Hartmanice lies at an altitude of 712 m on the border of Šumava National Park. The town combines medieval history with cultural sites and the Hamižná Nature Reserve; in winter, a ski resort is an added attraction. When planning a stay here, you can choose what to focus on according to your interests: religious buildings and local history, a nature trail with traces of gold mining, or ski runs of varying difficulty.
Nature and Mining History on Hamižná
Hamižná Mountain has been a nature reserve since 1995. Remains of gold mining have been preserved there, including pits and millstones. The Hamižná Nature Trail is 3 km long and has thirteen information stations. It is suitable for hikers, cyclists and families with young children. The trail thus combines the mountain’s natural environment with visible traces of its mining history.
The starting and finishing point of the nature trail is the Ochranářský koutek. It has a shelter, a fire pit, a drinking-water spring and a rest area. These facilities are therefore all located at the same place where the nature trail begins and ends.
Religious Buildings and Local History
Hartmanice was a customs settlement on the medieval Březnická Trail. The Vintířova Trail runs through Prášily, Dobrá Voda, Hartmanice and Sušice and is 150 km long in total. It is worth distinguishing these connections to put them in context: the Březnická Trail is part of the town’s history, while the Vintířova Trail, with its route and total length, offers a broader route framework.
The Church of St. Catherine in Hartmanice has Gothic origins dating back to the 14th century. Its vestibule houses a year-round exhibition commemorating twelve women who died during a death march at the end of the Second World War. The building’s history and a specific memorial site stand side by side: the exhibition commemorates the women, while the church also has a long architectural history. Gothic refers to a medieval architectural style.
Horská synagoga Hartmanice is the highest-altitude synagogue in the Czech Republic and one of the few surviving synagogues in the Bohemian Forest. These two features place it in different contexts: one in a nationwide comparison, the other within the region’s surviving synagogues. Concerts, lectures and theatre performances are regularly held in the synagogue. If you are planning to attend an event, check the current schedule before your trip.
Skiing in Winter
The Hartmanice ski resort has four runs of varying difficulty and one lift. One run is just under 600 m long. The terrain ranges from gentle sections for beginners and children to steeper slopes for experienced skiers; the resort is also suitable for family skiing. The operating season and snow conditions vary. Check both before your trip if you are planning ski days.
Discover more destinations: Chudenice, Rabí, Zborovy, Zelená Lhota, Kovčín, Komušín, Chudenín, Lomec.
For the broader travel overview: Okres Klatovy.
