Wandering through Hrčava
To the border area: 5 km
Follow the yellow tourist sign from the center of the village to the place where the borders of three states meet. The place is marked by three granite monoliths, there is a log cabin tourist rest area nearby. We continue to Poland along the green sign to Trzycatek (refreshments, indoor swimming pool) and then the yellow sign to Hrčava.
Following the traces of history: 2 km
After refreshments in local pubs, we head to the so-called Lourdes Cave: in the place above which supposedly healing water springs, healing eyesight, there is a stone altar with a Madonna. The access is marked from the playground at the entrance to the village. Then we head uphill along the yellow tourist trail to the regional mini museum in the elementary school, we can see the wooden church of Cyril and Methodius from 1936. Every year on July 5th, the Cyril and Methodius pilgrimage takes place here.
“Around the Tri-Border Borders: 10 km”
Hrčava (yellow tourist trail) - Trojmezí Cz/Pl (further green trail) - Jaworzynka (refreshments, indoor swimming pool) - Jaworzynka-Kotelnice (further black trail) - Čadečka Pl/Sk (further blue trail) - Čierné (train stop, refreshments) - Hrčava (following the green and then yellow trail).
Access
• by car, from the E75 road Český Těšín-Třinec-Jablunkov-Mosty u Jablunkova, turn right after Jablunkov along the old road through the village of Mosty u Jablunkova towards Hrčava
• by train, bus. To the Mosty u Jablunkova railway station, from there take the bus to Hrčava
Monument to the Last Wolf in the Beskydy
Wild wolf howls in the moonlit region on a full moon night. Wolf packs stalking the tracks of game for tens of kilometers in the vast forests of the Beskydy. Shepherds protecting their flocks of sheep from wolves. And all similar scenes with wolves in our mountains are long dead. And even though there are no longer mountain shepherds with their flocks or endless wild forests, wolves are returning to the Beskydy wilderness, that is, to what is still left here.
More than a hundred years have passed since March 5, 1914, when the last wolf in the Beskydy mountain range was shot near the tri-border in the village of Hrčava. However, in the third millennium, wolves are returning and heading more and more westward, slowly inhabiting the passes, valleys and mountain saddles of our mountains and looking further afield. In recent years, wolves have occasionally appeared in the Jeseníky Mountains or Šumava. The movement and behavior of wolves in the Beskydy Mountains is monitored by the Duha movement, composed mainly of naturalists and enthusiasts who organize so-called "wolf patrols".
A witness to this gloomy stage of wilderness, when wolves were hunted in the Czech lands, as in most of Europe, is still standing in the village of Hrčava. This monument commemorates the times when the Beskydy wolf home was desolate and orphaned. This monument can be found not far from the bus stop "Hrčava, Gavlonka". From this stop, head towards the village of Mosty u Jablunkova and after approximately five hundred meters, you will find a forest path that heads from the main road to the right into the forests. From here, a red tourist sign continues, which will lead you to the stone monument. Next to the monument, there is a tourist shelter where you can eat your snack.
You can also combine this trip with a trip to Trojmezí, because the place is located about two kilometers from the Hrčava center.
GPS coordinates of the monument of the last wolf: 49.5267528N, 18.8185342E
Want a more detailed description of the place? Check out the map here.
Take a short trip by bus, train or car and see beyond the borders of our republic
If you want to save a little time, get on a bus, train or car and take a short trip. We offer you a few more tips on how to plan your trip and you can even visit some places beyond the borders of our republic.
A trip through three countries from Trojmezí
Another trip that we would like to recommend to you is an original trip through three countries. It is associated with tasting Czech, Polish and Slovak beer, traditional regional specialties of the three countries, three currencies in your wallet and three languages, in which, however, the unique Gorol dialect is intertwined. The starting point can be, for example, Hrčava, which you can reach by bus from the center of the village of Mosty u Jablunkova. From Hrčava, after about 2 km on the yellow tourist trail, you will arrive at Trojmezí – the place where the borders of the three states of the Czech Republic, Poland and Slovakia meet. From Trojmezí, the green tourist trail leads to Jaworzynka in Poland. From Jaworzynka, you will continue along the green trail to the border with the Slovak Republic. At the border, connect with the blue tourist trail and continue through the former fortifications on the hill of Vala “Malé šance” to the Slovak village of Čierne – train stop, refreshments. From the stop in Čierne, the green tourist trail leads back to Hrčava. From Hrčava, take the bus to Mosty u Jablunkova, or you can walk there via Gírová and Studeničná.
Our tip
In Hrčava, in addition to Trojmezí, you can also visit a wooden church from 1936, or go to refresh yourself with water that supposedly has healing effects at the Lourdes cave. You can find it in a forest just off the main road leading to Mosty u Jablunkova.
Through Hrčava to Poland and back
If you enjoyed traveling across the borders of our region, you can try another interesting trip. Don't forget to pack a few zlotys in your wallet in addition to Czech crowns and you can set off on your journey. From the center of the village of Mosty u Jablunkova, take the bus to Hrčava. From Hrčava, continue on foot along the yellow tourist trail to Trojmezí. There, cross the border with Poland and continue along the green tourist trail to Jaworzynka, Poland. In Jaworzynka, take the bus and drive via Istebná to Wisła. In Wisła, see the city's attractions and then take the bus in the direction of Wisła-Łabajów to the cable car that will take you to Stožek, 200m from the tourist hut. After refreshments, continue along the blue and then the red tourist trail to the Bahenec hotel. From Bahenec, follow the blue tourist trail through the village of Písečná to Jablunkov to the bus stop. From the bus stop, a bus will take you to Mosty u Jablunkova.
A trip around the triple border via Istebná
Drive via Jablunkov to Bukovec to the border crossing. The former customs house now houses the "House of Three Nations", where art lovers can admire paintings in the Kukuczka Gallery or sit in a cozy café. Continue to Poland, turn left at the roundabout in Jaworzynka and at the end of a long climb you will reach the center of Istebná with the main intersection. From the intersection on the left you will reach the information center and the Church of the Good Shepherd. If you drive straight through the intersection (direction Wisła), then visit the "Center for Ecological Education" with an engaging exhibition depicting life in our forests. Continue to the intersection by the gas station, turn right and you will arrive at the Zagroň Hotel. There you will find pleasant seating, an indoor water park and wellness services. If you turn right from the main intersection in the center of Istebna towards Koniaków, visit the Jan Kawulok Kurna Museum and Cottage along the way. Then continue to the intersection, here turn left on the main road to Koniaków. After 2 km, you will see the Piotr Kohut Cottage on your left, with a shop selling regional products and sheep cheese. Almost next to the Cottage is the Lace Museum (Koronki) and almost opposite the Szance Gallery. From the Cottage, continue along the main road to the half-timbered Ochodzita Hotel and take a 15-minute walk to the Ochodzitej Peak with a magnificent view of the region. To return home, continue along the road for about 3 km and turn right towards Zwardoń. Here you enter Slovakia and drive through Skalité, Čierne and Svrčinovec until you reach the Czech Republic again, at Mosty u Jablunkova. You can find other interesting tips for exploring Istebna on the village website and in the information center.
Visit the tri-border point at Filipka, where three villages meet
From Mosty u Jablunkova, take the train to Návsí and from there continue along the yellow tourist trail to the tri-border point at Filipka, where three villages meet – Návsí, Hrádek and Nýdek. You will have wonderful panoramic views ahead. From the top, continue left to the tourist hut. There are several paths leading from Filipka to all directions. We offer you at least one of them, which you can use to return to Mosty u Jablunkova. From Filipka, follow the green tourist trail until you reach the Energetika hut in Hrádek. From the hut, continue along the green trail until you reach the center of the village of Hrádek. From Hrádek, there are trains that will take you all the way to Mosty u Jablunkova.
A visit to the easternmost point of the Czech Republic
Are you one of those who love nature and want to "slow down or stop" or even "switch off"? Then take our tip for a pleasant walk to the easternmost point of the Czech Republic.
Let us invite you to visit the new nature trail in Bukovec. The trail is located in a pleasant environment on the edge of the Bukovec Olecky nature reserve, which is made up of peat meadows with rare plants. Then you will come across a small forest, through which you will walk to the easternmost point of the Czech Republic. Here you can take a picture at the memorial stone, see the world traveler's signpost, relax on a bench or refresh yourself in the mountain stream, which is reached by a wooden footbridge. There are information boards along the entire route, from which you will learn a lot of interesting things about the history of the village, the way of life of the local gorols, interesting facts about the world of animals, plants and much more. The trail is intended for pedestrians. Given its length of 500 m and calm profile, it is truly intended for all age categories, even small children can conquer it without any problems.
And how do you get to the easternmost point? We recommend walking for locals and "cross-country" visitors, but it is also possible to go by car. From the border crossing with Poland "Bukovec - Jasnowice", follow the directional arrows to the parking lot by the trail. If you leave your car parked at the border crossing, you will extend your hike by about 800 m. On the way back, don't forget to stop at the fun Kempaland! In this Kempaland area, visitors can enjoy a year-round entertainment program. In summer, there are bungee trampolines, summer tubing, a children's playground, and outdoor barbecues. In winter, you can enjoy skiing with everything you need. In addition to the large ski lift, there is also a children's ski park for the little ones. You can have fun while snowtubing, riding a dog sled or riding a horse-drawn sleigh (so-called kulig), etc. Then stop by the bistro by the ski lift for a coffee or something tasty to eat.
Before you set off on the trips we have prepared for you
Before you set off on a journey to explore the region, take a walk through our village of Mosty u Jablunkova. It is the crossroads of many hiking and cycling routes and you will have a pleasant time here.
In the center of the village, a short distance behind the church, in a newly renovated stylish wooden house from 1790, the Gorolské Tourist Information Center is located. Its employees will be happy to welcome you and provide you with all kinds of interesting information. The offer for tourists includes various promotional materials, guides and maps. You can buy souvenirs with a regional theme in the shop. For lovers of folklore and traditions, exhibitions of folk artists, artists and photographers are held in the wooden house all year round, and there is no shortage of thematic exhibitions and fairs. An interesting activity is the local so-called Gorol Days, where you can try out traditional handicrafts yourself, but under the supervision of experienced folk artists. Before you enter the wooden house, don't forget to take a picture with a model of characters in the local Gorol costume. This way you can easily take an unconventional picture that will always remind you of the pleasant moments spent in our village.
Another helper that will be useful when wandering around our region is a mobile guide, which you can download for free to your phone via Bluetooth directly at the information center.
After about 500 m along the red mark from the center of the village, you will arrive at the local Ski Resort, where a whole range of attractions await visitors young and old. Many of them are available all year round. In winter, the Ski Resort offers skiers and lovers of all winter sports 3 illuminated, groomed slopes and an equally well-maintained and illuminated circuit of cross-country skiing trails, whether those in the immediate vicinity or those that can be used to go to the surrounding area.