Královský hvozd is a natural monument stretching an impressive 18 kilometers along the border mountain range between Alžbětín and the Chodská Úhlava valley near Svatá Kateřina. It's a place for those seeking genuine Šumava wilderness - ancient forests, rocky terrain formations, and rare ecosystems that have survived here almost untouched.

The landscape of Královský hvozd is a mosaic of dense forests, groups of old trees, and natural plant and animal communities. The terrain is varied, in places wild and demanding, which only adds to its character. The largest continuous protected section stretches between Alžbětín and Černé jezero (Black Lake), one of Šumava's best-known spots. In autumn the forests here glow with color, in winter deep snow blankets the land, and in summer a cool, forested calm settles in - this is a place that rewards those seeking silence and untouched nature.

How to get there

• Hamry - starting point near the protected area, accessible via hiking trails along Královský hvozd, time and difficulty depending on the chosen section
• Alžbětín - alternative starting point in the southeast, leading toward the most extensive part of the area near Černé jezero

Practical information

• The area is managed by the Šumava National Park and Protected Landscape Area Administration
• Protection covers geomorphological formations, groups of trees, and natural ecosystems - please stay on marked trails

This is one of the few parts of Šumava where nature has been allowed to develop almost entirely undisturbed by humans - the result is visible in its primeval forests and unique natural communities.