Natural Beauty In the Czech Republic

Krkonose National Park

The Krkonose National Park is located in one of the most valuable of all-natural areas found in Central Europe. Here visitors will find the highest Czech mountain range the Krkonose which features many unusual ecosystems. There are wonderful things to explore like alpine meadows full of colorful wildflowers. Looking down upon the landscape is the highest Czech mountain called Snezka. For hikers there are many levels of climbing difficulty and all of the hiking trails are specifically marked.

The Krkonose is the northernmost mountain range in Central Europe and it was declared a national park in 1963. Visitors will find the administrative offices in Vrchlabi housed in the lovely rooms of an Augustinian monastery. Here one can also take a look at four historical houses which are located on the town square and visit the Krokonose Museum. The national park is on the UNESCO list of biosphere reserves.

One of the best ways to get acquainted with this national park is along the marked trails of Obri dul to Snezka. Here visitors can see the expansive alpine landscape far and wide. When climbing the highest mountain Snezka you can look down into the Obri dul Valley and once you get up to the top of the mountain you will be able to see almost half of Bohemia. On the southern slope of Studnicni Mountain, you will discover the place which is known as the Map of the Republic. Here is a magical place where right in the middle of green meadows and dwarf pine forests there is a field of snow and as the snow begins to melt it forms into the shape of a map of the Czech Republic.

In the mountain zones, there are spruce forests, vast grasslands, ferns and wildflowers in the meadows. In the alpine zone, there are stony screes, grass and lichen tundra. Among wildlife, found here are red deer, roe deer, fox, pine marten, stone marten, badger and also various species of birds and numerous species of insects.

When you visit Krkonose National Park remember that it can get quite cold here. There are times when a 5m snowbank doesn’t melt completely. Here you will discover one of the harshest climates in all of Europe. A pleasant hike can be taken along the Rychory nature trail where you can see nature at its best other trails to follow are Cervenohorske raseliniste or Red Mountain Peat Moor and Certuv dul or Devil’s Valley. Following a marked hiking trail starting at Horni Misecky you can hike all the way to the source of the Elbe River.

Take a fantastic walk between two countries along the Path of Czech-Polish Friendship which runs along the border. Here visitors will be delighted to see the deep gorges of Snezne jamy or Snowy Hollow, lovely mountain peat moors and meadows filled with wildflowers. If you decide to hike along one of the popular hiking routes which lead to the Labsky dul Valley you’ll see the highest waterfall in the Czech Republic – Pancavsky Waterfall where water tumbles into the valley from a height of up to 250 meters.

To experience all there is to experience and to delight the eye in Krkonose National Park just choose one of the many starting points like Spindleruv Mlyn. This is the most famous Czech winter resort and in the summer is a great starting point for exploring this national park. There are also cycling and hiking trails from Harrachov, Pec pod Snezkou. You can ride a cableway to the very top of Cerna hora or Black Mountain from the spa town Janske Lazne. Visitors can find great accommodations at hotels in the surrounding area and fine dining at the restaurants there.

Sumava National Park

Here visitors can enjoy the deep forests which are found on the Czech-Bavarian border forming the largest forested area on the continent. Sumava is the Czech name for the Bohemian Forest. You can find a wonderful mixture of ages-old primeval forests, glacial lakes which are crystal clear and mysterious peat bogs. Sumava National Park has been declared a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.

There are rounded hills which over wonderful views of the surrounding landscape and there is a look-out tower atop Polednik Mountain from which you can see the entire mountain ranges. If the visibility is really good you might be able to see even the distant Alps from the look-out towers located on the Boubin and Javornik.

Among the most popular destinations within the national park are the biggest and the deepest bodies of water – Certovo or Devil’s and Cerne or Black Lakes both of which are very lovely. The park is home to populations of lynx, caterpillar, black grouse, Ural owl and European elk. There are many great areas for hiking, biking, horse riding and kayaking. In the wintertime, visitors come here to take part in winter skiing including downhill and cross-country. In your travels within the park, you can delight in lovely villages, look at wonderful castles and the delightful surrounding nature.

Cerne Jezero or the Black Lake reflects the dark woods surrounding it. The surface of the water looks black giving it a most mysterious appearance. The lake was formed by glaciers. Another must-see when visiting Sumava National Park is the village of Kaspersky Hory and Castle Kasperk. This castle dates back to the 14th century. Inside the castle, there is an exhibition about its history and the times of gold-digging in the area. The castle can be visited by guided tour or along many marked trails. There are many other delightful things to see and experience in this park.