Borova Lada: Discover Nature and Culture

For a trip to Borova Lada, you can plan around different interests, including nature watching, a short moorland trail, a longer circular route, and cultural history. The options described range from the 1 km trail at Chalupská slať to the 62 km Vltavský Circuit. They also include a seasonal guided tour at Rybí líheň and insights into the lives of owls. When planning, you can choose according to route length, date, and topic.

Moorland and Routes

Near Borova Lada, the trail to Chalupská slať starts at the Svinná Lada car park, which is 1 km from Borova Lada in the direction of Kvilda. Chalupská slať has a 1 km trail with a low level of difficulty. At the end of the trail to Chalupská slať, the view opens onto the largest peat bog lake in the Czech Republic, which covers an area of 1.2 ha, and the surrounding moorland.

The two distance figures describe different things: one is the distance from the car park to the town, while the other is the length of the trail at Chalupská slať. This helps distinguish the trail itself from the location of its starting point. Planning a considerably longer route means taking on the 62 km Vltavský Circuit. From Kvilda, it passes through Knížecí Pláně, Strážný, Lenora, Horní Vltavice, and Borova Lada before returning to Kvilda. Check current trail conditions before setting out. The LES nature trail is suitable for families with small children.

Guided Tours and Wildlife Watching

Every Tuesday in July and August at 10 a.m., Rybí líheň Borová Lada offers a public guided tour accompanied by a fish-farm employee. As the schedule may change, it is advisable to check the date before visiting. Access to the rearing ponds is across flat grassland with no incline. This means that both a specific tour time and information about the terrain at the ponds can be factored into your visit planning.

Sovinec Borová Lada is an outdoor aviary complex featuring owls from the Šumava forests, located in an old quarry near Borova Lada. Observation peepholes let you see details of the owls’ behavior, such as nesting and feeding. While Rybí líheň offers a guided tour at a set time during the season, Sovinec focuses on observing the animals through the peepholes. These nature experiences therefore differ not only in subject matter, but also in what you can take into account when planning your visit.

Cultural History and Historic Sites

The Chapel of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, also known as St. Anne’s Chapel, has had a turbulent history. The original chapel was dedicated to St. Anne and built in 1860. In 1956, the chapel and the adjoining Stations of the Cross were demolished; both were restored in 2006. This timeline links the original construction with the demolition and subsequent restoration.

Knížecí Pláně belongs to the municipality of Borova Lada and is an important junction for hiking and cycling routes. The cemetery and the foundations of the church façade have been restored there. These traces differ from the history of the chapel: here, the focus is on surviving or restored parts of a cemetery and a church façade. Together with the chapel’s history, they complement the natural attractions with a range of cultural and historical themes.

Discover more destinations: Kratušín, Račov, Hracholusky, Lužice U Netolic, Trhonin, Husinec U Netolic, Pěčnov, Těšovice.

For the broader travel overview: Prachatice District.