bezděz Castle
Bezděz is one of the most significant Gothic monuments in the Czech Republic. Visitors can explore the royal palace with its unique chapel and wealth of Gothic architectural detail, the castellan's palace and other parts of the castle. The Great Tower is also accessible, with its knights' hall on the top floor and unique panoramic views of the surrounding countryside.
Built in the 13th century as a royal fortress, Bezděz represents the pinnacle of castle construction of its era. Thanks to its very difficult accessibility it was never substantially rebuilt. It stands on a hilltop 604 metres above sea level; from its 35-metre tower there are stunning 360-degree views. On a clear day you can see the peaks of the Jizerské hory and Krkonoše mountains.
Houska Castle
Houska Castle is considered a Central European rarity owing to its original Gothic castle chapel. It was apparently built by the lords of Dubá. Around 1590 it was converted into a Renaissance chateau.
The massive structure on a rectangular ground plan retains its original Gothic windows. On the roof is a lookout turret. Inside the castle chapel are unique 14th- and 16th-century wall paintings. The Green Chamber with its 16th-century paintings is also of interest. According to legend, the castle chapel stands directly above the gateway to hell.
Kokořín Castle
A romantic Gothic castle tucked away in a valley among the sandstone rocks of Kokořínský důl. It ranks among the most picturesque castles in Bohemia.
The castle was built in the first half of the 14th century by the lords of Dubá. After the Hussite Wars it fell into ruin and became a refuge for outlaws. At the beginning of the 20th century the Špaček family romantically restored it to its present form. The dominant features are the massive cylindrical tower and the residential palace with views deep into the valley.
Lipý Water Castle
The original water castle of Lipý dates from the 13th century. The most famous lord of the castle was Jindřich z Lipé. Until the mid-17th century it was the seat of the Berka family of Dubá, who converted it into a Renaissance chateau in the 16th century.
Of the original structure only ruins remain — preserved cellars, sections of the castle walls and two gateways. Today the castle hosts various cultural events and passion plays.
Ralsko Ruins
The ruins of a Gothic castle on the summit of the basalt hill of the same name. The climb rewards you with one of the widest panoramas in the region.
The castle, dating from the 13th and 14th centuries, guarded an important trade route. Today only remnants of the perimeter walls and tower survive. The summit of Ralsko (696 m) offers a 360-degree view over the Česká Lípa region, Ještěd, the Lužické hory and the Czech Central Highlands.
Lemberk Chateau
Lemberk was originally a border guard castle on the Žitava trade route. Of the original structure only a cylindrical tower survives; the rest was overlaid by Renaissance and Baroque remodelling.
The chateau grew from a medieval castle where Saint Zdislava of Lemberk once lived. Inside, the greatest attractions are the chapel, the banqueting hall with its rare coffered ceiling and painted scenes from Aesop's Fables. Near the chateau is a Baroque garden and the so-called Zdislava's Spring.
Zákupy Chateau
The extensive chateau served in the second half of the 19th century as the summer residence of the former Austrian Emperor Ferdinand I.
On the site of a smaller Gothic manor, Zdislav Berka had a new chateau built in the mid-16th century. All interiors are lavishly furnished and decorated with ceiling paintings by Josef Navrátil. A notable rarity is a preserved personal lift from 1870. A brown bear is kept in the chateau moat.
Folk architecture
The area around Dubá has preserved a number of folk architecture monuments — log-built farmhouses, heritage zones and unique examples of rural life.
Žďár Village Heritage Reserve
A collection of log-built farmhouses arranged around the village green and in the surrounding streets. The structures are single-storey and two-storey buildings from the 18th and 19th centuries.
Sloup village
A number of historically valuable log-built, half-timbered and stone folk houses from the late 18th and first half of the 19th century. Some have stone entrance portals, mansard roofs and slate-clad gables.
Log buildings in Dražejov
The village green is lined with log buildings from the 19th century, erected after the village was devastated by fire in 1832. There is also a Baroque chapel of Saint John of Nepomuk.
Střezivojice Heritage Zone
A large number of log, half-timbered and stone folk buildings. Characteristic architectural features include galleries and projecting ground-floor structures. Most of the houses date from around the mid-18th century.
Nedvězí hamlet
At the foot of Nedvězí hill lies a hamlet with well-preserved examples of folk architecture. Approximately 3.5 km south-west of Dubá.
Planning a day trip?
A comprehensive overview of local attractions and trip ideas around Mácha Lake can be found on our information portal.
