Uście nad Labem is the capital of the Usti region and belongs to the largest cities in the Czech Republic. Its most important monument is the Střekov Castle standing on a rock, and a lot of historic buildings from different periods have been preserved in the Old Town.
The city lies at the foot of the Erzgebirge, in the deep Elbe valley. Not far from here is the famous Czech-Saxon Switzerland region, as well as the picturesque Łabskie Piaskowce reserve. The surrounding area is conducive to active recreation, especially for hiking and cycling.
The history of Uście goes back to the time when Slavs came to this area. A stronghold existed here already in the 10th century, and in the 13th century the settlement received city rights. The Hussite wars brought major damage to the medieval buildings, followed by the conflicts of the eighteenth and eighteenth centuries sweeping through the area. In the nineteenth century, Uście became an important industrial center. Unfortunately, a large part of the city was destroyed as a result of American air raids at the end of World War II.
The most important monument of the city is the Střekov Castle standing on a rock above the Elbe River. There is a beautiful view of the surrounding area from here, and exhibitions about the city's history can be seen in the castle buildings. The second view point is the hill with the Větruše summer castle from the 19th century, which you can reach by a cable car.
Within the Old Town, some historic tenement houses have been preserved, mainly with 18th and 19th century facades. There is also a late-Gothic church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, whose tower after the raids from the end of the war is tilted from the vertical by approx. 2 m.
An interesting attraction of the city is the Ústí nad Labem Zoo founded in 1908. Initially it was a bird sanctuary, and today live here animals from all over the world. The new symbol of the city is the photographed Marian Bridge over the Elbe.
