Lesná – Educational Trails, Raised Bog and Český les Nature Park

Lesná combines protected landscapes, nature observation and thematic educational trails with remarkable traces of culture. The entire municipal area belongs to Český les Nature Park. The Podkovák Nature Reserve is also located in the cadastral area of Lesná, protecting a small raised bog with stands of bog pine across 5.6 ha. This gives the town various options for a stay: You can explore natural interrelationships, follow an educational trail or discover historical features.

Educational trails with different focuses

The Lesná Educational Trail begins directly in Lesná. It is a one-way circular route approximately 11.3 km long with 10 stations. Its subject matter covers the area's former settlement, natural features and forest management. The route is suitable for pedestrians and cyclists, combining several topics in a longer itinerary.

The Vodní svět Educational Trail is shorter: It begins behind Lesná in the direction of Stará Knížecí Huť and is approximately 2 km long. One of its special stations is a beaver observation point with a direct view of a beaver lodge. A footbridge at another pond allows visitors to observe aquatic invertebrates and amphibians. The trail therefore has a clear focus on bodies of water and wildlife.

The Podkovák Educational Trail leads into the bog landscape. You can reach it by leaving your car at a turnoff from the forest road on the Lesná–Stará Knížecí Huť road, approximately 500 m from Lesná, and then following the green hiking trail. The educational trail has been completely renovated; the boardwalk, benches and bicycle racks were replaced. At the end, there is a covered rest shelter overlooking the peat bog lakes.

Nature, history and a route across the border

Another thematic starting point is in Stará Knížecí Huť. The Sklářství Educational Trail begins there, is a circular route approximately 6.3 km long and has 13 stations. It presents the history of glassmaking, settlement and the nature of Český les in the area around Stará Knížecí Huť and Huťský rybník. Those who wish to combine culture and landscape will find a different perspective here than on the trails focused more strongly on bodies of water or bogs.

Lesná itself also has a cultural and historical detail: The Church of St. Nicholas contains an iconostasis transferred from an Orthodox chapel in Prague-Dejvice. For cross-border hikers, the Přední Zahájí–Waldheim and Křížový Kámen–Kreuzstein routes each enable a visit to Germany from the area around Lesná.

Another historical point of reference is Havran, at an elevation of 894 m. During the Cold War, the mountain was a former site for the radio-technical intelligence operations of the intelligence administration of the Czechoslovak People's Army. Thus, the range of attractions around Lesná extends from raised bogs and beaver observation through forestry and glassmaking to traces of more recent history.

Discover more destinations

For further travel planning, you can also explore Kočov, Chodský Újezd, Ošelín, Halže, Tisová, Sulislav and Prostiboř.

For the higher-level travel overview: Tachov District.

More about the destination

Relevant information for your travel planning:

Lesna Zoo - Lesna city trips.