\u0160umava National Park is the Czech Republic’s largest protected area, an immense expanse of ancient forest, peat bogs, and glacial lakes along the Bavarian border that forms the green heart of Central Europe and one of the continent’s most important wilderness landscapes. Known in German as the B\u00f6hmerwald (Bohemian Forest), \u0160umava is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve covering 680 km\u00b2 of unbroken woodland that has been described as “the lungs of Europe”, a place where lynx, elk, and capercaillie still roam, and where the silence of the primeval forest is broken only by birdsong and the wind through the spruce.
In This Article
Quick Facts: \u0160umava National Park
- Best time to visit: June to September for hiking; autumn for the golden forests; winter for cross-country skiing on groomed trails
- Top attractions: The glacial lakes (\u010cern\u00e9 jezero and \u010certovo jezero, the largest in the Czech Republic), the Boub\u00edn Primeval Forest (untouched for over 10,000 years), and the source of the Vltava River
- How to get there: ~2 hours from Prague by car; the main access points are \u017delezn\u00e1 Ruda, Modrava, and Kvilda
Primeval Forest and Glacial Lakes
The undisputed crown jewel of \u0160umava is the Boub\u00edn Primeval Forest, a 666-hectare area of ancient woodland that has been completely untouched by human intervention for over 10,000 years. Walking the Boub\u00edn Forest Trail, you pass through a truly wild landscape: enormous fallen trees decompose where they fell, providing habitat for insects, fungi, and birds that depend on old-growth forest. The forest canopy is a mix of towering spruce, beech, and fir, some over 400 years old and reaching heights of 50 metres.
The park’s glacial lakes are another highlight. \u010cern\u00e9 jezero (Black Lake) and \u010certovo jezero (Devil’s Lake), both located at around 1,000 metres above sea level, are the largest glacial lakes in the Czech Republic. These dark, mirror-still bodies of water are surrounded by dense forest and offer some of the most atmospheric hiking in Central Europe. The trail around \u010cern\u00e9 jezero is particularly beautiful in autumn when the surrounding beech forest turns brilliant gold and red.
Wildlife and Wilderness
\u0160umava is one of the few places in Central Europe where large carnivores still roam freely. Eurasian lynx, reintroduced in the 1980s, now have a stable population of around 60 to 80 individuals. Elk (moose) inhabit the wetter areas of the park, and the elusive capercaillie, a large forest grouse, breeds in the remote old-growth stands. Birdwatchers flock to \u0160umava for the chance to see black storks, golden eagles, and the rare three-toed woodpecker.
The park’s peat bogs are among the most important in Central Europe. These waterlogged, acidic environments preserve an extraordinary record of post-glacial vegetation in their layers of sphagnum moss, some several metres deep. Boardwalks allow visitors to explore the bog edges without damaging this fragile ecosystem, and the unique carnivorous plant sundew can be found growing among the moss.
Four Seasons of Adventure
\u0160umava National Park is one of the most beautiful parts of the Czech Republic and is a great holiday destination especially for families thanks to the many activities one can do there. It is a wonderful place to hike, bike, go horseback riding and enjoy water sports. In the winter there are great facilities for downhill and cross-country skiing in the \u0160umava region.
\u0160umava National Park is situated at the southwest border of the Czech Republic with Germany and Austria and is located in three different regions: \u010cesk\u00fd Krumlov, Prachatice, and Klatovy.
There are many river springs. The major rivers in the area are the Vltava, Vydra and K\u0159emeln\u00e1, which create the river Otava at their confluence, then Voly\u0148ka, and Blanice. There are eight glacial lakes at about 1,000 to 1,100 m above sea level. On the Czech side of the \u0160umava they have an area of 42 ha, their names are Laka, Pr\u00e1\u0161ilsk\u00e9, Ple\u0161n\u00e9, \u010cern\u00e9, and \u010certovo.
View \u0160umava National Park in Czech republic in a larger map
Have you hiked \u0160umava or discovered the Bohemian Forest? Share your Czech wilderness experiences in the comments! \uD83C\uDF32
Explore all our Czech Republic travel guides, from Prague spires to Moravian wine country.
Explore More
If you enjoyed this article, you might also like:
- Kutná Hora – historic town in Czech Republic – Czech Republic
- Jindřichův Hradec – unique Gothic and Renaissance town in Czech republic – Czech Republic
- SkyDive arena in Prague – the only glass wind chamber in the world | Czech Republic – Czech Republic
