Last Updated on 8.7.2026 by Vojta
The Beskydy Mountains have two faces. One is all green ridges, where you wade through blueberry bushes and the Slovak Tatras ripple along the horizon. The other is a sea of fog filling the valleys at dawn, with only the tip of Radhošť poking through while everything else dissolves into milk. It’s that second face we go looking for when we hunt down the most beautiful places in the Beskydy Mountains — the spots where you stop in your tracks and forget to breathe. And just so we’re clear: this is the Czech side, the Moravian-Silesian Beskids, not their Polish neighbours across the border.
The Most Beautiful Places in the Czech Beskids at a Glance
- Most “wow” for the least effort: Pustevny (Maměnka and Libušín), the Radegast statue, Soláň.
- For sunrise above the fog: Lysá hora, Velký Javorník, the Horečky bell tower.
- Water and rock: the Satina Waterfalls, the Šance and Morávka reservoirs, the Pulčín and Devil’s Rocks.
- Timber architecture: the wooden churches in Bílá and on Grúň, the little bell towers along the ridges.
- The prettiest time of year: late September to mid-October (fog and autumn colour) and the first snow in January.
- Lookout towers for photos: Velký Javorník, Súkenická (Bumbálka), Miloňová, Čarták on Soláň.
When the Beskydy Mountains Are at Their Best
If you’re chasing scenery, don’t come to the Beskids only in high summer. The mountains are at their most photogenic at the turn of September and October, when the beech woods turn deep red and the valleys fill with a morning inversion of fog.
The second peak of beauty arrives in January and February with the first proper snow. The snow-covered chapel on Radhošť, ice glazing the railings of the Valaška Trail or the frozen surface of the Šance reservoir look nothing like their summer selves. Spring (May) brings its own reward: lush green meadows and trails that are still gloriously empty.
💡 Tip: Keep an eye out for a temperature inversion. When Ostrava and Frýdek-Místek are grey and damp under low cloud, it’s often clear above roughly 900 metres, with a sea of fog spread out below you. Watch the cloud forecast and head up to the ridge before dawn.
18 Most Beautiful Places in the Czech Beskids
We’ve ordered them so you can string them into loops — starting with the easiest to reach (Pustevny, Radhošť), moving through the summits and the water, and finishing with the more far-flung rocks and wooden chapels.
1. Pustevny — Maměnka and Libušín
The best-known saddle in the Beskids at 1,018 metres, and home to the most photogenic buildings in these mountains. The Art Nouveau timber lodges Maměnka and Libušín, designed by Dušan Jurkovič, look like something out of a fairy tale — carved gables, red detailing, Wallachian folk ornament. Libušín was rebuilt after a fire in 2014 and is back on show. A cable car brings you up from Trojanovice, so it’s the perfect starting point even if you’re not a seasoned hiker.
💡 Photo tip: Shoot Maměnka early in the morning or towards evening, before the crowds arrive. The loveliest light on the timber is warm and low — so just after the cable car opens, or after four in the afternoon.
2. The Radegast Statue
Between Pustevny and Radhošť, the most famous “model” in the Beskids stands on the ridge — a stone statue of the pagan god Radegast by the sculptor Albín Polášek. It’s probably the most photographed object in the whole range, and an easy ridge walk (about 3.5 km from Pustevny) gets you there in under an hour. The statue against a backdrop of ridges and sky is a classic that always works.
3. Lysá hora at Sunrise or Sunset
The highest peak in the Beskids (1,323 m) and the best address for a fog inversion. On a clear day the summit gives you views as far as the Slovak High Tatras and the Jeseníky Mountains. The climb is on the demanding side — reckon on a solid 500 metres of ascent from any direction — but the reward of that sweeping view is well worth it. There’s a mountain lodge and a snack bar at the top, so you can warm up. You could even head up for sunset, bivvy on the summit and catch the sunrise too.
💡 Photo tip: Set off in the dark with a head torch so you reach the summit 20 to 30 minutes before sunrise. The best light lasts only a few minutes after dawn, before the sun climbs and the fog lifts.
4. The Valaška Trail
A treetop walkway right beside the upper cable-car station at Pustevny. It runs for 390 metres through the forest and finishes at a 22-metre cascading tower with views across the ridge towards Radhošť and down into the valley. It’s great fun for children, and for photographers it’s a lovely high angle over the canopy — especially in autumn, when the forest is ablaze with colour.
5. Radhošť and the Chapel of St Cyril and St Methodius
The sacred mountain of the Beskids (1,129 m), crowned by the wooden Chapel of St Cyril and St Methodius and a statue of the two missionaries. The ridge walk from the Radegast statue leads here comfortably, and the chapel under a blanket of snow is one of the finest winter shots in these mountains. There’s a mountain lodge close by where you can shelter from the wind.
6. The Satina Waterfalls
The best-known waterfalls in the Beskids, hidden in the rocky gorge of the Satina stream above the village of Malenovice. They’re not huge, but the whole romantic corner of moss and gnarled roots is wonderfully atmospheric — and, crucially, easy to reach along a marked trail. They carry the most water after rain and during the spring thaw. Set off from the Satina car park in Malenovice and follow the yellow markers; you’ll reach the falls in about 1.5 km (just under 3 km there and back).
7. Mazácký Grúnik and the Mazák Rocks
A lesser-known viewpoint on the ridge above Malenovice, reached via the Upper and Lower Mazák rocks. From these crags you get one of the loveliest views into the Ostravice valley and across to the massif of Lysá hora opposite — and it’s usually far quieter here than on the main routes.
8. Smrk and the Bučací Stream Waterfalls
The second-highest mountain in the Beskids (1,276 m), with a reputation for one of the steepest climbs in the range. On the way up from Ostravice you pass the cascade of the Bučací Stream waterfalls — a beautiful reward in the middle of the ascent. Smrk is wilder and quieter than tourist-heavy Pustevny, so come here for scenery and solitude.
9. Velký Javorník
The high point of the Veřovice Hills (918 m), topped by a wooden lookout tower and a mountain lodge. The climb is undemanding, and from the tower you have the whole main Beskids ridge laid out in front of you, Radhošť and Lysá hora included. Thanks to how easy it is to reach, it’s a brilliant spot for sunset when you don’t want to spend the whole day on a hike.
10. Štramberk and the Trúba Tower
An urban conservation area at the foot of the Beskids, nicknamed the “Moravian Bethlehem”. Above its cluster of timber cottages rises the cylindrical Trúba tower, the only surviving part of a medieval castle. From the gallery at the top you look out over the whole little town and the surrounding hills. And yes — this is the home of the famous Štramberk ears, a sweet spiced gingerbread pastry.
11. The Šance and Morávka Reservoirs
Two Beskids reservoirs that turn into perfect mirrors on a still morning. Šance, in the Ostravice valley, has a tidied-up area with benches and a car park, while Morávka is smaller and wilder. Both work beautifully for reflections of the wooded slopes on the water — best on a windless morning. You can drive to the Šance dam along the road from Ostravice towards Bílá (park a few metres from the dam); Morávka lies a little further west and is easiest to reach by car through the village of the same name.
12. Kněhyně and Čertův mlýn (the Cave)
The national nature reserve between Kněhyně and Čertův mlýn hides the pseudokarst Kněhyně Cave and some curious rock formations, including the “Devil’s Table”. The cave is off-limits — it’s an important winter roost for bats, so don’t go in — but the wild reserve itself, with its boulders and old-growth forest, is a treat for anyone who loves a mysterious atmosphere. The most convenient starting point is the Pustevny saddle, from where the marked trail reaches Čertův mlýn (1,206 m) in about an hour and a half.
13. The Beskids Lookout Towers
The Beskids are absolutely dotted with lookout towers, each offering a different slice of the landscape. Among the finest are:
- Súkenická on Bumbálka — a view of the main ridge right from the border.
- Miloňová (846 m) above Velké Karlovice — a wooden tower with Wallachian countryside below.
- Čarták on Soláň — a view over the Vsetín Hills and the Javorníky.
- The Jurkovič lookout tower above Rožnov — an architectural gem.
You can’t drive up to the most popular one, the lookout tower on Velký Javorník — park in Bordovice or by the football pitch in Veřovice and walk up the marked trail to the summit in about an hour (from the Pod Javorníkem car park at Frenštát it’s roughly 3.8 km).
14. Velké Karlovice and Soláň
The heart of the Wallachian countryside. Soláň is a hill with a wooden bell tower, carved sculptures and a gallery — a peak that has drawn painters for generations. Below it, Velké Karlovice is a scattered mountain village of meadows and cottages, where the landscape has soft, picture-perfect lines. Come here for that “postcard” Wallachian idyll.
15. The Wooden Churches in Bílá and on Grúň
The timber sacred architecture of the Beskids is a chapter all of its own. In the village of Bílá stands the shingle-roofed Church of St Frederick; on Grúň (a hamlet of Staré Hamry) you’ll find the wooden Church of Our Lady Help of Christians in mountain seclusion. Both look their best with snow on the roofs or framed by autumn forest. You can reach both by car — Bílá sits on the road towards Slovakia, and the church on Grúň is about 9 km from there. In season (May to September) it is often only open on weekend afternoons, so it’s worth checking the opening hours in advance.
There are also plenty of lovely wooden cabins nearby where you can stay the night (like the one in the photo).
16. The Pulčín Rocks and Devil’s Rocks
To the south, where the Beskids give way to the Javorníky, rock towns await. The Pulčín Rocks are the largest rock town in the Moravian part of the Javorníky — a labyrinth of boulders, the Zámčisko group and the remains of a rock castle. The nearby Devil’s Rocks (Čertovy skály) at Lidečko form a mighty sandstone wall 150 metres long and up to 25 metres high. Ideal for photographs of rock and forest in soft, misty light. The usual start is from Lidečko (the car park by the roadside inn, with the Devil’s Rocks right above it) or a little higher by car in the village of Pulčín, from where it’s about 2–3 km to the rocks along the red trail.
17. The Horečky Bell Tower and the Beskids Bell Towers
Above Frenštát pod Radhoštěm, a small wooden bell tower stands on the Horečky ridge — a cult sunset spot with a view over the town and the ridges behind it. You’ll find similar bell towers beyond Miloňová and on Soláň, too; every one of them turns an ordinary view into a poetic shot with a foreground.
18. Bílý Kříž and the Border Ridge
A mountain saddle on the Czech–Slovak border, with chalets and views of Lysá hora and the peaks of the Javorníky. The ridge walk from here across Visalaje and Kasárne is one of the loveliest strolls along the frontier — open meadows, long-distance views and peace far from the Pustevny crowds. You can’t drive all the way up: park at Visalaje and walk or cycle up to the saddle along the marked route (about an hour).
The Best Viewpoints and Photo Spots
When you’re short on time and want a guaranteed good shot, put your money on these:
- Lysá hora at dawn — the best inversion and the longest views (the Tatras, the Jeseníky).
- Medvědí skála and the Mazák rocks — a dramatic view into the Ostravice valley towards the Smrk massif.
- The Valaška Trail — a high view over the colourful treetops.
- The Horečky bell tower — sunset with a wooden foreground.
- The Velký Javorník lookout tower — the whole Beskids ridge in a single frame, no strenuous climb required.
- The surface of the Šance reservoir — reflections of the slopes on a windless morning.
💡 Tip: The best light is the “golden hour” just after sunrise and before sunset. At midday the contrast is harsh and the fog has long gone — so for your headline shots, get up early or stay out until evening.
If you want to combine photography with a night up in the mountains, it pays to have a base right in the Beskids — that way you’re on the ridge before the day trippers from the valley. Find accommodation in the Beskydy Mountains →
The Most Beautiful Places in Winter
In winter the running order shifts a little — snow makes a scene out of places that are ordinary in summer. Our favourites:
- The chapel on Radhošť and Maměnka at Pustevny under fresh snow — fairy-tale timber architecture.
- Lysá hora with rime ice and an inversion — the winter views tend to be the sharpest.
- The wooden churches in Bílá and on Grúň with snow-laden shingle roofs.
- The Šance reservoir with a frozen surface and hoarfrost on the trees.
💡 Tip: For the winter ridges, pack a pair of microspikes — ice on the well-trodden paths can be treacherous, especially on the way up Lysá hora and Radhošť. And remember that darkness falls early, so plan to be back in daylight.
Where Next
- What to See in the Beskydy Mountains (2026) — a complete rundown of trips and attractions, not just scenery.
- The Beskydy Mountains (2026) — an overview of the peaks, hikes and elevation gains.
- Accommodation in the Beskydy Mountains (2026) — where to stay close to the ridges.
- The Most Beautiful Places in the Czech Republic (2026) — a scenic pick from right across Czechia.
Planning more than just walks — a cable car, a tour of the Wallachian Open-Air Museum or another paid attraction? Experiences and tickets in the Beskydy Mountains →
Frequently Asked Questions
Which are the most beautiful places in the Beskydy Mountains? Among the most scenic are Pustevny with its wooden lodges Maměnka and Libušín, the Radegast statue on the ridge, Lysá hora at sunrise, the Satina Waterfalls, Soláň and Velké Karlovice, the Šance reservoir and the rock towns of Pulčín and the Devil’s Rocks. It depends on whether you’re after views, water or architecture.
When are the Beskydy Mountains best for photography? The most photogenic time is the turn of September and October, when the forest changes colour and a morning inversion of fog settles in the valleys. The second peak is January and February with the first snow on the chapel at Radhošť and on Maměnka. In both cases, shoot during the golden hour just after sunrise or before sunset.
Where is the best view in the Beskydy Mountains? You’ll see furthest from Lysá hora (1,323 m) — on a clear day as far as the High Tatras and the Jeseníky. For a great outlook without a strenuous climb, try the lookout tower on Velký Javorník and the ridge walk between Pustevny and Radhošť.
How do you get up to Pustevny without a climb? A cable car runs up to Pustevny from Trojanovice, so you can reach the top without a hike — ideal with children, or when you want to save your energy for photography. You can also drive or take a bus up from the Rožnovská Bečva valley.
Are there waterfalls in the Beskydy Mountains? Yes. The best known are the Satina Waterfalls in a rocky gorge above Malenovice, easily reached on a marked trail. On the way up Smrk from Ostravice you also pass the cascade of the Bučací Stream waterfalls. They carry the most water in spring and after rain.
Are the Beskydy Mountains worth visiting in winter? Absolutely — snow makes a scene out of even ordinary spots. The loveliest are the snow-covered chapel on Radhošť, the timber buildings at Pustevny and the churches in Bílá and on Grúň. Pack microspikes for the icy ridges and expect an early dusk.
Where is the best place to photograph the sunset in the Beskydy Mountains? Spots with a wooden foreground and a view of the ridges are firm favourites: the Horečky bell tower above Frenštát, Soláň and the Velký Javorník lookout tower. All are easy to reach, so you’ll make it back down while there’s still twilight.
How demanding is the climb up Lysá hora? It’s one of the tougher hikes in the Beskids because of the significant elevation gain from any direction. Reckon on several hours of walking, and ice in winter. The reward is the best views in the range and frequent inversions. There’s a lodge and a snack bar at the top.
Which Beskids rock towns are worth a visit? In the south of the range, where the Beskids give way to the Javorníky, you’ll find the Pulčín Rocks — the largest rock town in the Moravian part of the Javorníky, with a labyrinth of boulders — and the nearby Devil’s Rocks (Čertovy skály) at Lidečko, a mighty sandstone wall up to 25 metres high.
Where should you stay in the Beskydy Mountains close to the ridges? For early-morning photography it pays to spend the night right up in the mountains — around Ostravice, Malenovice, Pustevny or in Velké Karlovice, for example. From a mountain base you’re on the ridge before the day trippers from the valley, so you’ll catch both the inversion and the sunrise.
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