Vilemínina stěna, Sandstone viewpoint in Jetřichovice, Czech Republic.
Vilemínina stěna is a sandstone viewpoint near Jetřichovice situated at approximately 440 meters elevation. From this vantage point, visitors can see across the Czech Switzerland National Park, the village below, and surrounding ridges and peaks.
The viewpoint received its current name in the 19th century in honor of Vilemína Kinská from the local nobility. This renaming replaced the earlier name Černá stěna and reflected the site's growing popularity with visitors.
The viewpoint's name dates from the 19th century, when the area belonged to the Kinský estate and the rock was named after Princess Wilhelmine Kinsky; before that it was called Schwarze Wand (Černá stěna). Below the viewpoint lies Balzerovo lezení, where the inscription "Wer ist Meister? Der was ersann. Wer ist Gesell? Der was kann. Wer ist Lehrbursch? Jedermann." was chiselled into the rock in 1856, a text by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. The name Balzer's Camp refers to the courtship display of capercaillie and to the falconry formerly practised at Falkenstein.
The viewpoint is reachable via a marked red hiking trail from Jetřichovice, with the round trip taking about two to three hours. The terrain can be slippery, especially after rain, so sturdy footwear is recommended.
Below the viewpoint lies Balzerovo lezení, a rock recess whose wall bears a motto chiselled in 1856: "Wer ist Meister? Der was ersann. Wer ist Gesell? Der was kann. Wer ist Lehrbursch? Jedermann." The words are by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. The name recalls the capercaillie courtship and the falconry once practised at Falkenstein.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 92,302 contributors worldwide.