Download GPX file for this article
50.7515.583333Full screen dynamic map

From Wikivoyage
Jump to navigation Jump to search

The Giant Mountains, known as the Karkonosze (pronounced [ˈkr̩konoʃɛ]) in Polish, Krkonoše in Czech, and Riesengebirge in German, are part of the Sudetes mountain range in Central Europe and form the border between Poland and the Czech Republic. They offer beautiful scenery, national parks and winter resorts.

Regions

Krkonoše National Park in Czech Republic and the Karkonosze National Park in Poland

Cities

Czech village of Harrachov [1] in the western part of Giant Mountains in the valley of the Mumlava River, is a centre of winter sports and resorts. There is also a cinema and some music clubs. A dominant feature of this town is a huge ski jump.

Szklarska Poręba is the biggest sport centre and spa at the Polish side, although Karpacz is also very popular.

Other destinations

Sněžka-Śnieżka

Sněžka-Śnieżka on the border between Poland and the Czech Republic, the highest peak of the Czech Republic.

Understand

The highest mountain is called Snow Mountain and is located on the Polish-Czech border. At 1,602 meters high, it is the highest mountain of the Czech Republic. There is a restaurant and a chapel on the Polish side. The Elbe River starts near the border - it's the longest river which starts in the Czech Republic.

There is a popular myth about the protector of the mountains, a giant or mountain spirit known as Krakonoš in Czech (Liczyrzepa in Polish).

Giant Mountains

Talk

Get in

Get around

Local buses connect larger mountain towns. For schedules, consult the IDOS timetable. During summer season, there are special tourist bus lines, transporting bikes.

Most useful is the longest route (No. 1, red color), connecting Harrachov, Rokytnice nad Jizerou, Jilemnice, Benecko, Vrchlabí, Janské Lázně, Pec pod Sněžkou and Pomezní boudy. This bus operates twice a day, morning and afternoon. Therefore you can plan a one-way trip by foot and return by bus (or vice-versa).

See

Itineraries

Do

In the summer, you can para-glide, hike, bike, and there is a boathouse on the Elbe dam; you can fish here and play tennis and squash.

Eat

Drink

Stay safe

Go next

Panorama of Giant Mountains from the north (from Poland) in summer
This region article is an extra-hierarchical region, describing a region that does not fit into the hierarchy Wikivoyage uses to organise most articles. These extra articles usually provide only basic information and links to articles in the hierarchy. This article can be expanded if the information is specific to the page; otherwise new text should generally go in the appropriate region or city article.