A stay in Sušice can be shaped around different interests: the early Baroque Chapel of Anděla Strážce and its pilgrimage tradition, hiking and educational trails, or scenic viewpoints. The Museum of Šumava in Sušice and the mechanical nativity scene complement these themes with exhibitions and depictions of regional architecture. This lets you decide whether history, landscape or an outdoor activity should be the focus of your trip.
Chapel of Anděla Strážce: Building History and Pilgrimage
The Chapel of Anděla Strážce on Stráž Hill is early Baroque and dates from 1682–1683. Capuchin custodian Ladislav z Bílina founded it in 1682; on August 3, 1683, Prague Bishop Jan Dlouhoveský consecrated the chapel. The ambulatories were added in 1735. This sequence of dates reveals several stages in its building history, from its beginnings and consecration to a later addition.
The main pilgrimage at the chapel currently takes place every year in early September as part of the so-called Sušická pouť; it also includes church services. Services are also regularly held there on Thursday evenings from June through the end of August. Dates and programs may change. Check the latest information before your trip, especially if you plan to visit around one of these services or the pilgrimage.
Hiking Trails, a Short Walk and Views
Sušická pavučina is a network of hiking and educational trails extending more than 30 kilometers in the area around Sušice. Most trails start at the town hall on the square and are marked with colored spiderweb symbols. The network’s destinations include the four peaks of Svatobor, Stráž, Kalovy and Žižkův vrch; it also runs through the Otava valley near Na Pátečku. The stated length describes the trail network, not the walking time for an individual route.
For a different scale, there is Lesopark Luh: this popular recreation area for residents and visitors is just a few minutes’ walk from the square in Sušice. This makes it possible to compare access to the park with a larger trail network, without mistaking the few minutes for the duration of a hike on Sušická pavučina.
The viewpoints also differ in the scope of their views. From the chapel on Stráž Hill, you can see Sušice and its surroundings. The Svatobor lookout tower offers panoramic views across the Šumava Mountains and inland. If you are choosing based on the landscape, you can opt for a view of the town and its surroundings or a wider panorama across the Šumava Mountains.
Museum, Nativity Scene and Activities on the Otava
The ground floor of the Museum of Šumava in Sušice provides step-free access to the exhibitions on match manufacturing and archaeology, as well as to the “V hradbách” exhibition rooms. This information applies to these areas. Check the latest visitor arrangements before your visit.
The Sušice mechanical nativity scene depicts historical Šumava architecture as well as important landmarks in Sušice and its surroundings. While the chapel tells the story of a specific building, the nativity scene brings together regional architecture and motifs from Sušice and the surrounding area.
The OFFPARK Sušice ropes course on the banks of the Otava offers a different kind of activity. It has 34 obstacles at a height of six meters, followed by three ziplines. The details about its size and layout come from the operator and may change. Check the latest information about the ropes course before visiting.
Discover more destinations: Humpolec, Javor, Kolinec, Frymburk U Sušice, Ostřetice, Strážov, Poleň, Olšany.
For the main travel overview: Klatovy District.
