Hrensko – A Hidden Gem on the German Border

One of my favorite things about living in Europe is the proximity to multiple countries and cultures. Within only a few hours, you can find yourself surrounded by a completely different culture with it’s own traditions, language and food. Finding Hrensko was another reminder of just how amazing it is to share borders with so many different countries.

We actually stumbled upon this hidden gem during a trip to Saxon Switzerland in Germany. Hrenkso is a very small town in the Czech Republic, located right on the Elbe river, which serves as the border between Germany and the Czech Republic. In this short article, we’re going to tell you why we love this small town in Bohemian Switzerland, what you can do there and how to get there.

What to Do in Hrensko

Despite being such a tiny town, there is plenty to do in Hrensko. Hrensko is probably most famous for the old gas plant, which now serves as a vacation rental. Really? A gas plant? What’s so cool about that?

The short answer? Look at our pictures and videos and see for yourself. This building, Stara Plynarna, is tucked away behind the rocks and makes you feel like you’ve stumbled upon a wizard’s hideout in an enchanted forest. Calling it a hideout is an appropriate description, as we drove around and walked all over the place before finally finding it, despite having it’s location marked in our maps app. There is an inconspicuous gravel road between two small businesses that leads back to a small parking lot where the old gas plant is located.

In addition to this hidden gem, Hrensko is a nature lover’s paradise. There are countless hiking trails, such as the Kamenice Gorge, that lead you through the elaborate rock formations in the dense forest. After exploring the area ourselves, we now understand why so many film production companies use this region as a filming location when shooting scenes that take place on other planets.

How to Get to Hrensko

If you have your own vehicle or a rental car, then getting to Hrensko is extremely convenient. In this case, it really is as simple as putting the town into your GPS or maps app and letting that guide there. Once you’re there, you shouldn’t have any issues finding parking either. There are multiple official parking lots as well as many locals who have opened up their properties for parking in exchange for a small fee. This can be a little difficult, however, as they charge in Czech Korunas–not ideal if you’re only there for a day trip from Germany. There is usually someone manning a booth at these parking lots and, since it’s a border town, we’re confident you could negotiate with them to pay in Euros.

How to get to Hrensko with Public Transportation

Getting to Hrensko with public transportation is not quite as straight forward, but it is easy enough. If taking the train from Germany, for example, you have two options:

1. Take the train all the way to Decin in the Czech Republic and pick up a bus from there to Hrensko. This takes about 20 minutes in total if you’re coming from Bad Schandau, so it’s really not a bad option at all.
2. Take the train to Schöna in Germany and take the ferry straight across to Hrensko. This also takes about 20 minutes, although ferry crossings are sometimes inconsistent and may be seasonal. It’s best to get some information locally before committing to this option. If you do get off the train in Schönau and find that the ferry is not operating for one reason or another, you can just hop on the next train to Decin and revert to option 1.