Zemská brána, Nature reserve in Orlické Mountains, Czech Republic

Zemská brána is a nature reserve in the Orlické Mountains where the Divoká Orlice River cuts through a valley lined with rock formations and dense forests. The area supports diverse plants and animals adapted to this mountainous landscape.

The area was developed in the early 1900s when Italian workers built a stone bridge between 1901 and 1903, creating the main entrance to the reserve. This bridge received restoration work in 2004 and continues to serve as a key access point.

Ledříčkova skála, a 60-metre rock above the right bank of the Divoká Orlice, carries the name of a robber of the Orlické Mountains. Legend says he robbed the rich and gave to the poor, escaped capture repeatedly, and died when his rope broke as he hid in the cave visible in the rock's lower wall.

The 3 km nature trail begins at the stone bridge and has about 22 stops; its gentle profile makes it manageable for small children. The blue-marked riverside path runs via the Pašerácká lávka footbridge. Cyclists should note that the left-bank stretch between the stone bridge and the footbridge cannot be ridden.

The Pašerácká lávka, a wooden footbridge, was used for smuggling across the Divoká Orlice, not for regular trade. It was rebuilt in wood after the 1999 floods. The blue-marked hiking route along the river crosses it.