The Czech Mountains - Cross-country skiing
December 28, 2010 - Skiing is more than racing fast downhill the slopes at ski resorts. The Czech mountains are also excellent for downhill's more meditative cousin, cross-country skiing.
Boží Dar in the Ore Mountains (Krušné Hory) you will find the "Baby Jesus Trail" - a 12km trail featuring several activities for children along the route. It's name comes from the fact that Czech children's Christmas presents are brought by "Baby Jesus." Of course, there are plenty of other trails nearby as well, including several circuits into Germany.
Real die-hards will appreciate the "Ore Mountain Highway" - a 242km trail along the ridgetops used by skiers in the winter and bicyclists in the summer. Of course you don't have to travel the whole stretch from Skalka in the east to Cheb in the west, but it does pass through the famous thermal spa town of Františkovy Lázně and the town of Kraslice, known for its musical instrument manufacture.
Another winter paradise awaits you at the other end of the country, in the Bohemian Forest (Šumava). These mountains in southwestern Bohemia feature hundreds of downhill runs and hundreds of kilometers of cross-country trails. The little village of Kvilda is a strategic point where several routes come togehter, as is Modrava. Another cross-country center is Prášilka near Lipno lake, the country's largest reservoir.
You will also find unforgettable moments near the town of Železná Ruda on the German border. Not far from here, there are two magnificient frozen lakes, with cross-country routes leading straight across them. After you have worked up an appetite, make sure to stop in at the Charlotte sweetshop, whose cakes are renowned throughout the region.
The Beskid moutains in eastern Moravia are another excellent site for cross-country skiing. Here, you will find more than 100 kilometers of maintained trails. Many Czechs also head to the Czech-Moravian highlands known as Vysočina. This area is not too far from Prague, and there are excellent trails near the town of Žďár.
The Giant Mountains (Krkonoše) are best known for downhill skiing, but cross-country skiers will find something here as well. The nearby Jizera Mountains are also popular: Every year, they are home to the largest Czech cross-country tournament, the Jizery Fifty. In 2011, it will be held for the 44th time.
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