Chalupské jezírko

Chalupské jezírko is the largest peat lake in the Czech Republic, tucked inside the Chalupská slať bog in the Šumava mountains, near the village of Borová Lada and the hamlet of Nový Svět. The lake itself covers roughly 1.3 hectares, while the surrounding peatland spreads across 137 hectares within the cadastral area of Svinná Lada, at an elevation of 900–950 metres.

How did the Chalupská slať peatland form?

Chalupská slať is a transitional bog, combining features of both a valley peatland and a mountain raised bog — an unusual combination for such a compact site in Šumava. The peat layer averages 1.9 metres in depth and reaches up to 7 metres at its thickest points. That buildup is the result of thousands of years of slowly accumulating dead plant matter in a wet, acidic, oxygen-poor environment typical of waterlogged valleys at this altitude.

What grows on the floating islands?

One of the site's most distinctive features is its floating peat islands, which drift on the surface of the lake. They host vegetation typical of raised bogs, including the round-leaved sundew — a small carnivorous plant that traps insects using sticky hairs on its leaves. Alongside it grow bogbean and poor sedge, species adapted to extremely acidic, nutrient-poor conditions where most other plants cannot survive.

What does the visitor route look like?

A nature trail crosses the peatland and ends in a 260-metre wooden boardwalk that leads right to the edge of the lake. The boardwalk lets visitors observe the bog up close without stepping on vegetation that is easily damaged underfoot. Because Chalupská slať lies within Zone I of Šumava National Park — the strictest protection category applied in Czech national parks — leaving the marked trail is prohibited, and the entire area is under strict nature conservation.

Why is it worth the trip?

Chalupské jezírko combines ecological rarity with easy access — one of the few places in Šumava where a wooden boardwalk brings visitors right into a protected peatland without a long or demanding hike. For nature photographers and anyone curious about wetland ecosystems, it ranks among the most rewarding short stops in the region.

Frequently asked questions

Is Chalupské jezírko a natural lake? Yes. It is a naturally formed body of water within the peatland — the largest peat lake in the Czech Republic, covering about 1.3 hectares.

Where exactly is the peatland located? Within the cadastral territory of Svinná Lada, about a kilometre north of Borová Lada, at an elevation of 900–950 metres, inside Zone I of Šumava National Park.

Can visitors step off the boardwalk to get closer to the water? No. The site falls under the strictest protection category in the national park, so visits are limited to the marked trail and wooden boardwalk.

What plants should visitors look out for? The floating peat islands host species such as the round-leaved sundew, bogbean, and poor sedge — plants typical of raised bogs.

How long does the nature trail take to walk? The boardwalk itself is 260 metres long, so a relaxed walk out to the viewing point by the lake and back usually takes around half an hour, including stops at the information panels along the way.