In the Czech Republic the target is not only to preserve the natural environment but to restore it in the natural way as well. That is why in Czech protected areas the accessibility to people is restricted as well as their activities.

There are at least six types of protected areas of the Czech Republic, but we will focus on national parks. Apart from these there are also landscape areas, nature reserves, nature monuments, memorable trees or alley of trees, plants and animals which also may be specifically protected.

It is the Ministry of the Environment which decides the level and kind of protection. Another body involved in this process is the Agency for Nature Conservation and Landscape Protection of the Czech Republic.

Four national parks occupy 1.5% of the Czech territory. Based on the figures it is evident that the Šumava National Park is the largest.

The Krkonoše (Giant Mountains) natural attractiveness, easy accessibility and good facilities bring Czech and foreign visitors to this small range of mountains which thus bellow to the group of the most visited national parks in the world. For this unfortunately a cruel tax is paid in the form of earth erosion, damaged flora, tons of waste, noise, and emissions from transport. Therefore the KRNAP (Krkonoše National Park) has been listed among the most endangered national parks in the world. The Krkonoše are exposed to frequent westernly winds usually bringing enough snow for the most stable snow cover in the country and sometimes causing avalanches.

Despite these facts, the KRNAP has a very good international reputation and it is evident that tourism is the only potential source of prosperity in this protected area. Thanks to its territory (about 40,000 hectares) it ranks among the largest on the Continent. Extremely attractive for tourists are wooded mountains, glacial valleys and mountain meadows with rare flowers. The highest peak is Sněžka (1,603m). The legendary ruler Krakonoš, a hero of folk fairy tales, protected the poor and defenceless. Local inhabitants were skilled weavers, glassmakers, woodmen and charcoal burners in the past. Modern tourists meet history on every step, particularly in the mountain chalets.

The area is well inhabited by birds like tits, blackbirds, larks and finches. The sunlit meadows are home to various butterflies. But be careful, you can find here the local poisonous snake, European adder which likes to bask on warm stones. The marks of genuine Krkonoše tundra can be seen at the highest locations, in the Alpine grasslands.

The safety of all the visitors is ensured by members of the Mountain Rescue Service all year round.

In 1963, the Czechoslovak government established Šumava Protected Landscape Area. Its area was enormous (1,686.54 km²). In 1991, the authorities created a new national park within the borders of the protected landscape area. The Šumava National Park is still part of the Šumava Protected Landscape Area which serves as a buffer zone around the national park. The climate is harsh, cold and windy. Many tablelands with peat bogs, glacial lakes and remnants of primeval forest as Boubín are typical for the area only little disturbed by human settlements. German-speaking inhabitants were expelled after WWII and the area became a deserted zone. So deserted that since 1970s a population of shy lynxes settled here.

Summarising the potential

The values of this park lie in the unique well preserved Dyje canyon. 42 km of almost uninhabited river valley is the best preserved and least affected river valley in the country. Podyjí is a friendly place, the nature is pleasant and not dangerous. Nevertheless, it is essential to follow the basic rules for staying in the countryside.

Each of Czech national parks has its specifics. The history of the youngest of Czech national parks began in the second half of the 18th century with the romantic excursions of Dresden based painters. In the 19th century, the first hiking trails, hotels, restaurants, lookouts and view towers were built. Tourist steamers started sailing on the Elbe River and Kamenice´s canyons opened for punting excursions.

Summarizing the potential