ŽACLÉŘ

The cleanest air in the Czech Republic, well-developed road and mountain biking, hiking, ski resorts, cross-country skiing trails, golf, dam, historical, technical and cultural monuments = excellent destination for relaxation and active leisure in the beautiful nature of the Giant Mountains, Rýchorský forest, Crow Mountains, with lots of forests, meadows and paths.

The eastern gate of the Giant Mountains...

Guide to the attractions and beauty of the region in pdf form

Praha - 152 km / 1 h 53 min

Mladé Buky - 11 km / 14 min

Janské Lázně - 16 km / 21 min

Pec pod Sněžkou - 23 km / 28 min

Adršpašské skály - 35 km / 42 min

Špindlerův Mlýn - 47 km / 53 min

Wrocław - 113 km / 1 h 31 min

General information

Žacléř is a charming historic town with excellent conditions for year-round recreation, with a long-standing orientation towards tourism. It was founded in the 13th century, it includes the Beaver, Prkenný Důl, Černá Voda and Rýchory - they form a unique formation, with an elevation between the lowest and highest point of 550 m, the highest is the "Rýchory Forest" 1033 m above sea level.

The historic centre of the town was declared a conservation area in 2003. There are many technical, historical, cultural monuments, the City Museum with 4 permanent expositions and thematic exhibitions.

For the last 30 years, this vibrant, well-managed town has focused on year-round recreation and nurturing the quality of life of its residents. It is undergoing a systematic reconstruction (square, roads, paths), has good transport accessibility and many possibilities for leisure activities, see the tourist information centre. Nearby there is a golf course and a water reservoir, a zoo, etc. The town organises regular concerts of jazz and classical music, art exhibitions, folk craft days and bicycle races. It is a great place for relaxation and active recreation in any season. 

The entire Krkonoše Mountains from Harrachov to Žacléř is crossed by the 71 km long Krkonoše Highway. It is followed by more than 500 km of local ski trails and circuits. Cross-country trails with extraordinary views of the Krkonoše panorama.  There are two ski areas.


History of the town

The first written mention of a settlement below Scheczler Castle (Žacléř), which was called Bornfloss (On the Spring), dates back to 1352. It disappeared after the Hussite invasions between 1421 and 1426. Later the town was named Bernstadt or Berenstadt (Bernart's town, bear town). The bear in the town's coat of arms may have its origin in this name. Schatzlar, the name of the castle and the manor, was gradually transferred to the town and became official in the second half of the 19th century. 

Already in the 18th century and especially in the 19th century the first brick townhouses were built, which gradually replaced the wooden buildings. There were inns, shops, school No. 181 - today's town office. In 1912 - 1914 the building of the district court No. 10, today the Žacléř Municipal Museum, was built on the site of the old town hall. Today's Rýchorské Square with adjacent streets is the historical centre of the town. 

Rýchorské náměstí is dominated by the Marian Column, the work of the Baroque sculptor Jiří František Pacák. It dates from the reign of the Jesuits and was completed in 1725. On the top of the column is a statue of the Virgin Mary, in the central part are depicted St. Dominic, St. Bernard and St. Jerome. In the foreground towards the eastern side is a statue of St Ignatius of Loyola, the founder of the Jesuit Order. Near the house No. 116 there is a statue of St. Florian, the patron saint of firefighters, by an unknown artist. 

On 2 July 1766, Emperor Joseph II. This monarch visited Žacléř twice and in his honour a stone stele with his portrait, a sculpture by the Viennese sculptor Georg Leiska, was placed on the square in 1908. As time went by, opinions changed and various renowned personalities took turns on the stone statue. In 1923, the sculpture of Joseph II was replaced by a likeness of the poet Friedrich Schiller, and after World War II, Schiller was replaced by Julius Fučík, who soon had to make way for J. A. Komenský. In 2005, the sculpture of Joseph II returned to its original place. 

King Friedrich II of Prussia also stayed in Žacléř during the Silesian Wars in 1778, where he finished his memoirs of the poet Voltaire - Eloge de Voltaire. In 1900, the young Josef Čapek, who attended the German school here, stayed in the former inn at the German House No. 118.