Bedrichov Jizera mountains Jablonec nad Nisou Liberec Jested Castles and chateaux Others
Jested
The typical silhouette of the tower on the highest top of Ještěd Ridge (1012 metres above the sea level) has become the symbol of the Liberec Region and belongs to the inherent dominances of the Liberec town.
The summit of Ještěd opens a boundless view to all cardinal points. At a good visibility, it is possible to see even the Petřín Tower in Prague.
The Mountain Hotel Ještěd
In 1847 a small chalet providing refreshment was built at the summit of Ještěd. In 1868 the chalet was rebuilt into a stony cottage, next to which erected a 5 m high outlook tower. However, it had to be knocked down soon. The growing strain of the visitors led to the reconstruction of a new chalet in 1906 under the contribution of the German association for the Ještěd Ridge and the Jizera Mountains. The chalet was in operation until 1963 when it burned down.
Nevertheless, the construction of a new, modern restaurant and connecting building according to the design of architect Karel Hubáček started within two years. This tower is 90 m high and the architect was awarded the Perret prize, which is the highest award of the International union of architects.
Just under its summit, the upper cable cabin station from the Horní Hanychov can be found. In less than four minutes it can overcome the difference in altitude of 400 metres. The former pendulous cableway, built in the years 1932-3, went through a major reconstruction in 1975, which included her among the cableways of the world level.
The Sports facility Ještěd
The sports facility Ještěd in Liberec is a sports centre for all levels of skiers (from the beginners and families with children to experienced and demanding skiers). At the altitude of 540 – 1000 m, eleven downhill runs (3 x low difficulty, 7 x middle difficulty, 1 x high difficulty), 4 cableways ( 1x cabin, 2 x four-seater, 1 x two-seater) a and 5 ski lifts.
Right in the ski centre the ski, snowboard and all equipment hiring services are available. Beginners can make use of the skiing schools for both adults and children. Snowboarders will be certainly pleased by the new snow park by the profession Martín Černík. The special bus lines SKIBUS will take you to day or night skiing directly to the ski centre and back. The World Championship in classical skiing is taking place there in February 2008.
The Natural Park Ještěd
The unique countryside of the Ještěd Ridge has been protected within the natural park since 1995. The famous sights are e.g. the Terraces of Ještěd (rockies and scree fields around the summit of Ještěd), the Big Vápenný (a preserved mountain forest and underground crest phenomenon), Karlovské bučiny (a preserved ecosystem in the Jizera Ridge hills).