Nové Město pod Smrkem
Nové Město pod Smrkem is a city in North Bohemia.
Understand
Nové Město pod Smrkem is a town at the north foot of Jizera Mountains, near the border with Poland. It was founded in the 16th Century in the vicinity to tin ore mines at the nearby mountain. Later on from the 17th century, when the deposits were depleted, the textile industry become the main source of livelihood.
After the WWII, similarly to other places in this region, most of the original German population was displaced and their houses were taken by Czech and Polish newcomers.
Get in
By car
- From Czech Republic follow the road number 13 to the north. When leaving Frýdlant, turn right to road 291. If you'd like to go by a shorter and smaller road (which is also faster), turn right in Mníšek to the bridge. In Raspenava, turn left (sign to Nové Město pod Smrkem) and you'll come to the road 291 aforementioned. This second way can be difficult to drive in the winter, however when the wind is very strong, it may be a better choice, because the road 13 is very often impassable for hours due to truck crashes.
- Another possibility from Czech Republic may be road 290 from Tanvald. This road is quite small and the maximum speed is reduced, but goes through a nice nature of Jizera Mountains. It's closed in the wintertime, which is mentioned on the signs. If you go this way, turn right in Hejnice and go through Lázně Libverda and Ludvíkov pod Smrkem.
- From Poland, you can come from the east - Świeradów-Zdrój - just follow the road. Or you can arrive from the north, from Zgorzelec - then go to Frýdlant and turn left at the sign. Or you can come from the east from Bogatynia - then again go to Frýdlant, straight on the roundabout and right at the end of the town.
- Parking is possible almost everywhere, there is a parking lot just on the main square.
By Train
Train is usually the fastest way to go by public transport. There are straight trains from Liberec and some more with changing a train in Frýdlant. There are no passenger trains from Poland.
By bus
Some busses are going straight from Liberec, or you can change in Frýdlant. The price is the same as for a train, but the times are usually longer.
Get around
There is no local transport or taxi service, but you can easily walk everywhere on foot. Or you can borrow a bicycle near the pond and start of singletrack trails. However the fee is quite high as they are borrowing high-quality mountain bikes, c. 500 Kč/day.
See
- 🌍 Klinger's mausoleum (follow the road 291 to Świeradów-Zdrój, when you leave the town, you can see a small place for parking on the right in the front of the graveyard. Go through the graveyard and you will see it.). Mausoleum of the founder of the local textile factory.
Do
- 🌍 Singltrek pod Smrkem. Singltrek pod Smrkem is a network of connected singletrack mountain bike trails of different difficulty. You can borrow a bike near the pond at the south-east of the town (look for signs to Jindřichovice pod Smrkem). You can also start on the south, there is a parking lot about 500 m from the border of the town. Some of the tracks cross the border to Poland, to nearby Świeradów-Zdrój.
- 🌍 Smrk. Smrk (1124 m) is the highest mountain of Jizera Mountains on the Czech side. You can climb the view tower on the top (for free), if the weather is nice, you can see all Jizera mountains, Ještěd and even Krkonoše. The trip is about 7 km (one way).
- Cross country skiing. Nové Město pod Smrkem has a network of about 25 km of maintained marked cross country skiing tracks.
- Świeradów-Zdrój in Poland has a cabin lift with skiing possibilities in the winter (one 2.5 km blue slope in 2011). It's about 9 km by car.
- 🌍 Municipal Baths, Ludvíkovská 38. Tu, We, Fr: 14:0-21:00, Sa: 9:00-12:00 and 16:00-21:00, Su: 16:00-21:00. A small swimming pool was re-opened in a historical building after a reconstruction in 2005. Sauna, jacuzzi and wellness services are also available there, as well as low cost accommodation (from 170 Kč / night / bed). 70 Kč / 2 hours.
- 🌍 Kyselka spring ("Sour water") (Follow the blue-marked trail from the main square for about 2 km). A spring of mineral water naturally rich on carbon dioxide, with some tables and benches to do a picnic in the woods.
- Several springs with natural radioactive water are located in the vicinity: 🌍 spring Rafael, located directly at the singletrack mountain bike trail (be careful not to obstruct the bikers when you walk along the track), and 🌍 spring Michael and 🌍 "pond" Samuel nearby.
Buy
- Bring a bottle to Kyselka and get some mineral water.
Eat
- Restaurant "U Zlaté hvězdy", right on the main square. International cuisine.
Sleep
- Hotel Měděnec, from the main square, continue by the road to the south (from the lower side). After c. 200 m you will see the hotel on the left.
- Huts at the local pond and Singletrack start. Ask in the local pub.
Go next
Nové Město pod Smrkem is a good starting point for hiking and cycling in Jizera mountains. Because it's not well-known, you can enjoy hiking/cycling in the nature without meeting many people. It's also possible to go corss-countrying, but be prepared for going upwards a lot before reaching the main mountain range. Also the castles in Frýdlant and Czocha (near Leśna) may be worth visiting.