The Bohemian Forest
Would you like to spend your vacation in the Czech Republic but are still unsure which places in this country are especially worth seeing? Then we particularly recommend the Bohemian Forest. Discover the beautiful nature of the Czech Republic and follow the countless hiking trails. An adventure that's worth it.
The Bohemian Forest (Czech: Šumava)
The largest national park in the Czech Republic 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 cover a total of around 500 km, you can also discover nature in other ways. For example, use a mountain bike and enjoy a relaxing break in the national park. Alternatively, you can rent a canoe and explore the Bohemian Forest from the water. The Vltava or the Otava are particularly suitable for this, offering around 60 kilometers of water fun. If you prefer something more relaxing, you can rent a stand-up paddle board and drift calmly on the water. This way, you can experience the landscape from a completely new perspective.
The rest zones
The so-called rest zones in the Bohemian Forest are part of a measure to ensure that visitors to the national park respect nature and its uniqueness. These rest areas serve to protect rare animal species and are located particularly in areas where the national park's fauna is especially present. Rest zones have been established especially at breeding and nesting sites as well as at wintering locations to avoid disturbing animals.
The rest zones refer to marked paths or hiking trails that may be used by visitors. In total, the rest zones cover around 22% of the area of the Šumava National Park. Therefore, please make sure not to leave the paths in the rest zones during your hikes and to respect nature and its inhabitants. A special highlight of the national park is the peat bog, where many interesting animal species such as the capercaillie or the black grouse live. These animals depend on the peat bog and its continued existence. Here too: please stay on the marked paths. However, don't be deterred by the rest zones. The paths have been deliberately designed so that visitors can still experience the special places of the national park.
Flora and fauna
Numerous endangered animal species live in the Bohemian Forest, dependent on the various habitats of the national park. You can also discover lynxes, falcons, otters, or even wolves in the Bohemian Forest. In addition to 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 swamp, the Častá natural forest, and the Polecký vrch mountain (Spitzberg).
These highlights, too, were only made accessible to the public through the rest zones.
Apart from the wildlife, the Bohemian Forest is also home to rare plant species, which you can discover from the river valleys to the mountain spruce forests. In addition to rare plants such as the Bohemian gentian or the English sundew, the national park is also home to rare fungal species such as the brown-spotted sap porling or the fragrant fire sponge.
National park in winter
The Bohemian Forest is known not only as a hiking destination but also for its varied ski slopes in winter. So don't miss the national park in the cold season either, and enjoy wonderful runs in the well-known Lipno ski resort along with the unique view of the snowy winter landscape. The Bohemian Forest is also particularly interesting for cross-country skiing enthusiasts. Zadov in particular is considered one of the most famous cross-country skiing areas in the Czech Republic. In total, 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 the Bohemian Forest National Park depends on what goal you're pursuing with your trip. If you want to explore the national park on foot via the numerous hiking trails, the months of May to September are particularly suitable. If you also want to experience nature from the water and perhaps take a dip in the cool water, you should preferably travel in the summer months. But the national park is also inviting during the cold winter months, especially if you're interested in cross-country skiing. For winter adventures, the months of January to April are particularly suitable.
The Europamaut team wishes you a pleasant journey!
We wish you a pleasant trip to the Czech Republic and lots of fun exploring the Bohemian Forest National Park. Please don't forget to find out about the country's toll regulations beforehand. If you have any questions, we are happy to help. Please contact us by email.
