Harrachova Trail – Visit to the Count’s Demesne

The Harrachs were an important aristocratic family related to other aristocratic families. They boast of many important personalities, be they cardinals, diplomats or industrialists. Let’s take a trip to the former demesne of this aristocratic family.

The Harrachs came to the Podkrkonosi region during the Thirty Years’ War in 1632, after purchasing the chateau in Horni Branna. Even though they acquired extensive property elsewhere in Bohemia, Hungary and Austria, their main residence was usually here. There were well educated, entrepreneurial and good land managers, and they brought prosperity to the western parts of the Krkonose. In the 18th century the yarn and linen from Jilemnice were exported to Harlem, Amsterdam, Venice and Genoa. In the 19th century glassmaking in Harrachov gained worldwide repute. People most remembered Jan Nepomuk Frantisek, Count Harrach (1828-1909), a patriotic aristocrat and an excellent landlord. He supported the beginnings of tourism in the Krkonose. He built forest paths, pleasure restaurants and the viewing tower on Zaly Mountain. He was the first to bring skis to Bohemia, to be used by his workers. He was acute enough to declare the first Krkonose nature reserve in 1904. A conference of foresters which he organised in 1879 in Jilemnice was chaired by Count Schwarzenberg in front of almost six hundred attendees. Many horsecarts drove the guests in tours of the Harrach’s demesne.

From the Krkonose Museum in Jilemnice, go through the palace park and then take cycle track 22 for the U Labute junction. Turn left onto cycle track 4207 for the Pod Kozincem junction. Turn right for cycle track 4206 to Dolni Sytova. Near the Perimov bridge, turn right for cycle track 4173 and ascend Roprachtice to join the main road for Vysoke nad Jizerou. Leave the main road before the end of Roprachtice and turn right onto a yellow-marked dirt track. Continue to Jilem, Hradsko and join the main road 14 in the direction of Ponikla. Turn left to leave the main roadway and continue to Stromkovice, where you join the K8 cycle track to the right for Jestrabi v Krkonosich. In Jestrabi, turn left for cycle tracks 4295 and then 22. Continue via Roudnice and turn left for Krizlice. Near Mikolaskuv mill, turn left for the main road 286 for Vitkovice, and then turn right for the K9 cycle track for Benecko. Turn right for the K10 cycle track and continue via Horni Stepanice and Mrklov for the Krizovky junction. From there follow the blue-marked hiking trail downhill to Valterice and the green-marked hiking trail back to Jilemnice.

• Length: 55 km
• Surface: The route is on tarmac, paved and unpaved surfaces.
• Attractions: The Krkonose Museum in Jilemnice, Peřimov bridge, Roprachtice, Nistejka Castle Ruins, Stromkovice, Jestřabí v Krkonoších, Křížlice, Horní Štěpanice, The ruins of the Gothic Castle Stepanice, Valteřice, Jilemnice