The Bavarian Forest and Czech Šumava together form the largest protected forest in Central Europe — Germany's oldest national park on one side, a Czech national park on the other, and a border that runs invisibly through the trees. Add a summit with a chapel, glacial lakes under cliffs, and a walkway through the canopy, and you have wilderness with easy access.
1. Großer Arber summit
1,456 m, cable car access · Map ↗
The highest peak of the range, with a chapel, rounded rock outcrops and views over both countries. A cable car does the climbing.
2. Treetop Walkway, Neuschönau
National park centre · Map ↗
A 1,300-metre walkway through and above the canopy, ending in a spiral tower — accessible, and unlike anything at ground level.
3. Großer Arbersee
Below the summit · Map ↗
A dark glacial lake under cliffs with floating islands of moss — atmospheric in mist, mirror-like at dawn.
4. Bayerisch Eisenstein station
On the border · Map ↗
A railway station literally divided by the Czech-German border, with a line painted through it. A charming, quirky frame for a cross-border couple.
5. The primeval forest trails
National park · Map ↗
Deadwood, moss and regrowth — a landscape deliberately left to itself, and photographically extraordinary in fog.
One forest, two countries
You can walk from Bavaria into Bohemia on marked trails at several points. For couples from either country — or from anywhere, really — a proposal on a border where a forest simply continues is a quietly lovely idea.
National park rules
Both sides are national parks: marked paths only, no drones, no fires. The rules are strict and the reason the forest looks the way it does. Everything worth photographing is reachable on the trail network anyway.
Frequently asked questions
How far is the Bavarian Forest from Prague?
About two and a half to three hours by car depending on the crossing. From the Czech side, Železná Ruda sits right on the border next to Bayerisch Eisenstein.
Is the Arber summit hard to reach?
No — a cable car runs from Brennes to just below the summit, and the final stretch is a short walk on a good path.
Is the treetop walkway suitable in winter?
It generally operates year-round with seasonal hours, and snow in the canopy is beautiful. Check current opening times before planning around it.
Can you fly a drone there?
No. Drone flight is prohibited in both the Bavarian Forest and Šumava national parks.