Černý Důl: Mining History, Limestone Trails and Ski Area

Černý Důl lies at the foot of Černá hora in the valley of the Čistá stream. The origins of the town are connected with the beginnings of ore mining in the Krkonoše Mountains. The beginnings of iron ore mining in the valley around the Čistá stream are recorded as early as 1383. Another glimpse into the area’s history leads to limestone and its processing.

Limestone Trails and Mining History

The Vápenická educational trail starts at the square in Černý Důl. The route is about 0.8 km long and introduces visitors to local limestone quarrying through historic lime kilns, an old quarry and information about limestone processing. A longer walking option is the approximately 3.7 km circular Vycházková stezka Okolo lomu: it leads from the square around the limestone quarry and along the ski area before returning. The two limestone trails therefore differ in both length and focus: the educational trail introduces quarrying and processing, while the circular route takes in the quarry and follows a path alongside the ski area.

Church, Stations of the Cross and Museum

Kostel svatého Michaela is a Roman Catholic branch church and was formerly a parish church. It belongs to the Janské Lázně parish and has been protected as a cultural monument of the Czech Republic since May 3, 1958. The historic Stations of the Cross, dating from 1842, are located by the church and consist of 14 stone chapels and a landscaped park. The church and the Stations of the Cross thus offer different ways to explore the town’s heritage: a protected church building stands alongside a historic ensemble of chapels and a park.

The permanent exhibitions of the Muzea Podzemí Krkonoš and the exhibition rooms are located in the basement of the Černý Důl municipal office building. This is a separate exhibition venue within the town, alongside the historic outdoor sites and the church. A visit to the town can therefore take in a range of subjects and places without combining them into a single route.

Walks, Views and Cycling

Pěšník is an approximately 3.5 km family-friendly walking route between Černý Důl and Čistá. It runs away from road traffic. Its length, the connection between the two towns and its traffic-free course are useful points of reference when choosing a walk. The Bönischovy boudy viewpoint above Černý Důl offers a different experience: it provides far-reaching views in every season and is a good spot for watching sunsets.

The area around Černý Důl has an extensive network of marked cycling routes of varying difficulty, complemented by orientation maps and rest stops. The Kolem Černé hory cycling route starts in Černý Důl and includes both paved and unpaved sections; there are views of the landscape along the way. Maps and rest stops are useful for navigating the wider network, while the different surfaces are also worth factoring into plans for this particular route. Check the route conditions before setting off.

Ski Area and Winter Transport

The Ski Areal Černý Důl has wide, easy-to-follow slopes with gentle gradients and two chairlifts. The area has the largest learning zone in the SkiResort, with two conveyor belts and a children’s lift. Professional lessons are offered by the SkiResort Live school. The description thus covers several aspects of winter sports here: slopes, lifts, the learning zone and lessons.

Free ski buses on four main routes connect the areas of SkiResort ČERNÁ HORA - PEC. They link five areas, including Janské Lázně, Černý Důl, Pec pod Sněžkou and Svoboda nad Úpou. As the ski bus service is seasonal, check the routes and operating schedule for the current season.

Discover more destinations: Cistá, Velká Úpa, Slemeno, Třebihošť, Dolní Brusnice, Lánov, Borovnice U Staré Paky, Zdobín

For the broader travel overview: Okres Trutnov.