The Jižní stezka ends in Svatá Kateřina: it leads through the Šumava in eight stages from Vyšší Brod to here and covers 192 kilometres in total. The nearby Svatá Kateřina (Rittsteig) border crossing also adds a distinct dimension: it makes day trips to the Bavarian side and back possible. Mathematically, 192 kilometres over eight stages works out to an average of 24 kilometres per stage; this average puts the total distance into perspective, but does not indicate the length of any particular stage and should not be taken as a daily target.

Stage Route or Border Excursion?

The route represents a longer stage-based journey, while a border visit is a single-day excursion with a return. For your planning, you can therefore first decide on the timeframe you have in mind: should Svatá Kateřina be the focus as the endpoint of a multi-stage trip, or should the excursion across the border take centre stage? These two options can be considered separately without combining them into a fixed itinerary.

Bus and Parking at the Border Crossing

You can park right at the Svatá Kateřina border crossing. Before travelling, check whether this parking option suits your visit. On weekdays, buses run from Nýrsko to the “Chudenín, Svatá Kateřina” stop and, with limited service, also to “Chudenín, Svatá Kateřina, st.hr.”. Check the current timetable before your trip, as bus services operate on weekdays and the second stop is served only on a limited basis.

Different things therefore need to be considered when travelling there: for the bus, the day of the week and the stop matter; for parking, the situation at the border crossing is key. Make these checks with your specific travel date in mind.

Landscape and Notable Places

The Šumava Natura 2000 site includes Šumava National Park, the Šumava Protected Landscape Area and part of the Šumava Biosphere Reserve. It extends from Svatá Kateřina in the Klatovy District southeastwards to Přední Výtoň in the Český Krumlov District. The protected-area designation therefore extends beyond the individual locality and places Svatá Kateřina within a larger regional landscape.

The PP U Radošína protected area is located in the cadastral area of Svatá Kateřina. A former amphibolite quarry is also noted in the same cadastral area. Hradčany Hillfort is also designated as a monument there. These names refer to different points of interest: a protected area, a former quarry and a designated monument.

A distinctive border detail is boundary stone 15C. On the Bavarian side, it does not bear a carved Bavarian coat of arms highlighted in colour. The border follows a watercourse there; the Chodská Úhlava forms a meander in the opposite direction. This means the border can also be described by its specific shape, not just by the crossing between the two sides.

Discover more destinations: Kejnice, Plánice, Rejštejn, Předslav, Ujčín, Velhartice, Myslovice, Mochtín.

For the overview of the wider region: Klatovy District.