What to visit

Environmental Centre

2016-10-12T11:28:21+02:00

Here you can find sections on: geology, the black stork, the Šumava forests, herbs and mushrooms, the European beaver, red deer, a 3D cinema and The Origins of Skiing in Šumava.
A Tourist Information Centre (ITC) has also been recently opened here.

Museum of Historic Motorcycles

2016-10-12T11:25:10+02:00

This exhibition in Železná Ruda contains a collection of historic motorcycles and bicycles as well as several historic cars. Here you can find vehicles that cannot be found anywhere else in the world, often preserved in just one piece or a few exemplars. So, for example, you can see the unique Gőrner Klatovy motorcycle from 1921, the belt driven Tyler from 1919, the first car made by Skoda with wooden wheels and much more besides. Every year the exhibition is added to and expanded.

Opening hours: summer season:

May: Saturday, Sunday - 9:30–17:00 June–September: daily – 9:30–17:00

winter season: Wednesday, 10:00 - 16:30

Černé and Čertovo jezero (Black and Devil’s Lake)

2016-10-12T11:20:20+02:00

The national nature reserve of Černé a Čertovo jezero is situated in an unspoilt part of Šumava and is one of the most visited tourist destinations of the entire mountain range. With an area of 18.43 ha the Černé jezero is the largest lake in Šumava and the Bavarian Forest. The deepest point (40.5 m) lies directly below the 335 metre high wall of Jezerní Mountain. It is home to many rare fauna and flora. Čertovo jezero is the second largest in Šumava and the Bavarian Forest. The boundary of the main European watershed runs between it and Černé jezero, so Čertovo jezero drains into the Black Sea, whilst Černé jezero drains into the North Sea in the opposite direction. Neither of these lakes have anyfish. All 8 of the region’s lakes (5 on the Czech and 3 on the Bavarian side) are of glacial origin. Černé jezero is roughly 3.5 km from Špičácké sedlo and has a marked hiking trail that is not demanding, this then continues about 2.5 km along a more demanding hiking trail to Čertovo jezero (a total circuit of about 8.5 km)

Pancíř (armour) – observation tower

2016-10-12T11:13:39+02:00

The tower on top of the peak called Pancíře nad Železnou Rudou offers views of the western part of the Bohemian Forest, with the highest mountain being Großer Arber (1456 m) on the German side. In clear weather you can see the peaks of the Alps around Dachstein. Originally there stood a wooden observation tower built by the Austrian Tourist Club in 1880. After its demise the Czech Hiking Club built a chalet with a terrace designed by the architect Janovský as well as the Na Pancíř observationtower which has a chairlift from Špičák with a stop at Hofmanky. At a length of 2,750 m it rises 354 m. A new observation tower has been opened on Špičák (open from 15.6. to 15.9.)

The Church of the Virgin Mary

2016-10-12T11:09:34+02:00

The Church of the Virgin Mary – on the main road – this Baroque church with a massive onion dome was built from 1727-1732 on the site of an older chapel from 1694. It was commissioned by the owner of the local estate Count Wolf Jindřich Nothafe from Wernberg. The tower with a smaller dome was built in 1777. The roof of the church and both domes are covered with roofing shingles. The church’s interior has marble tombstones for various families involved in glassmaking.