Winter in the Czech Republic has a number of pros, even though the Czech peaks do not reach such altitudes as, for instance, in the Alps. Nevertheless, the Czech mountains are a perfect destination for your family holiday, offering a vast range of activities, from skiing to tobogganing and skating. Plus a big advantage: everywhere is within easy reach!

The Czech Republic is bordered by mountains, an ideal place for sports. More than 200 ski resorts and centres in the whole of the Czech Republic offer ski and snowboard runs. You can test your skiing skills on more than 450 kilometres of pistes. Moreover, Czech ski centres are under constant modernisation: before this winter season alone, owners’ investments amounted to 1.5 billion crowns (60 million EUR). 25 resorts obtained four or five stars, i.e. the highest score, under the certification of the Czech Union of Ski Lift and Tow Operators.

 

The largest ski resort in the Czech Republic, “Skiareál Špindlerův Mlýn” (www.skiareal.cz), is situated in the highest Czech mountain range, the Giant Mountains (Krkonoše)(www.hory-krkonose.cz), about two hours from Prague by car.

This region offers 5 ski lifts and 11 drag lifts in Špindlerův Mlýn and Horní Mísečky, and 25 pistes covered with artificial snow in 95 percent of them.

This year, however, you can look forward to the latest innovations: three brand new ski resorts were established in the Czech mountains before this winter season.

 

In Kouty nad Desnou in Jeseníky mountains (www.kouty.cz), for instance, a new resort was created,  which has become the largest ski resort in Moravia, with a total area of 25 hectares. A six-seat chair lift and two modern drag lifts will take you to the top of the hill. “Skipark Červená Voda” (www.skiparkcervenavoda.cz) in the Orlické Mountains is still shining new, offering, among other things, a piste two kilometres long and sixty metres wide and heated chairs on the lift. “Sněžník Dolní Morava” ski centre near Králický Sněžník (www.dolnimorava.cz) has undergone large-scale renovation, amounting to several million crowns. No need to worry about long queues – the centre offers two four-seat chair lifts! What’s more, a new piste was created there this year, and all of the pistes have recently been equipped with safety features.

Ski centre operators have been paying more attention to skiing for children, and parks for children’s courses equipped with “magic carpet” lifts, children’s ski carousels and teaching aids have become part and parcel of skiing in the Czech mountains, as well as family ski passes at a reduced price. The largest ski park for children is located in the Lipno Ski Resort in Šumava (www.lipnoservis.cz). New parks will be created this winter at the “Snowhill” in the Kašperk Mountains (www.snowhill.cz/kasperky/) and Herlíkovice (www.snowhill.cz/herlikovice/), in Harrachov Sport Centre (www.skiareal.com) or in the “Skiareál” in Špindlerův Mlýn (www.skiareal.cz), for instance. And snowboard fans will enjoy the Czech mountains, too: new snow parks with terrain features and snow barriers have been prepared for this season, and a number of resorts offer its skiers slalom courses with professional time measurement. The advantage of Czech skiing is its value for money: although a wide range of resorts and centres have gradually undergone renovation and energy prices have risen, ski pass prices have remained almost unchanged since last year. In larger ski resorts and centres you can buy a one-day ski pass for one person for 500 crowns, i.e. approximately 20 EUR. Family ski passes vary in price: “Ski areál Špičák” in Šumava (www.lyzovani.spicak.cz), for instance, offers a one-day family ski pass for 840 crowns, regardless of the number of children.

Lovers of snowy plains and spectacular panoramas will definitely enjoy themselves in the Czech mountains! The Czech Republic has more than 3,000 kilometres of maintained cross-country ski routes. Thanks to sophisticated markings made by the Czech Hiking Club (Klub českých turistů), you do not have to worry about getting lost. In Boží Dar in the Krušné Mountains (http://www.bozidar.cz/cz/bezecke-lyzovani)you can enjoy cross-country skiing and follow the trail of “Christ Child”, who brings presents to Czechs on Christmas Eve every year. Even the youngest cross-country skiers will enjoy this several-kilometres-long fairytale route.

 

 

 

Several competitions of world importance with an international presence are organised in the Czech Republic every year. Apart from the abovementioned “Jizerska 50”, which will take place in January, you should definitely not miss the legendary cross-country skiing competition called the “Golden Ski” (www.zlatalyze.cz), which will take place in February 2011 for the 73^rd time. The competition is a part of the continental FIS Slavic Cup. Another skiers’ feast will take place on 15^th and 16^th January in the town of Liberec, which will host the “SKI SPRINT LIBEREC 2011” (www.skisprint.cz) competition, under the “Tour de Ski” cross-country skiing World Cup series (www.tour-de-ski.com). Come to Harrachov at the beginning of January next year: the Giant Mountains’ winter resort will host the Ski Flying World Cup (www.skiflying.cz) as usual. At the end of January the Nordic combined competition, also one of the World Cup competitions, will take place here as well.Additionally, Harrachov will host the Ski-Flying World Championship in 2014.Downhill skiing competitions will not lag behind either: the Women’s World Cup in Alpine skiing will take place on 11^th and 12^th March in Špindlerův Mlýn (www.skiclubspindl.cz).

 

The winter season in the Czech Republic is not about skiing only – there are many more activities you can enjoy here! If you prefer two sharp blades to skis, a visit to Lipno in Šumava (http://lipno.ceskehory.cz/) will certainly not disappoint you as it offers an eleven-kilometre skating track, the longest natural skating track in the world.

You will also enjoy lots of fun at one of the toboggan runs, slowly emerging in the Czech Republic. Bring your own toboggan or borrow it on the spot. The longest run (4 kilometres) awaits you in Špindlerův Mlýn (www.sankarska-draha.cz). In Janské Lázně (www.cerna-hora.cz) you will ride 3.6 kilometres downhill. A natural, 600-metre long toboggan run is located near the Klíny “Skiareál” in the town of Litvínov. In this case, it is for free and accessible 24/7.

 

You can also enjoy an adrenaline experience and lots of fun at one of the Czech bobsleigh tracks. In the Giant Mountains, in the resorts of Špindlerův Mlýn and Harrachov, (www.bobovka.cz) you can reach a speed of up to 65 kilometres per hour. You can also bobsleigh in the centre of Pec pod Sněžkou (www.relaxpark.cz), where some of the points of the track are located up to eight metres above ground, and a similar track was built in Tošovice in the foothills of Oderské vrchy (www.heipark.cz).

After your active relaxation, your body will deserve a well-earned rest in one of the 36 spas the Czech Republic can offer. You can arrive at a number of them directly from the ski slope. A typical example is the picturesque town of Mariánské Lázně (www.marianskelazne.cz), located in Western Bohemia and offering a number of cross-country ski routes and a ski resort. You will definitely enjoy good relaxation in Janské Lázně, the only spa in the Czech part of the Giant Mountains (www.janske-lazne.cz), or in Lázně Jáchymov (www.laznejachymov.cz) in the Krušné Mountains. Indulge in relaxation, wellness activities and many other services in “Centrum Babylon” in the town of Liberec!  

Most Czech ski resorts and centres publish their updated information at a single portal called www.holidayinfo.cz. Information on open pistes, weather conditions and mountain rescue service contact information can be found here as well as other useful details. A summary of information on Czech spas is available at www.ceskelazenstvi.cz or www.CzechTourism.com. A list of all current events and tips for trips around mountain resorts, centres and spas is available at www.tipsfortrips.cz.

 

Related articles: Skiing in the Czech Republic

Article Published 10.1.11 |  Last Updated 21.1.11