A small mountain town in the Šumava region with ski slopes, hiking trails, and a 19th-century glass-making past. Close to the German border at 754m altitude.
Železná Ruda lies in the Bohemian Forest mountains along the Czech-German border. In winter, skiers glide down slopes on Špičák mountain, which rises 1,202 meters above sea level. During warmer months, you can hike to Černé jezero, a lake formed by glaciers, or ride the chairlift to Špičák’s summit to see forests stretching into Germany. The town’s Baroque Church of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, completed in 1732, has a six-pointed star shape visible from its tower. Paths winding through pine woods lead to old mining areas and valleys shaped by centuries of iron and glass production.
Trails and Ski Slopes Around Šumava National Park
Start at Železná Ruda’s trail network to reach Šumava National Park. Walk 3 kilometers northeast to Černé jezero, where dark water fills a basin carved by ice ages. From Špičák station, take the chairlift up the mountain to ski gentle slopes or steeper runs, depending on the season. Rent a bike in summer to follow routes marked with yellow and green signs, or board the eco bus at Špičák to access paths near Prášily and Modrava. Spend a day hiking the Pancíř ridge trail, which crosses into Germany and passes Velký Ostrý, a peak with a stone hut built in 1906. When snow covers the ground, follow groomed tracks on skis toward Hojsova Stráž, a village 10 kilometers north.
Churches, Castles, and Glassmaking History
The Church of Our Lady of Perpetual Help dominateseleelezná Ruda’s center with its twin domes and star-shaped base. Inside, faded frescoes depict saints linked to the region’s mining traditions. A 19th-century house on Javorská Street now holds a museum displaying tools and photos from the town’s glassmaking past. Drive 15 minutes to Dobrá Voda, where a chapel stands beside a spring once believed to cure illnesses. For castles, head 45 minutes northeast to Rabí, a fortress with crumbling towers overlooking the Otava River, or visit Kašperk Castle near the town of Kašperské Hory, built over 650 years ago to guard trade routes.
Getting Around and Finding Accommodation
Five train stations connect Železná Ruda to Prague and Plzeň via the Klatovy line. Between June and September, the eco bus runs hourly from Špičák station to trailheads near the park’s wetlands and lakes. Pick up free maps and buy museum tickets at the Infocentre on Javorská Street, open daily until 5 PM. Stay in guesthouses near the church or choose hotels with saunas and ski storage rooms along Špičák’s base. Local cafes post schedules for events like February’s cross-country ski marathon or August’s folk music gatherings in nearby Hamry.
Day Trips to Waterfalls and Bavarian Forests
Drive 90 minutes east to Český Krumlov, where a castle with painted towers overlooks the Vltava River’s bends. Climb the metal stairs of Poledník Tower near Prášily to spot deer herds in Šumava’ moor moorlands. Follow wooden walkways through Bílá Strž, a gorge where water crashes over 13-meter-high rocks. Walk the trails around Gerlova Huť to see peat bogs dotted with stunted pines. Cross into Germany to hike the Rachelsee loop in Bavarian Forest National Park, which shares trails with Šumava near the border.
