Skip to content
Text content and navigation
Trip to Zlatá Studna: Following the tracks of Šumava glassmakers from Pension Helena Honesová
This route will take you through a typical Šumava landscape full of fragrant conifers, mossy corners, and fresh mountain air.
Straight from our guesthouse into nature
The route starts right here in the heart of the national park – in Horská Kvilda. The starting point is the doorstep of our Helena Honesová guesthouse, where you can connect directly to the hiking trails. This saves you any complicated driving; just put on your shoes, pack some water in your backpack, and head out.
The path from us rises and falls gently along well-maintained and forest paths. Thanks to its profile, this trip to Zlatá Studna is ideal for families with children, active seniors, and cyclists. In the winter months, the entire area transforms into a cross-country skiing paradise, so you can plan a trip here from us in any season. During the journey, you will be accompanied by typical views of mountain meadows and peat bogs, which gradually merge into quiet forests.
Historical and magical Zlatá Studna
After a pleasant walk, you will reach your main destination. Today's Zlatá Studna (German: Goldbrunn) is a picturesque mountain meadow and an important crossroads where you can rest in a wooden shelter. However, its past is incredibly diverse.
Here are the most interesting fragments of history that make this place special:
- World-famous glassmaking: At the end of the 18th century (around 1799), an important glassworks was founded here. Zlatá Studna became famous for the production of luxury hollow glass and "páteříky" (glass beads for rosaries). The glassmakers thrived here so much that their products traveled as far as overseas.
- Why "Zlatá" (Golden)? The name of the settlement does not refer to gold mining. The settlement was named after an exceptionally clean and abundant spring, which was "worth its weight in gold" to the glassmakers of the time, as high-quality water was absolutely crucial for production.
- A troubled fate: The glassworks ceased operations around 1880, when the surrounding forests were depleted and the wood needed for smelting ran out. People began to move elsewhere, and after the displacement of the population in the 20th century, the settlement finally vanished.
- Traces in the landscape: Today, you will no longer find glass furnaces here. However, an attentive eye can still discover the overgrown remains of building foundations in the surrounding terrain, and with a bit of luck, you might come across small pieces of old glass in the stream.
Extending the route to Zadov for great food
Although you can return directly to us from Zlatá Studna, we recommend extending the route a little further. If you continue along the path towards nearby Zadov, you will reach the popular Sporthotel Olympia. After miles on your feet, the stylish restaurant and spacious terrace here will come in very handy. You can reward yourself with a hearty lunch, enjoy a coffee in the fresh air, and recharge your energy before returning to our guesthouse.
Practical tips for the trip
To ensure your Šumava experience is absolutely flawless, it is good to prepare in advance:
- Clothing and footwear: Šumava weather can change very quickly. Choose layered clothing so you can react quickly to cooling temperatures or wind. Sturdy and ideally waterproof hiking boots are a must, as forest paths can be waterlogged and slippery in the morning or after rain.
- Signal on the route: The national park protects its tranquility, which means that in many places on this route, you will not find any mobile signal. Therefore, do not rely solely on online data and remember to download the route map to your phone in advance for offline use.
- Parking: As our guests, parking at our Helena Honesová guesthouse is, of course, taken care of, and your car will be waiting safely for you. If someone else who is not staying with us is joining you on the trip, they can leave their car at the paid central parking lot in Horská Kvilda, which fills up quickly on weekends.
