Discover Prasily: Hiking, Nature and the Bohemian Forest

Prasily combines the impressive landscapes of the Bohemian Forest with hiking destinations, botanical discoveries and a history connected with the founding of a glassworks. Those looking for a combination of nature experiences, physical activity and special excursion destinations during their stay will find various options here for planning their trip.

Hiking between lake and summit

A challenging hiking route leads from Prášily to Prášilské jezero. The route is 17.5 km long, classified as difficult, has an elevation gain of 526 m and takes 5 hours and 30 minutes. This information will help you realistically fit the tour into your daily itinerary. Prášilské jezero itself was formed by a glacier around 10,000 years ago, making it a distinctive landscape destination in the area around Prasily.

Another route leads to the summit of Poledník. A 37 m-high observation tower with panoramic views stands there. Poledník was originally a military facility and offers views of the natural landscape of the Bohemian Forest. Such different day-trip destinations can play a role when choosing your accommodation: You can focus on a longer hike to the lake, a visit to the summit or a nature-focused excursion.

Discover nature and plan your routes properly

The “Polom v horské smrčině” nature trail illustrates the vitality of nature. At the Prášily Botanical Garden, you can see native plants of the Bohemian Forest as well as examples of wetland, dry, bog and heath habitats. The plant collections are complemented by art objects made of wood and stone. A collection of 400 daffodils is considered one of the largest in the Czech Republic. The garden thus offers its own way of experiencing the landscape, distinct from a longer mountain hike.

If you are planning several days outdoors, you should take the relevant restrictions into account. The route between Poledník and Gsenget is open only from 15 July to 15 November. In addition, the Stodůlecký Bridge over the Křemelná is closed to cyclists and pedestrians because of its poor condition. At Poledník, legal overnight accommodation for one night is possible at the so-called emergency overnight site. This is a clearly limited option and does not replace any general statement about accommodation options in the surrounding area.

Prasily as a starting point for nature and cycling tours

Cyclists can also include Prasily in their plans: Cycle Route 33 runs through Prášily and crosses Šumava National Park from Železná Ruda to Lipno. For the 2026 season, the public campsite is open from 10 April to 1 November. Those looking for accommodation in Prasily can therefore first consider whether their planned stay is primarily intended for hiking, cycling or visits to the Botanical Garden. Choosing the travel period is particularly important given the seasonal opening hours mentioned above.

Other places for your trip to the Czech Republic

If you would like to compare Prasily with other places or continue your trip through the Czech Republic, you can also visit Velhartice, Rejštejn, Malý Bor, Nezdice Na Sumave, Dlažov, Sveradice, Rozparalka and Zavlekov. This allows you to gather different travel ideas without losing sight of Prasily’s distinctive features.

For the higher-level travel overview: Okres Klatovy.