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General info
Another winter weekend brings another hike, and today we ascend Lovoš, the famous hill above the town of Lovosice.
Lovoš is a basalt hill in the vast area of the České středohoří (Central Bohemian Highlands), alongside its sisters Milešovka and Házmburk.
In reality, the ridge has two peaks close to each other – Lovoš (570m) and Kibička (489m) – which form a distinct silhouette when viewed from afar.
At the summit stands a cottage with a viewing platform.
The lookout offers panoramic views of the surrounding landscape, including other hills such as Říp, and several interesting places.
The cottage Chata Lovoš serves refreshments and snacks, and sometimes offers overnight stays.
Last time we went to Lovoš, the paths were completely iced, as you can see in the photos. And the cottage was even selling crampons for those who arrived without them.
How to get there
Since Lovoš is very close to Lovosice, it is quite easy to plan a 1-day trip, both by car or train.
You can hike directly from Lovosice main train station and return the same way, which makes it a 10km hike.
A nicer option is to take a train one stop further to Malé Žernoseky and begin a soft climb from the northern side of the hill, following the yellow trail. The return would be via the green path on the southern side toward Lovosice.
This hike passes through the Oparno ravine and the Imperial stairs before reaching the summit.
To add a few kilometres, you can stay on the train and get off at Litochovice nad Labem. From here, follow the natural trail “Porta Bohemica” (the Gate of Bohemia) to Malé Žernoseky, then use the route above for a total of 13km.
When descending toward Lovosice you will have a beautiful view over Žernosecké lake and Radobýl, which is another basalt hill with a particular conformation.
Many people choose to park their car in Oparno and hike the blue trail up the top and down.
If you like this path more, you can do the same by reaching Oparno by a bus, or, if you are lucky, by a small train. Rail traffic stopped long time ago, but occasional summer runs are sometimes reactivated.
What to do before or after the hike
If you start from or end in or pass by Lovosice, then you cannot miss Lovo Café.
The place is a multicultural institution, hosting a gallery, a theatre, and a cafe, that offers brunches until late in the day, plus delicious deserts.
The food is tasty and the service is great (rare to find in Czech Republic!), and whenever we are in Lovosice we stop by, no matter the time of the year.
