TOURISM AND SPORT
Bikes, Scooters
Suitable for mountain bikes
Kvilda – spring of the Vltava – Bučina – Knížecí Pláně – Strážný – Dolní Cazov – České Žleby – Lenora – Zátoň – Horní Vltavice – the last wolf – Alpská vyhlídka (outlook of the Alps) – Borová Lada – Chalupská Fen – Nové Hutě – Pláně crossroads – Kvilda
Suitable for road bikes
Kvilda – Bučina – Knížecí Pláně – Strážný – Hliniště – České Žleby – Soumarský bridge – Lenora – Zátoň – Horní Vltavice – Polka – Borová Lada – Chalupská Fen – Borová Lada – Nové Hutě – U Babůrka – Pláně crossroads – Kvilda
The day-long circular biking trip first runs through the deserted countryside along the border with Germany. The way back mostly copies a picturesque flow of the Teplá Vltava. The route has no drastic rising, there are mostly gradual and moderate up- and downhill roads. Behind Kvilda follow the cycling route leading to the south against the uppermost flow of the Teplá Vltava. From the crossroads behind the spring turn to the left in direction of Bučina and then climb to the highest point of the route - the saddle beneath Stráž mountain. Afterwards the road descends into the former village of Bučina. The fans of road bicycles should take the direct road connecting Kvilda and Bučina, which rises moderately and has an asphalt surface in good condition. From Bučina ride down to the former Knížecí Pláně and from there continue to the south-east across vast forests. The road slopes down pleasantly to the borderline village of Strážný.
Continue to the crossroads nearby the border crossing of České Žleby. From here follow the cycling route descending towards the Teplá Vltava and further to the village of Lenora. The road bikers should ride past the railway station of Soumarský most. The road is mostly rising across the village of Zátoň placed in the basin beneath Boubín mountain and continues to Horní Vltavice. From here go on against the flow of the Teplá Vltava. If riding road bikes, follow the road rising through the valley of the Teplá Vltava past the village of Polka and Zahrádky camping site to Borová Lada.
If riding mountain bikes, turn to the right behind Horní Vltavice and rise to the saddle between Obří and Světlá mountain along the green and later yellow tourist marks. From the saddle continue to the left along the red-marked path in a short and difficult climbing. One kilometre behind the saddle there is a turn-off to the memorial of the last wolf in the Šumava mountains. Further on decline by the forest complex to the road connecting Vimperk and Borová Lada. One kilometre behind Borová Lada visit Chalupská Fen, one of the few peat-bogs of the Šumava accessible to public. From Chalupská Fen the route leads to Nové Hutě and then back to Borová Lada across Nový Svět and Šindlov. From Borová Lada take the last section of the whole trip back to the village of Kvilda.
Hiking
Kvilda – spring of the Vltava – Bučina – Kvilda
A trip of medium difficulty with a hard climbing beneath the top of Stráž mountain, across the area where the longest Czech river springs. The starting point is the church in Kvilda. From there go along the blue-marked tourist path in southern direction. Cross the Teplá Vltava and rise past Hamerské Domky to the forest, which the large part of the journey goes through. Go by the Černý stream to get to the foothill of Černá hora mountain. This is the place where you can find the spring of the Vltava at the altitude of 1172 metres. From the spring continue further in direction of the frontier, at the crossroads U Pramene Vltavy (By the Spring of the Vltava) turn to the left on the red-marked path, which will take you to Bučina (1162 m). From there you can set for a 7 km long natural and instructional circular path that will take you across the extinct villages. To get back to Kvilda, use the road without tourist marking, which is in the place where a branch of the Golden Path used to be.
Kvilda – peat-bog Jezerní slať (Lake Fen)
This short trail of approximately 3,5 km passes through a part of the natural reserve nearby the village of Kvilda and is designed for pedestrians. It is accessible from the road connecting Kvilda and Horská Kvilda from the car park. Two information panels acquainting the visitors with flora a climate of the peat-bog are placed by the wooden footpath together with several signs indicating the most significant plants. At the beginning of the footpath there is a lookout tower offering nice view of the whole peat-bog.
Modrava – Filipova Huť – Horská Kvilda – Kvilda – Zhůří – Turner's Cottage – Antýgl – Modrava
This day-long circular trip of approximately 22 km passes through the central part of Pláně in the catchment area of the upper stream of the Vydra river. It goes through the beautiful and almost intact countryside, offering attractive views and acquainting with many interesting and historically precious mountainous events. The starting point can be found in Modrava village, from where you should set out along the green-marked tourist path in direction of Filipova Huť. The place called Korýtko, which is situated in the upper part of Filipova Huť, offers a nice view of the borderline Modrava peat-bogs in western direction. From Korýtko continue along the green-marked tourist path copying the route of the Golden Path ascending slightly in direction of Zhůří. Leave the green marks and turn to the yellow-marked tourist path leading to the valley of the Vydra to the Turner's Cottage. From here continue along the red-marked tourist path to the destination of the whole trip, which goes against the Vydra stream, past the royal estates of Antýgl and further on to Vchynicko-tetovský canal. Continue along the canal to the slope of Adamova mountain, where you reach the first Modrava houses and pass by former Bienert's saw-mill to the centre of the village.
Cross-Country Skiing Hints
Kvilda – Horská Kvilda
This almost flat, 4,5 km long track is suitable even for beginners. You will go past the peat-bog Jezerní slať (Lake Fen), which is inaccessible to public in winter season at higher snow cover. The reason of the closure consists in hibernation of the black grouse in the peat-bog and in prevention of the damage caused to dwarf mountain pine frozen to the wooden footpath. In Horská Kvilda, there are several options of refreshment. You can continue from here past Zlatá Studna to Churáňov or Zhůří or return past Filipova Huť to Kvilda.
Note: All the tracks mentioned above are machine-treated, except for the section between Kvilda and Filipova Huť.
Kvilda – spring of the Vltava
The track is 7 km long and rises moderately through the forest to the spring of the Vltava. In case of a thaw this section becomes poorly passable amongst the first, due to many dirts and springtails. Some 500 metres behind the spring of the Vltava you can either set out to the right past Černá hora mountain (get ready for steep and long rising) in direction of Březník, Filipova Huť or Modrava or to the left across Stráž (long rising again with following descending) to Bučina. In case of good visibility there is a nice view of the Alps. From Bučina you can return by slightly descenting track back to Kvilda (the whole trip is then 18 km long) or continue downhill to Knížecí Pláně and from here across the undulating terrain to Borová Lada or Strážný.
Note: All the tracks mentioned above are machine-treated, the snow cat treatment in the surroundings of Borová Lada is nevertheless of lower quality. The track between Knížecí Pláně and Strážný is treated only at very stable weather conditions.
Kvilda – Staré Hutě crossroads – Přilba
Two different tracks lead from Kvilda to the crossroads of Staré Hutě (along the yellow/blue tourist marking). The profile of the blue-marked path is less undulated. From the crossroads of Staré Hutě you can continue past the top of Přilba mountain in direction of Churáňov or down the piste to Nové Hutě.
Note: None of the aforementioned tracks is machine-treated except for the short section in the saddle between Přilba and Churáňov. When thawing, the ski tracks become easily and quickly polluted.
Kvilda – Bučina
The ski track goes along the road which is usually snowploughed, which makes it suitable also for pedestrians or skating ski technique.
Starting points
The main starting point for the majority of the tracks is placed in the village centre by the Information Centre of the Šumava National Park. From here you can set out for Horská Kvilda. After about 1 km of this track (at the crossroads U Tremlů) it is possible to turn to the ski track in direction of the crossroads of Staré Hutě. From the Information Centre you can also set off to the spring of the Vltava, though there is another option: if you pass the village on foot, you can take advantage of the second starting point behind the "U Pily" pension. The machine-treated ski track forking either to the spring of the Vltava or to Bučina begins approximately 150 metres behind the pension.
Up-to-date information about condition of cross-country skiing tracks
Downhill Skiing
Kvilda Ski Resort / +420 602 450 805
Kašperské hory Ski ResortDownhill SkiingDownhill Skiing
Other Activities
SKI & OUTDOOR KVILDA / +420 775 277 260
Svatoslava Vlasatá – The Šumava Guide
Services
Permanent exposition of Kvilda and Bučina history
Groceries
Sports equipment
Bakery
Training centre
KB ATM
Information Centre of the Šumava National park and Centre
Social hall
Food store
ski and bikes rental
Czech post
Multifunctional sports ground with artificial surface
Children's playground
Ski piste – ski school
Mountain Rescue Service office
Machine-treated cross-country ski tracks
Marked tourist and cycling paths