Once upon a time in the East: discovering the legendary sandstone towers of the Czech Republic

For decades, we knew very little about mountaineering developments in Eastern Europe, due to the isolation of the Soviet bloc. Every now and then, a rising star would appear in the Alps, leaving everyone speechless with remarkable feats, but no one asked too many questions about where these champions had come from.

It took some time to realize that behind them lay a long and deeply felt tradition, and that Eastern European climbers belonged to a vast and vibrant community: driven by a desire to escape that only those who have been
forcibly confined can understand, they trained and honed their technique while waiting for the first good opportunity to break through the borders and set out to discover the Alps and the rock faces around the world.

One of those who experienced this sort of vertical diaspora firsthand in the early ’90s is Jiri Leskovjan, originally from Ostrava and now living in Arco, where he works as a mountain guide.

For years, his stories have fueled our imagination and sparked our curiosity to go and get to know his homeland up close. Thanks to him, in September 2023 we finally had the opportunity to set out for two legendary locations, Adrspach and Dolni Zleb, where Czech climbing has its roots. This movie is the story of our little journey.

– Alessandro Beber, Margone, Valle dei Laghi (TN)