Czech Republic - Outdoor Holidays

24 Pages·2006·4.688 MB·English

dovolenÆ v pł rod .qxp 4.10.2005 20:05 Page 2
Outdoor Holidays
Outdoor Holidays
CzechTourism
Vinohradská 46
120 41 Praha 2
[phone]
[email protected]
The official tourist presentation of the Czech Republic www.czechmountains.com
www.czechtourism.com www.holidayinfo.cz
The Mountains Krkonoše – the source of the Labe
A LAndscApe for Life, 
A pLAce to expLore, 
A spAce for reLAxAtion 
An attractive country, the Czech Republic offers not only a wealth of unique architectural jewels, but also numerous
beauties of nature. You can encounter perhaps almost every wonder of the world here. You only need to come, walk
around, perceive and experience numerous small private adventures! The Czech Republic is an ideal country for those
who enjoy active forms of recreation. Thanks to its magnificent nature, the country can offer excellent conditions for
tourism both in the mountains and picturesque river valleys. Rock climbing and winter sports enthusiasts, as well
as lovers of water sports – who can take advantage of numerous natural and artificial water expanses – will not be
disappointed either. The Czech Republic offers high-quality golf courses and services that are fully comparable with
those offered elsewhere in the world. If you take a hiking tour along the mountain ridges, you can reach another tourist
chalet or cottage within an hour at the latest. To sail down a river you just need a comfortable canoe. Paragliding
enthusiasts are permitted to land almost everywhere, and cyclists will stumble on a pleasant pub practically at every
corner on their route. The Czech Republic offers the largest network of marked hiking trails to be found in the world.
You cannot get lost here as there are signposts, arrows and signs, placed on trees, to guide you and all the routes are
traced out in hiking maps.
So please accept our cordial invitation to come and acquaint yourself
with the magnificent beauties of the Czech Republic.

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ŠumAvA (BohemiAn forest)
Thanks to its location in the heart of Central Europe and its practically unspoiled
nature and water resources, Šumava is referred to as “the green lungs of Europe”.
The local deep forests, large expanses of peat bog and hundreds of small streams
coming down from the Šumava hillsides are all sources of the area’s most beautiful,
gold-bearing rivers – the Vltava, the Vydra and the Otava. Hidden in the woods
above Železná Ruda, the Černé (Black) and Čertovo (Devil) lakes, with surfaces
resembling black glass, call for exploration. Running through a virgin landscape
and long abandoned villages, the local small border roads seem as if they have
been created for hiking and cycling trips. Stretching from Lipno, the largest Czech
artificial lake, to Čerchov on the border, the Šumava National Park conceals in
its heart some strictly protected natural treasures – the Boubín Virgin Forest, the
Prášilské Lake and the Modrava Moorland.
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1/ A panoramic view of Šumava
2/ The source of the Vltava
3/ Český Krumlov – a view of the historical
part of town with the River Vltava
4/ Rožmberk Castle
5/ Šumava – a Sea of Rocks near Plešné Lake
6/ Vyšší Brod – the monastery

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Don’t miss
the vydra – the wildest Czech river, it forces its way through a deep stony
riverbed.
the source of the vltava – this tiny spring, coming down from peat bogs
located at an altitude of 1,170 metres above sea level, is the greatest attraction
for tourists coming to Šumava.
Laka – located at an altitude of 1,100 metres, this lake, also called “Sea Eye”,
recalls Šumava’s history in the glacial period. 4
vyšší Brod – a Cistercian monastery which boasts the renowned Gothic Vyšší
Brod altar. 5
rožmberk – a medieval castle and the family seat and museum of the
Buquoy aristocratic family. The main attraction here is a hangman’s house with
equipment that visitors can try out.
Boubín – an ancient virgin forest which has been a nature reserve for more
than one hundred years.
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the mountain “sea”
Below the highest peaks of the Šumava wooded mountains lies Lipno, the
largest expanse of water to be found in the Czech Republic. This reservoir
on the Vltava is so long and so wide that it can serve as a venue for regular
international yacht and windsurfing regattas. Below the Lipno Reservoir
the most difficult white water canoe race is held every year; Čertovy proudy
(Devil Streams) have also hosted the rafting world championship.
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the KruŠné mountAins
If you climb to the hillsides above the famous spa towns of Karlovy Vary,
Mariánské Lázně and Teplice, you will get to the tops of the Krušné
Mountains where you can enjoy spectacular views encompassing mountain
peaks, lowland with conspicuous cones of ancient volcanoes and plains
dotted with wind-propelled power stations.
The most popular tourist area here is Klínovec and its surroundings. You
can get there by cableway, tourist bus or passenger car. Apart from this, the
ridges between the ancient mining villages of Hora Svatého Šebestiána and
Hora Svaté Kateřiny are ideal for hiking trips.
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the oldest Golf course
Mariánské Lázně boasts one of the oldest and most beautiful golf courses
in Central Europe. Golf has been played here since 1905. Since that time
monarchs, princes, renowned industrialists and leading international
players have visited the course. In the early autumn, when the local
forest parks turn gold and red and the area affords long clear views of the
surrounding landscape, the course becomes a paradise for golf enthusiasts.
In the summer the golf ground is as pleasant, since the trees prevent the
 sun from making the air too hot.
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Don’t miss
Komáří hůrka – cyclists, hikers and hang-gliding enthusiasts can get to the
ridge of the Krušné Mountains from the village of Krupka by the longest
historical cableway to be found in the Czech Republic. 4
the Boží dar peat Bog – an educational trail runs along mountain peat bogs
and historical monuments recalling the local mining of precious metals in the
Middle Ages.
soos – this area of tiny marshy volcanoes, which are evocative of eruptive
geological activities in the recent past, can be found below the westernmost
projection of the Krušné Mountains. Not far away lies Komorní hůrka, the
most recently extinct volcano in Central Europe, which was investigated at
close hand by the poet and scholar Johann Wolfgang Goethe.
the Křemencové Lake – this popular natural swimming pool contains
extracts from a mineral which gives its surface a dark colour and at the same
time keeps the water clear.
Jáchymov – the name of this medieval mining town, once the largest
producer of silver in the whole of Europe, conceals the name of the American
currency. The town’s ancient name Joachimstal first appeared in the word 5
“thaler” (a silver coin), and later also in the name American dollar.
Klínovec – there is an original lookout tower affording magnificent views
(1,244 metres above sea level). Klínovec is reachable by car or by cableway.
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1/ Klášterec nad Ohří
2/ Mariánské Lázně – the golf course
3/ Jáchymov – an aerial view of the town
4/ Boží Dar – the church
5/ Horses
6/ The Boží Dar Peat Bog – a national nature
reserve

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the JizersKé mountAins 
And JeŠtěd
Misty horizons and a landscape without a single mountain chalet on a plateau
located at an altitude of one thousand metres above sea level – all this and
more are to be found in the Jizerské Mountains, named after the River Jizera
which has its source at the foot of the Smrk Mountain. The mountains are
a paradise for hikers and mountain biking enthusiasts, since all the roads
and paths in this protected landscape area are reserved for them; cars are
only permitted on several small roads linking the scattered small mountain
hamlets with the outside world. If you descend the ridges, you will encounter
deep unspoiled peat bogs stretching across deserted plains. Still lower, in the
valleys, nestle small villages full of ancient wooden cottages.
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Don’t miss
Kristiánov – set amidst woods, there is a museum dedicated to traditional
glass making. From 1775 onwards, the local glass works manufactured
renowned chandelier glass rods and decorations which were exported to all
corners of the world.
hejnice – a monastery church built on an ancient pilgrimage site, where,
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in 1211, two angels reputedly revealed themselves to an old artisan. Since
that time hundreds of thousands of pilgrims have streamed to Hejnice from
Bohemia across the mountains and from Germany through deep forests to pay
tribute to Our Lady.
Jizerka – a hamlet with cottages scattered on a mountain meadow crossed by
the Sapphire Stream. From the 16th century onwards, it was the frequent target
of unsuccessful precious metals prospectors and successful semi-precious
metals hunters.
Ještěd – a hotel and restaurant in the shape of a rotary hyperboloid, designed
by the architect Karel Hubáček. This structure, which co-creates the panorama
of one half of Bohemia, was declared the most beautiful Czech architectural
achievement of the last century.
Liberec – a regional main town whose centre was formed by modern
Functionalist architects throughout the 1900s. Today lovers of water attractions
converge on the town, as it offers two aqua-parks with pools, waterfalls and
slides to its visitors.
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1/ The Jizerské Mountains – the Černá Smědá
Stream
2/ Liberec – the Town Hall
the country of Lookout towers 3/ The Jizerské Mountains – a view of the
landscape
The Jizerské Mountains boast one tourist speciality – dozens of lookout
4/ The horse – your friend
towers, built by the local nobility and towns, Czech and German alike.
Constructed from huge stone blocks, the most remarkable of them feature 5/ The Jizerské Mountains – the Bílá Smědá
Stream
glazed observation platforms and restaurants prepared to entertain tourists
and cyclists alike. Each of these lookout towers is reachable by several marked 6/ Ještěd
hiking trails and accessible by bicycle.

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the KrKonoŠe mountAins
The Krkonoše Mountains with its dominant feature Sněžka
(1,602 metres above sea level) form the highest mountain range in
the Czech Republic. The Krkonoše are the mountains of Krakonoš,
a fairy-tale ruler. The local people believe that Krakonoš is an affable
grey-bearded old man, who sees to it that justice is observed in the
foothills of the mountains. At the same time, however, he rules the
storms, snowstorms and hailstorms. The Krkonoše are the most
beautiful when their ridges are lit by the sun while their valleys are
bathing in mist, from which only the tops of tourist lookout towers,
perched on the surrounding hills, peep out.
The mountain ridges are dotted with so-called “boudy”, mountain
chalets, some of which have stood here for several hundred years.
Here you can relax, spend a night or enjoy an excellent meal.
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1/ Sněžka
2/ A hiking trip in the mountains
3/ The Krkonoše Mountains – a panoramic view
4/ At a road junction
5/ Pec pod Sněžkou
6/ Vrchlabí Chateau

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