Šumava National Park

Šumava National Park is the largest of the four national parks established in the Czech Republic. It covers a wide stretch of mountainous terrain running along the border with Austria and, on the German side, Bavaria. The nearby village of Borová Lada sits right at the edge of the protected area, and many visitors use it as a starting point for exploring the park.

What makes Šumava the largest national park in Czechia?

Among the four national parks in the Czech Republic, Šumava covers the greatest area. Its size comes from stretching along a long mountain ridge that runs parallel to the border with Austria and, on the German side, Bavaria. Because of this position, the park is not an isolated pocket of protected land — it forms part of a wider cross-border mountain region where nature conservation continues on both sides of the state border. The sheer scale of the park also means the landscape varies noticeably between its border-facing sections and the parts that reach further into Czech territory.

Where exactly is the park located relative to Borová Lada?

The coordinates associated with this location sit at roughly 49.06°N, 13.48°E, placing it in the southern part of the Czech Republic, close to the state border. Borová Lada, a small village that functions as a gateway to the park, lies right at the edge of its boundaries, making it a convenient base for anyone planning a longer stay in the region. Because the village sits so close to the park, reaching the protected area from it doesn't require a long journey.

What should visitors know about a mountain range shared with Austria and Bavaria?

The mountainous character of the terrain means visitors should expect varied topography typical of the higher-elevation ranges of Central Europe. The border position — shared with both Austria and Bavaria — has also long connected several tourism traditions in one region: Czech, Austrian and Bavarian, something visible in the visitor infrastructure that has grown on both sides of the border over the years. For anyone planning a trip here, that means the landscape continues on the German and Austrian sides too, even though each side is managed by its own separate nature-protection administration.

Because Šumava is the largest park in the country, distances between its different sections can be considerable, so it's worth deciding in advance which part of the mountain range to visit — starting, for instance, from the area around Borová Lada.

FAQ

Is Šumava National Park the largest national park in Czechia? Yes, it is the largest of the four national parks established in the Czech Republic.

Which countries border the park? The park stretches along the border with Austria and, on the German side, Bavaria.

Which village lies closest to this location? Borová Lada, situated right at the edge of the park's boundaries.

What coordinates correspond to this location? Roughly 49.06°N, 13.48°E.

Is this a good spot for a mountain trip close to both the Austrian and German borders? Yes — it's one of the few places in Czechia where a single large protected area borders two countries at once.