Trips from Kvilda
A series of excursion tips by the Šumava National Park
Kvilda is located at a crossroads of hiking and cycling trails that lead in all directions. The centre of the village is dominated by the Church of St. Stephen, covered in wooden shingles to protect it from whipping rain and snow. You can learn about Kvilda's history and the hard life of its former inhabitants at the Kvilda and Bučina Museum (located in the municipal office building). Public parking is available in the middle of the village and at both ends.
Kvilda lies in the heart of the Šumava Highlands, at an altitude of about 1000 m. Only the rounded peaks of ancient mountains rise above it – former “four-thousanders” that erosion has worn down to today’s maximum of 1315 m (Černá hora). The legendary peat bogs, also known from the tales of the “King of the Bohemian Forest”, were long considered treacherous and dangerous marshes – in reality, they are precious natural treasures.
Recommended excursions
To the Source of the Vltava
The Vltava, the national river of the Czech Republic, rises on the slope of Černá hora at 1190 m above sea level. At first it's called the Černý potok (Black Brook), later Teplá Vltava, and after joining the Studená Vltava it becomes the Vltava River proper, flowing through Bohemia to Mělník.
The route from Kvilda to the source is mostly flat, but from there you climb to Bučina, where – on clear days – you can see all the way to the Alps. The original village no longer exists, but you’ll find a reconstructed chapel, a striking replica of the Iron Curtain next to the Alpská vyhlídka hotel, and an outdoor information pavilion presenting both the Šumava and Bavarian Forest National Parks. The return route to Kvilda is 7 km on asphalt. In summer, Green Buses of the national park operate on this line.
Loop around Jezerní slať Peat Bog
Kvilda, at 1065 m above sea level, is the highest village in the Czech Republic. The Šumava Highlands are an important source area for many Czech rivers and streams. The impermeable subsoil and abundant rainfall here have created extensive peat bogs. A 3 km walk from Kvilda along a wooden footpath brings you to the heart of Jezerní slať. The bog’s harsh climate is evidenced by the lowest temperature ever recorded here: −41.5 °C in 1987. Typical Šumava mountain villages are represented by Horská Kvilda and Filipova Huť.
To Stará Huť and Back in a Loop
From Vilémov, the most picturesque part of Kvilda, the trail leads through a deep valley carved by the Olšinka stream to the crossroads Na Starých Hutích. Continue through the dark spruce forests typical of Šumava – the spruce tree best withstands the local cold and humid climate. Along the way you’ll pass through the grounds of a unique visitor centre with a deer enclosure (opened in 2015). You return to the main road at the site known as U Tremlů (with a restored wayside cross), and from there it’s just a short distance back to Kvilda.
