Discover the Peaks and Valleys of the Czech Republic

First, let’s clarify which village holds the title of the highest village. There are numerous contenders, with Jizerka in the Jizera Mountains and Malá Úpa in the Giant Mountains being the most talked about. For instance, one article claims that “…Malá Úpa is the highest village in our country. In its cadastre lies Sněžka.” While this second statement is accurate, the first one is misleading: the criteria for the highest village are based not on the highest altitude within its cadastral area, but rather on the locations of the municipal office, church, and post office. As a result, Malá Úpa, which stands at an elevation of 1,041 metres above sea level, is outdone by Kvilda, which is perched at 1,065 metres above sea level.

So, what about Jizerka? If you take a closer look, you’ll discover it is located between the Vlašský Ridge and the Middle Jizera Ridge at an altitude of 862 metres. This makes Jizerka the highest settlement within the Jizera Mountains, but it does not hold that title for the entire Czech Republic. This charming settlement, featuring just a few buildings, does boast other notable records, such as being one of the coldest spots in the country. You can only reach it by car through a single road coming from Horní Polubný.

Other top places

Now, you might be thinking, if Kvilda is the highest, what other places could possibly be considered high? The twist, however, is that everyone loves to chase records, leading to the inclusion of the settlement Filipova Hut, which ranks as the highest settlement in the Czech Republic at an elevation of 1,093 metres. But it is not an independent location; rather, it is a part of the Šumava region belonging to Modrava. Additionally confusing the rankings is Boží Dar in the Ore Mountains, recognized as our highest town and reaching an altitude of 1,028 metres, making it the highest town not only in the Czech Republic but also in Central Europe.

A trip up the mountains and down to the plains

The highest natural point remains Sněžka, specifically the area on the Czech-Polish border in the Krkonoše Mountains. Interestingly, this point is about 3.5 metres away from the very top of Sněžka, as it is technically situated in Poland. However, when it comes to the highest artificial point, that title goes to the top of the transmitter at Praděd (1,491 metres) in the Jeseníky Mountains. Its apex reaches skyward at an impressive altitude of 1,638 metres. Unfortunately, regular visitors cannot reach that height; the highest accessible point for the general public on Praděd is the observation platform, which stands 73 metres above the ground at an altitude of 1,564 metres, allowing for splendid views of the distant Krkonoše Mountains or even the High Tatras on clear days.

In contrast, the lowest point in the country can be found along the banks of the Elbe River at the border with Germany near Hřensko. Although there are varying reports on its altitude, the lowest commonly cited figure is 115 metres.

Is it possible to go even lower? Surprisingly, yes! You would need to venture to the bottom of pit 16 of the former uranium mines in Příbram, which lies at a staggering depth of 1,838 metres below the earth’s surface, or visit the bottom of the Bílina brown coal quarry near Bílina, which has an approximate altitude of just 20 metres.