HISTORY: MARTINOVKA
It is one of the most picturesque mountain huts in the Krkonoše Mountains. It stands on the southeastern slope of Vysoké Kolo, just a short distance below the national border.
Today, a popular hiking trail runs past Martinovka, connecting Labská bouda with the Brádlerovy Budy and Medvědí koleno areas. Few people realize, however, that the history of this place dates back to the late 18th century.
Although there are occasional references to its founding as early as 1642 by Protestant refugees, historical maps do not support this theory. The year 1795 is therefore considered the true founding of Martinovka, when Martin Erlebach from nearby Krausovy Budy built a mountain hut here on land belonging to the Harrachov estate. Martinovka is named after him.
Originally, it served primarily as a shepherd’s hut. In the first half of the 19th century, farmers grazed dozens of head of cattle and several goats here. The pastures stretched across a vast area between the state border and the Vrchlabí estate.
Today’s Martinovka was not the only building in this area. Originally, there were three huts in this mountain enclave—Stará Martinovka, Nová Martinovka, and the smaller Wanzerlova, later also known as Rennerova bouda.
A significant figure in the history of Martinovka was Johann Lauer, who in 1879 converted the original farm hut into an inn with modest accommodations for the first visitors to the mountains. In addition to raising livestock, potatoes were also grown here—reportedly on the highest-altitude fields in the entire Krkonoše Mountains.
At the beginning of the 20th century, however, the protection of the mountain environment began to gain importance. The Harrach family therefore had the two surrounding huts demolished so that the original dwarf pine stands could be restored. Martinovka thus remained the only preserved structure in this part of the mountains.
One of the saddest events in the history of Martinovka occurred on March 22, 1900.
Two sons of the innkeeper, Johann Lauer, set out over the ridge to gather wood. On their way back, however, they were caught in a violent snowstorm. In the heavy snowfall, fog, and strong winds, they lost their bearings and missed the then-imperfect pole markings.
Despite all the efforts of the family and rescuers, both boys were not found until the following day. One of them was already dead; the other succumbed to his injuries shortly thereafter. The tragedy deeply affected the residents of the mountain huts and the entire surrounding area, and to this day serves as a reminder of just how unpredictable the Krkonoše ridges can be.
Martinovka also made history as the site of an exceptional natural science project.
In 1906, Jan Buchar—a well-known teacher, promoter of tourism, and pioneer of Czech skiing—established an extensive botanical garden here with the support of Count Harrach. On an area of nearly 1,000 square meters, he cultivated mountain plants and studied the flora of the Krkonoše Mountains.
Unfortunately, World War I destroyed the garden. It was not until the 1930s that Professor Karel Kavina, a prominent Czech botanist and frequent visitor to the Krkonoše Mountains, restored it.
After 1912, Martinovka began to rapidly transform into a modern mountain hotel. The new tenant, Otakar Hloušek, expanded the building and constructed fourteen rooms, five of which were heated.
In the 1920s and 1930s, Martinovka became a popular destination for tourists, skiers, artists, and members of First Republic society. It offered more than fifty beds and was among the most sought-after mountain lodges in the central Krkonoše Mountains.
After the annexation of the Sudetenland in 1938, the Hollmann brothers from Jelení Budy took over Martinovka. During World War II, the lodge served as a recreational and convalescent facility for German Luftwaffe pilots.
After the war, the property returned to the Czechoslovak state and gradually resumed serving tourists.
There is also an interesting fact associated with Martinovka that surprises many visitors. According to available accounts, future tennis legend Martina Navrátilová stayed here shortly after her birth. Her father worked at the lodge as a caretaker at the time, and it is said that she was named after Martinovka.
Today, Martinovka is a popular stop for tourists heading to the ridges of the Krkonoše Mountains. It offers unique views, the tranquility of mountain nature, and at the same time serves as a reminder of the rich history of life in the highest Czech mountains.
Every stone, every path, and the surrounding mountain meadows here tell the story of generations of hut keepers, shepherds, tourists, and people who, in the harsh conditions of the Krkonoše Mountains, managed to create a place that has retained its charm to this day.
Source: History of the Krkonoše Mountain Huts
