The trip around Tri-Nation Point takes you through parts of the Czech Republic, Germany and Poland, thus it is wise not to forget to take tour ID with you. You will cycle along the Nisa and Mandava rivers and you will enjoy the lakes which exist due to lignite mining. When the mining finished, the shafts were flooded and lakes were created.
Your trip starts in Hrádek nad Nisou where you can use the parking at the northern part of Kristýna Lake and get on your bikes. Cycling path leads you along the west bank of the lake. When the weather is nice, you can enjoy swimming in the lake before or during your trip. However, if you want more privacy, you will need to come outside main season and/or you have to be a cold water lover.
A few giant hundred-year-old oak trees grow at the south edge of the lake and they are definitely worth seeing.
Then you can cycle over Lidická street bridge crossing the Nisa River. The river´s course has been widely regulated and has a typical trapezoidal cross section. The gentle curving speeds up the water flow and thus reduces the risk of flooding in Hrádek nad Nisou city. In the end the curving enables to shift potential flooding down the stream. Both river banks have wide terraces, once largely covered with invasive knotweed. Thanks to constant care of the manager the banks stay clean from weed these days.
The trip takes you to the state border and customs at Hartava. Take left right after passing the customs and follow the cycling path to Eichgraben. Pay attention to the cars while crossing the main street and follow the tourist path Oberlausitzer Bergweg which will lead you to Eichgraben and Lückendorf. Go through the village and at its end take right to cycling path to Olbersdorf. Enjoy the path for 1500 metres, then turn right again onto the cycling path MTB XTERRA heading north.
You can soon admire the giant Napoleon linden tree with a circular bench. Then turn left and cycle past the Uhrenhof manor well-known for its greatest collection of tower and wall clocks and watches in Saxony. The exhibition is open all year and you can also book a guided tour led by the owner of the manor.
Continue to follow the cycling path in the direction towards the Olbersdorf Lake and pass it around the east side. Try not to miss Kirchberg (Church hill), the original spot of the church from the end of the 19th century. The history of the church is quite interesting. It was deconstructed due to then planned coal mining, which had been, by quirk of fate, stopped before it even reached the original spot of the church. The memorial in the shape of the church tower commemorates the former building. You can also enjoy a nice view of the Olbersdorf Lake and Zittava mountains from the hillock.
Leave the path along the lake and take August Bebel street and then Goldbach street which will lead you to the bridge across the Mandava River. Cross the bridge and follow yellow tourist colour along the left river bank as far as Süd street. There you cross the Mandava River once more and follow Frieden street until you reach the Polish state border.
Having passed the border, immediately turn left and cycle upstream the Nisa River. In approximately one kilometer you get to the confluence of the Mandava and Nisa rivers, which is clearly arranged thanks to the fact that both river courses are regulated.
Follow the right bank of the Nisa River, cycle under the railway bridge and shortly after go over the Sieniawka sewage treatment plant outfall.
After you reach the road bridge, turn to the village of Sieniawka, cycle through it in the direction to Bogatynia until you see the fire station. Then take the dirt road on the right, which will lead you to the cycling path along the main road Nr. 332. This part of your trip does not offer much, but at its highest point you can enjoy the wide view of the Zittau basin.
Now you cycle down the hill to the borderline village of Kopaczów. If you can cope, go little more far to St Joseph´s Church. Probably the most interesting place of the village is the church park dominated by the monumental silver leaved poplar.
You have to cross the Oldřichov stream to get to Oldřichov na Hranicích and then take the roundabout leaving it after the road Nr. 35 and cycling back to Kristýna. Pay attention to your kids when cycling on the main road.
Having cycled nice 23 kilometres with the 300 metres altitude is certainly a good reason for visiting refreshment area on the bank of Kristýna Lake.
