Šumava National Park , in Czech  Národní park Šumava The Bohemian Forest National Park, also called the Bohemian Forest National Park, is one of four national parks in the Czech Republic. It is located in two southern regions bordering Germany and Austria: the Pilsen Region and the South Bohemian Region. There is also a national park on the German side of the border, namely the Bavarian Forest National Park.

The national park owes its name to the Bohemian Forest mountain range, whose Czech name  Šumava is . Many people think that this name comes from the Czech word šum (Noun) or  šumět  (Verb) is derived from the word that describes the kind of hissing sounds trees can make when the wind blows. However, according to linguists, a more likely etymology is the reconstructed Proto-Slavic word.  šuma , which means “dense forest”.

The national park occupies a significant part of the Bohemian Forest. The Bohemian Forest is sometimes also called “the green roof of Europe”.

HISTORY AND REGION

In 1963, the Czechoslovak government established the Bohemian Forest Landscape Conservation Area ( Chráněná krajinná oblast Šumava Its area was 1,686.54 km² (651.176 square miles). In 1991, the authorities created a new national park within the boundaries of the landscape conservation area. The Bohemian Forest National Park is still part of the Bohemian Forest Landscape Conservation Area.

The part of the landscape conservation area not belonging to the national park covers an area of ​​996.24 km² and surrounds the national park on all sides, except for the borders with Germany and Austria. It serves as a buffer zone around the national park. With an area of ​​680.64 km² ²  Šumava National Park is the largest of the four national parks in the Czech Republic.

WHERE TO STAY

The nearby city  Železná Ruda It borders the Šumava National Park. Since the town lies outside the national park and only within its buffer zone, environmental regulations are less strict. Železná Ruda is a perfect base for exploring the entire Bohemian Forest, not just the national park. There is a good selection of accommodation. There are several train stations in the town.. Železná Ruda centrum It is located, as expected, in the city center. There are direct train connections with Pilsen ( Plzeň hl. n. From there you can reach other places in the Czech Republic.

Rejštejn It also lies on the border of the national park. With approximately 250 inhabitants, it is one of the smallest towns in the Czech Republic. Although it resembles a village, it is still a town. Rejštejn has a decent infrastructure with several guesthouses and is a good starting point for exploring the Šumava National Park.

Kvilda is another good option. This small village is located in the center of the national park. Kvilda holds several Czech records. It is the coldest place in the Czech Republic and the highest settlement in the country (1065 m above sea level). During the summer months, Kvilda can be reached from Pilsen, Železná Ruda, and several other locations by eco-buses operated by  ČSAD autobusy Plzeň as They are operated. There are several guesthouses in Kvilda.

Srní Srní is a beautiful village located within the boundaries of the national park. There is a medium-sized hotel and several guesthouses in Srní.

Modrava This is another good option. This village is also located within the boundaries of the national park. There are several hotels and guesthouses.

SELECTED ATTRACTIONS

The Poledník observation tower ( Vyhlídková věž Poledník The tower was originally a secret military installation. It is located on the summit of Mount Poledník (the name literally means “meridian”), very close to the border with Germany. The tower served as a signals intelligence station during the Cold War. Since 1998, tourists have been able to visit the tower. It offers a magnificent view of the central Bohemian Forest and the Bavarian Forest. The easiest way to get there is via the red trail from Prášily (see map above).

The Three Lakes Moor ( Tříjezerní slať ) is a small bog about 3 km northwest of the municipality of Modrava, near the southeastern slope of Mount Oblík (1224 m / 4015.7 ft above sea level). It contains a great diversity of flora and fauna.

Povydří is a beautiful nature trail that connects the settlement of Antýgl with the small hydroelectric power station in Čeňkova Pila. The name of the trail is derived from the name of the Vydra River. Vydra “Vydra” means “otter” in Czech, and there are indeed otters in the river. The path leads along the Vydra River gorge with its many boulders and small waterfalls.