Just like many other cities and villages in the Sudetenland, Děčín survived WWII rather intact. Even the synagogue was spared. However, the post-war clash between the Czechs and the Sudetenland Germans and their expulsion resulted into economical and demographical issues that were just a few years later multiplied by the communist restrictive approach towards bordering regions. As a result there are many brownfields and under maintained buildings. Like that marvellous haunted (but occupied) house near the city centre:
V Sudetech najde spoustu krásných, ale zanedbaných budov. Třeba tenhle děčínský strašidelný (ale obydlený) dům kousek do centra:
At the very edge of the city, after crawling through bushes and other vegetation, you can reach an abandoned gazebo with a statue of Bohemia. Curiously, it is built on a former execution ground.
Na samém okraji Děčína se můžete skrz keře a vysokou trávu protáhnout k opuštěnému altánu se sochou Bohemie. Ten je mimochodem na místě bývalého popraviště.
On your way to the gazebo, you need to pass by a ruin of an Old Catholic church.
Po cestě k altánku musíte projít kolem zříceniny starokatolického kostela.
On the other hand, the view over the Elbe is really nice.
Na druhou stranu jsou tu pěkné výhledy na Labe.
To end up in an optimistic manner, Děčín offers a great via ferrata. It’s literally crowded every nice weekend during the summer.
Abych to zakončil poněkud veseleji, připomenu, že přímo v Děčíně je skvělá via ferrata, která je o prázdninových víkendech doslova obsypána lidmi.
