Habersbirk combines memorial sites commemorating the history of 1938 with a reclaimed spoil heap landscape and a variety of ways to stay active. The options range from a museum and a monument to a nature trail, a longer route, and sports facilities at Lake Boden. To plan your visit, it helps to first decide whether your main interest is history, nature, or an activity of your own.

Memorial Sites Commemorating the History of 1938

The Security Forces Museum is located in the Kluč district of Habartov. It was established as a dignified memorial to the heroes of the so-called Habartov Incident. On 13 September 1938, Czechoslovak gendarmes and Sudeten Germans clashed there. The museum explores the tragic events of 1938, focusing on a specific episode in Habartov’s history. If you are interested in local history, this event provides a clear thematic focus.

The Monument to the Gendarmes Shot in Habartov is also a memorial site. Its bronze relief depicts a waving flag bearing the prominent two-tailed Bohemian lion. A bronze plaque bears the names of the gendarmes who fell there on 13 September 1938. The museum and the monument offer different perspectives: the museum explores the events, while the monument commemorates the gendarmes with its relief and name plaque.

The Lítovská Spoil Heap as an Unusual Natural Environment

The reclaimed Lítovská spoil heap is home to the Lítovská Nature Trail, subtitled “Artificial Semi-Desert.” The name reflects the area’s distinctive conditions: a continuous cover of vegetation forms only with difficulty on highly acidic substrates. This creates a unique natural environment with unusual flora and fauna. The nature trail offers a different way to experience the area than the memorial sites, focusing on the distinctive features of a reclaimed landscape.

The spoil heap’s origins are also part of its character. It consists mainly of material from the former Libík, Boden, and Medard open-cast lignite mines. This site brings together two aspects: the former mining operations that gave rise to the landscape and the unusual flora and fauna that have developed on its acidic substrates. If you are interested in landscapes and the industrial past, the nature trail offers a specific focus for your stay.

On Foot, by Bike, or at Lake Boden

The Habartov March route starts at the sports ground in Habartov. It is 21.7 kilometres long, runs mostly on paved paths, and is also recommended for cycling. The distance provides a concrete basis for planning; the mostly paved surface and the cycling recommendation can help you decide between a walk and a bike ride. This longer route is distinct from the individual activity options available at a single location.

There is an inline skating track and a workout course at Lake Boden. Alongside the March on foot or by bike, inline skating and exercise offer further ways to stay active. You can choose according to whether you would prefer to cover a set route or use one of these specific facilities.

Which Focus Suits Your Stay?

For culture and history, the Security Forces Museum and the monument are the main attractions. The Lítovská spoil heap offers a distinct landscape experience, with its nature trail and unusual flora and fauna. If you want to include some exercise, you can choose between the 21.7-kilometre March route, which is also recommended for cycling, and the inline skating track and workout course at Lake Boden. These differences can help you shape your stay around your own interests without combining the various places and activities into a single outing.

Discover more destinations: Heinrichsgrün, Schönfeld, Douglasgrün, Unterreichenau, Rothau, Josefsdorf, Wintersgrün, Schaben.

For the regional travel overview: Falkenau an der Eger District.