Meandry Chřibské Kamenice

Meandry Chřibské Kamenice is a protected nature monument safeguarding a scenic, winding stretch of the Chřibská Kamenice stream, flowing through Bohemian Switzerland National Park in the Ústí nad Labem region, near Jetřichovice. The protected section lies between the villages of Srbská Kamenice and Všemily and stretches for roughly 700 metres. It stands out as one of the few watercourses in the region that has kept a completely natural, unregulated course, free of concrete embankments or artificial channel corrections.

Where does the stream come from and where does it flow?

The Chřibská Kamenice originates in the Lusatian Mountains, between the peaks of Jedlová and Velká Tisová, at an elevation of about 630 metres above sea level. From there it descends toward Srbská Kamenice and Všemily, where it forms the pronounced, repeatedly looping meanders that give the site its name. This particular stretch, prized for its exceptionally natural erosion patterns and self-shaping channel, is the part placed under protection as a nature monument.

Why is this stretch of the stream protected?

The purpose of the protection is to preserve the meandering course of the Chřibská Kamenice and its adjoining floodplain. In practice, this means safeguarding the natural processes by which flowing water shapes a riverbed through erosion — a phenomenon that has been halted on most European watercourses by channel regulation and concrete reinforcement. Here, the water is still free to undercut banks, carry sediment, and shift its course, forming natural bluffs, gravel bars, and bends. The area surrounding the channel also retains wetland habitats and meadow vegetation typical of small, unregulated mountain stream valleys.

What wildlife can be found here?

The clean, well-oxygenated water of the stream favours species that depend on high-quality aquatic habitats. Brown trout, dace, and gudgeon live in the current, while the streambed is home to both river crayfish and noble crayfish — species highly sensitive to pollution and habitat degradation. The overhanging bankside vegetation and calm bends attract the common kingfisher, the white-throated dipper, and the otter, animals whose presence is a strong indicator of a healthy aquatic ecosystem.

What should visitors know before coming here?

Meandry Chřibské Kamenice falls under the management of the Bohemian Switzerland National Park Administration and lies directly between the villages of Srbská Kamenice and Všemily. It suits visitors looking for a quiet encounter with nature, away from the crowds drawn to the region's better-known landmarks, offering instead the chance to observe a river in a nearly untouched, natural state.

Frequently asked questions

What makes the meanders protected here different from an ordinary river stretch? The channel has never been artificially regulated — it has retained a naturally self-shaping course, a rarity in densely populated Central Europe.

Where exactly is this area located? Between the villages of Srbská Kamenice and Všemily, within the municipality of Jetřichovice, Děčín district, inside Bohemian Switzerland National Park.

How long is the protected stretch? Around 700 metres along the course of the Chřibská Kamenice stream.

Do any protected species live in the stream? Yes — river crayfish and noble crayfish, both species under significant pressure across many European watercourses, along with otters and kingfishers, which indicate a healthy ecosystem.