Czech mountain vacation - cheap family holidays

KVILDA

Altitude: 1065 above sea level

Origins: first mentioned in 1565

Number of inhabitants: 172

Administrative area in hectares: 4517 ha

The village of Kvilda is one of the highest situated villages in the Czech Republic being 1065 metres above the sea level. First settlers came to this area in the in the 14th century lured by the vision of gold. Gold was panned usually from the Kvilda and Jezerní streams. Now a days, the former gold panning areas have become archaeological sites. Another reason why people came to this area was the development of the so called Upper Golden Route a is leading from Passau to Kašperské Hory via Kvilda. The Czech Emperor Charles IV had this route marked in 1356 and already in 1366 the route was being used for transporting salt from Bavaria and exporting beer, malt, hops and other. The first written record about the village of Kvilda goes back to 1569 when Kvildcited as one of the villages belonging to the Zdíkov Estate. Due to the growing number of inhabitants, and in particular thanks to its economic potentials Kvilda has become one of the most important villages in Central Šumava. Apart from wood manufacturing plants, hammer mills, glass making factories and a paper mill in Františkovo, there was a great number of craftsmen trading their products. In 1945 there were 1 120 inhabitants in 180 houses. The post-war development of Kvilda was affected not only by the removal of German inhabitants and resettlement by small numbers of incongruous settlers, but in particular by the establishment of a border area which was very strictly monitored along the western border. In 1950 there were only 238 people living in 144 houses. Now a days, the number of inhabitants is around 170. The cadastral area of Kvilda covers 4 517 ha 5 719 m2 and includes the vanished village of Bučina; Kvilda covers 3 131 ha 7 712 m2 and Bučina covers 1 385 ha 8007 m2.

Kvilda has become an important centre for tourism in Central Šumava being able to accommodate about 750 tourists in 19 establishments. There is a Municipal Office, a post office, a food store, a bakery which has proved very popular with tourists, a sports shop, a chemist’s, and a ski and bike rental shop in Kvilda. The Kvilda Information Centre and NP Šumava Information Centre provide interesting informations to tourists. The development of the village, ethnographical exhibits and period photographs can be found in the permanent exhibition on the history of Kvilda and Bučina at the Municipal Office. The entire cadastral area of the village is situated in the Šumava National Park. When in Kvilda, people enjoy visiting the Jezerní Peat Bogs, the source of the Vltava River situated 6 km away from the village and the area of Bučina which offers unforgettable views of the Šumava region. The well preserved local environment ensures a further development of tourism. Source: J.Vávrová : Kapitoly z minulosti Kvildy (Chapters from the history of Kvilda). 2005

ŠUMAVA

The Šumava mountains (Bohemian Forest) is a large mountain range along the southern Czech border between the Vyšebrodský Průsmyk (Vyšší Brod Defile) and Všerubský Průsmyk (Všeruby Defile). It lies between the small towns Vyšší Brod (near the Czech-Austian border in South Bohemia) and Všeruby (near the town Klatovy in West Bohemia). It is the spring area of the biggest Czech river Vltava and of the important South Bohemian river Otava (the tributary of the Vltava river).

The Šumava mountains are about 120 km long and they lie on both sides of the border. The German part is called Bavarian Forest. The width of the mountain range is about 45 km.

The highest peak of the mountain is Gross Arber - Velký Javor in the Czech language - (Big Maple - 1,457 m), which lies in Germany, not far from the town Železná Ruda. Plechý mountain (1,378 m) is the highest peak of the Czech part; it lies near the state boundary near the beginning of the Lipno Dam.

The Šumava mountains comprise six geomorphological parts. The largest one is the Šumavské Pláně (Šumava Plains) with a little rolling terrain. It is about 55 km long, at most 20 km wide and its area is about 670 square km. The Železnorudská Hornatina (Železná Ruda Highlands) is about 200 square km large and it is situated in the most western part of the Šumava mountains in the surroundings of Železná Ruda. The highest peak of this part is Jezerní Hora (Lake Mount - 1,343 m) above Černé Jezero (Black Lake). In the south-eastern part of the Šumava mountains there is the Trojmezenská Hornatina (Trojmezná Highlands) with the highest mountain of Šumava - Plechý. Its area is 360 square km. The wooded Boubínská Hornatina (Boubín Highlands) is the highest situated part of the Šumava mountains and it is sparsely inhabited. It is about 130 square km large and its highest peak is Boubín mountain (1,362 m). The neighbouring Želnavská Hornatina (Želnava Highlands) with Knížecí Stolec mountain (Princely Seat - 1,226 m) is about 180 square km large. The natural boundary between the inland part and the border part of the Šumava is the so-called Vltavická Brázda (Vltava Valley, 136 square km) along the upper reaches of the Vltava river. It is about 2 - 4 km wide and about 45 km long open wide valley with many peat-bogs.

The Šumava mountains are very well preserved, untouched and valuable areas. The Protected Landscape Area and the National Park Šumava with many other reserves were established for its protection and they cover virtually the whole mountain range.