Jested and Liberec: Ski Slope Challenge in Summer

In the morning we set off towards the Czech Republic.

Our first destination was the valley station of the cable car at Jeschken (Jested), a 1012 m high mountain on the outskirts of the city of Liberec.

We had planned to climb the mountain on foot anyway. However, the cable car was not running at the time. Instead, there were signs advertising a 'challenge' in July.

Although we didn't understand much of the text, we suspected that it was about climbing the ski slope on Jeschken on foot. Every 100 m there was a sign indicating how far we had come.

Since the path was really steep (up to 38% gradient) and the ascent therefore took a very long time, the signs were not particularly motivating...

Eventually, we reached the summit. Just before the end of the path, we also passed a parking lot from which most visitors walked the last meters to the summit, looking fresh and lively. We didn't look quite as refreshed, as we had chosen the midday heat for our ascent.

There is a hotel and restaurant at the summit. Those who stay there can even drive up to the top by car and save themselves the walk.

We stopped at the panorama restaurant and fortified ourselves with a very delicious lunch there.

The descent went through the forest and was less steep, so we didn't arrive in the valley completely exhausted.

We continued driving our motorhome to the center of Liberec, where we had some trouble finding a way to the parking lot that didn't lead through too narrow streets.

But eventually we found a gap right next to the town hall and could start our city walk in the center.

The cityscape still has some very beautiful houses from the turn of the century.

However, the city walk turned out to be quite short, as most of the beautifully renovated houses were mainly in the center.

We also made a detour to the so-called Wallenstein Houses, three half-timbered houses that were built between 1678 and 1681.

Following a tip from the travel guide, we also circled the theater to see the curious bus stop 'Gastmahl der Riesen' (Feast of the Giants).

Then we continued to the 'Sedmi Horky' campsite, where we wanted to spend the next two nights.