The Krkonose Pilgrimage of Poet Karel Hynek Macha
The Krkonose pilgrimage, which the famous Czech poet Karel Hynek Macha took in 1833, was a major influence on his further literary work. The romantic and harsh mountain landscape served as an inspiration for him. Follow his footsteps and let the Krkonose nature carry you away.
At the end of summer 1833, Karel Hynek Macha and his friend Eduard Hindl took what they called the Krkonose Pilgrimage, from Prague to Mount Snezka. They set out in the direction of Neratovice and went via Melnik, the castles and hills at Houska, Bezdez, Zviretice, Valecov, Vysker, Trosky, then via Jicin, Radim, Nova Paka, Studenec, Horni Branna, Zaly hill and Spindleruv Mlyn to Lucni chalet.
In eight days they hiked across the Czech basin to the borders and climbed Mount Snezka, the highest Czech mountain.
They made notes of their pilgrimage, which were later published as the First Volume of the Planned Hike from Prague to Trebihost, and the further route can be identified from his diary, letters and auxiliary sources. All the preserved documents are a testimony to Macha’s romantic desire to make poetry merge with real life, and also provide a detailed picture of the Czech landscape of the time.
The complete hike covers some 230–260 km. You can decide every day whether you want to take a shorter or longer route, spanning 17 to 32 kilometres.
Taking a 63-km Hike in the Krkonose
This hike along mountain roads offers a unique opportunity to meet people who live in the Krkonose and care for the mountains. It attracts Macha’s followers. On his Krkonose Pilgrimage, Karel Hynek Macha went through the foothills and the highest Czech mountain range on a route which was approximately 63 km in length.
Nova Paka - Levinska Olesnice - Studenec - Horni Branna - Valterice - Zaly hill - Rovinka junction - Cerna skala - Mechovinec - Horni Misecky - Spindleruv Mlyn - the Bile Labe river valley - Lucni chalet - Mount Snezka - Obri dul and down to Pec pod Snezkou
Where to spend a night
Penzion Pod Hájkem Horní Branná - Apartmány IT Centrum Vrchlabí - Wellness hotel Skalka Benecko - Hotel Harmony a Hotel Horní Pramen, Špindlerův Mlýn - Bouda U Bílého Labe - Luční bouda
Fill your family time in the Krkonose Mountains with movement in nature, exploration, fun and fairy-tale adventures. We've chosen the best places for you, planned routes, prepared an adventurous stamp hunt and know where to hide in bad weather.
