Harrachov without barriers

A nice day trip through our beautiful mountain town Harrachov is passable by electric and mechanical wheelchair. From the bus station, where there is a new public toilet and where you can park, you will pass the Šindelka Museum (which is unfortunately not yet wheelchair accessible) and head to the nearby Meet Point Bistro Mumlava. They have wheelchair access and good food and drink.

Further on, after the bridge over the Harrachov bypass, the path leads about 800 m along the blue tourist mark through the forest and climbs gently up to the famous Mumlava waterfall. This route is popular with all visitors to the Krkonoše.

You will reach the Log Cabin U Lišáka, where the entrance is by stairs and the toilet is not wheelchair accessible, but there are tables and benches outside by the road and the staff is always willing to help the handicapped.

Directly opposite the refreshment U Lišáka is the path down the hill to the Mumlava waterfall, quite steep at the very beginning. Although the Krkonoše National Park has already levelled the waterfall and repaired the road, there are rocks here and there that you have to go around with a trolley. There is a footbridge at the waterfall, and there are a few stones at the entrance, but it is manageable, although better with assistance. The wheelchair cannot get down to the water, but from the footbridge there is a beautiful view of the waterfall.

Along the road just above the waterfall, you can see interesting so-called "giant pots" or sometimes "cauldrons", carved out of the granite bedrock of the Mumlava River by water and rocks. In summer, this is a favourite spot for hardy people.

From the bistro U Lišáka continue to the right, on the flat, about 2 km along a pleasant forest road called Harrachova cesta. At the Norma market, take the trolley around the main road a bit, in the direction of the only chimney in Harrachov, the glassworks chimney.

After about 200 m, we peek into the chapel of St. Elizabeth, which has a glass bell in its tower, and we are at the oldest glassworks in Bohemia and supposedly in the world - the full name of the Novosad and Son glassworks and microbrewery. By prior arrangement (by calling 481528141) it is possible to arrange a tour not only in Czech, but also in German or English. You will get into the operation of the glassworks and can observe our skilled glassmakers at the annealing furnaces. It's an absolutely extraordinary experience.

In the courtyard of the glassworks there is an entrance to the glass museum, where there are over 5000 beautiful exhibits of local fragile creations. With a trolley you can take the elevator.

The restaurant and microbrewery are unfortunately full of stairs. They do have an elevator, but only a freight one. However, you can buy excellent yeast beer to go at the glasshouse reception. There is also an accessible toilet near the reception.

From the glassworks we will go downhill to the bobsleigh track about 300 m away. The walk around is wheelchair accessible, they have a tree "bot tree", a ropeway suspended in the trees and seating is outside on the terrace. Unfortunately there is no toilet here.

Through the Anenské valley you will reach the fountain and the statue of St. John of Nepomuk, where there is a newly built Priessnitz paddling pool. We will continue past the large menhirs by the chairlift to the famous Beerhouse U Krtka. You can only sit outside, the entrance to the beer hall is blocked by one rather high step.

From there we will go up the hill to the Church of St. Wenceslas, where there are also many steps inside, but a beautiful view of the Devil's Mountain and the ski jumps. Just for the record, the church has recently been decorated with three new bells, named God, St. Wenceslas and Mary.

From here it is only a short walk, past the KRNAP Information Centre (tel. 481529188), back to the bus station. On the way, stop by the interesting rose of healing menhirs in front of the Ski Centrum Hotel. Walk around the stones three times, think of your wishes coming true, ask for help and say thank you.

You get to the bus station and right at the beginning there is an interesting little Ski Museum with a wheelchair ramp. Here you can buy a tiny wooden Krakonos as a souvenir.

A new barrier-free self-cleaning toilet is currently being finished and lined with wood on the platform.

Harrachov is a nice mountain town situated at an altitude of less than 700 m above sea level. The first written records date back to 1720 and the permanent population is about 1300. So, stop by sometime, or else - as they say in the Giant Mountains:

"Come and stay!"

Maruška Harcubová