The Bohemian Forest

You want to spend your holiday in Czechia, but are still unsure which places in this country are particularly worth seeing? Then we would especially like to recommend the Bohemian Forest to you. Discover the beautiful nature of Czechia and follow the countless hiking trails. An adventure that is worth it.

Read more: Scenic roads in Czechia.

The Bohemian Forest (Czech: Šumava)

The largest national park in Czechia covers 690 square kilometers and is located in the south of the country. The Bohemian Forest also borders the German national park Bavarian Forest. In addition to the numerous hiking trails, which total around 500 km, you can also discover nature in other ways. For example, use a mountain bike and enjoy a relaxing time out in the national park. Alternatively, you can rent a canoe and explore the Bohemian Forest from the water. The Vltava or the Otava rivers are particularly suitable for this, offering around 60 kilometers of water fun. If you prefer something more relaxed, you can rent a stand-up paddle board and drift peacefully on the water. This allows you to experience the landscape from a completely new perspective.

The quiet zones

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The so-called quiet zones in the Bohemian Forest are part of a measure to ensure that visitors to the national park show consideration for nature and its uniqueness. These quiet zones serve to protect rare animal species and are located especially in areas where the park's fauna is particularly present. Quiet zones have been established especially at breeding and nesting sites as well as at wintering locations in order to avoid disturbing the animals.

The quiet zones refer to marked paths or hiking trails that visitors are allowed to use. In total, the quiet zones cover around 22% of the area of Šumava National Park. Therefore, please make sure not to leave the paths within the quiet zones during your hikes and to respect nature and its inhabitants. A special highlight of the national park is the peat bog, home to many interesting animal species such as the capercaillie or the black grouse. These animals depend on the peat bog and its continued existence. Here too: please stay on the marked paths. However, do not let the quiet zones deter you. The paths have been deliberately designed so that visitors can still experience the special places of the national park.

Flora and fauna

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The Bohemian Forest is home to numerous endangered animal species that depend on the national park's various habitats. In addition, you can also spot lynxes, falcons, otters, or even wolves in the Bohemian Forest. Besides the unique wildlife, you shouldn't miss the hiking trails around the Křemelná River between the village of Prášily and the abandoned village of Stodůlky. There you can discover the Žďárské slatě bog, the Častá natural forest, and the Polecký vrch mountain (Spitzberg).

These highlights, too, have only been made accessible to the public thanks to the quiet zones.

Aside from the wildlife, the Bohemian Forest is also home to rare plant species, which you can discover from the river valleys all the way to the mountain spruce forests. In addition to rare plants such as the Bohemian gentian or the English sundew, the national park also features rare mushroom species such as the brown-spotted sap polypore or the fragrant fire fungus.

National park in winter

The Bohemian Forest is not only known as a hiking destination, but also for its varied ski slopes in winter. So don't miss out on the national park during the cold season either, and enjoy wonderful descents in the well-known Lipno ski resort alongside the unique view of the snow-covered winter landscape. The Bohemian Forest is also especially interesting for cross-country skiing enthusiasts. Zadov in particular is considered one of the most famous cross-country skiing areas in Czechia. All in all, you can be impressed by around 313 kilometers of cross-country ski trails in the Bohemian Forest.

The best time to travel

The best time to travel to Bohemian Forest National Park depends on what you want to get out of your trip. If you would like to explore the national park on foot via the numerous hiking trails, the months of May to September are particularly suitable. If you would also like to experience nature from the water and perhaps dare to take a dip in the cool water, you should preferably travel during the summer months. But the national park is also inviting during the cold winter months, especially if you are interested in cross-country skiing. The months of January to April are especially suitable for winter adventures.

The Europamaut team wishes you a wonderful trip!

We wish you a wonderful trip to Czechia and lots of enjoyment exploring Bohemian Forest National Park. Please don't forget to find out about the country's toll regulations in advance. Should you have any questions, we are happy to help. Please contact us by email.