The Bohemian Forest

Would you like to spend your holiday in the Czech Republic but are still unsure which places in this country are particularly worth seeing? Then we especially recommend the Bohemian Forest. Discover the beautiful nature of the Czech Republic and follow the countless hiking trails. An adventure that is well 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 total around 500 km, you can also discover nature in other ways. For example, use a mountain bike and enjoy a relaxing time off 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 way, you can experience the landscape from a completely new perspective.

The quiet zones

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 particularly in areas where the national park's fauna is especially present. Quiet zones have been established above all at breeding and nesting sites as well as wintering areas, in order to avoid disturbing the animals.

The quiet zones point to marked paths or hiking trails that may be used by visitors. In total, the quiet zones cover around 22% of the area of Šumava National Park. When hiking, please make sure not to leave the paths within the quiet zones and to respect nature and its inhabitants. A particular 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, don't let the quiet zones put you off. The paths were deliberately designed so that visitors can still experience the special places of the national park.

Flora and fauna

The Bohemian Forest is home to numerous endangered animal species that depend on the various habitats of the national park. In the Bohemian Forest, you can also discover lynxes, falcons, otters, or even wolves. 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 Polecký vrch mountain (Spitzberg).

These highlights, too, were only 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 ranging from the river floodplains 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 resupinate polypore or the fragrant birch bracket.

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 during the cold season either, and enjoy wonderful downhill runs in the well-known Lipno ski area as well as the unique view of the snow-covered 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 visit Bohemian Forest National Park depends on what goal you are pursuing with your trip. If you want to explore the national park on foot via the numerous hiking trails, the months May to September are particularly suitable. If you also want to experience nature from the water, and perhaps even 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're interested in cross-country skiing. The months January to April are especially suitable for winter adventures.

The Europamaut team wishes you a wonderful trip!

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