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Now a vanished settlement, Knížecí Pláně was founded near the border in 1792 by Prince Schwarzenberg. Today, it stands as a powerful reminder of the tragic events of modern Czech history.
How to get there
Knížecí Pláně can be reached by hiking trails from Kvilda (via Bučina, approx. 22 km loop), from Borová Lada (approx. 12 km loop), or from Strážný (via the Deer Trail and Žďárské Lake, approx. 22 km loop). All routes are suitable for both hikers and cyclists.
Additional information
In 1840, Knížecí Pláně had 521 inhabitants and 59 buildings – including a gamekeeper's lodge, a forester's house, a mill, a sawmill, an inn, and a border guard base. Already in 1828, a wooden Church of St. John the Baptist was built here, with a single-storey rectory beside it. In 1946, all the inhabitants were evicted, and by 1956, the buildings were razed to the ground, including the church, which was blown up. Between 1990 and 1991, the cemetery was restored; the site where the church once stood is still visible as a raised area of land.
Today, a 13-meter-high cross marks the location. Nearby stands a monument to those who fell in World War I, which also indicates the center of the former village. From the cemetery, there is a beautiful view of Mount Lusen, Dreisessel, and Boubín. Knížecí Pláně is part of the educational trail “National Park”.
