Šumava is often called the green roof of Europe for its location at the very center of densely populated Central Europe. It has a relatively high level of preservation of its natural environment and rich water resources.

Location: An extensive part of the Šumava mountain range on the Czech Republic’s southwest borders with Germany and Austria.

The territory of the Šumava National Park (proclaimed in 1991), includes the majority of the most valuable natural associations in Šumava, with the necessary level of strict protection. This includes, for example, the remains of primeval forest mountainous growths, glacial lakes and valley moors.

However, one of its basic characteristics is the almost omnipresent blending of virtually untouched “naturalness” with traces of civilization over the centuries, which provides this very sparsely populated area with a unique charm and strange mystery.

The predominant type of vegetation is forest growth, which was formed into its present shape during the long process of development during recent times. Forest vegetation at the present time represents a wide mosaic from radically changed non-original associations through to the remnants of natural forest growths, which have remained preserved in several places around the Šumava region (Boubín, Smrčina and Stožec, among others).

The fauna in Šumava were transformed into their current form in recent times and were originally of an exclusively forest character. Most species of animal bound to the forest have been preserved until the present day, with the exception of large predators (the bear, the lynx, the wolf and the wildcat), which relied on their natural habitat for survival.

Rivers in Šumava have a minimum level of pollution at the upper courses and thanks to this, Šumava is one of the most important habitation areas for the river otter in the whole of the Czech Republic.

Tourism

Some important access points for tourism are the following:
Železná Ruda, the Kašperk Mountains, Stachy, Vimperk, Lenora, Volary and Nová Pec.

Šumava also offers ideal winter conditions for cross-country skiing. Šumava has a network of ski routes of over 400 kilometers in length. These routes are open from December 15 to March 31, depending on snow conditions.

Šumava National Park is also a good place for cyclists. Off the public roads, you are only allowed to cycle on marked cycle paths. In the northwest part of the territory, cycling paths are marked by wooden signposts with the symbol of a cyclist. In the southeast and central areas (Novopecko, Stožecko, Borovoladsko and Kvildsko) cycling paths are marked by yellow metal placards similar to those of footpaths.

Šumava National Park in numbers:

Area: 69,030 hectares
Highest point: 1,378 meters (Plechý)
Lowest point: 600 meters (Otava valley by Rejštejn)

Tags: Šumava National Park