HISTORY: LUČNÍ BOUDA

If there is a place that perfectly symbolizes the history of the Krkonoše Mountains, it is precisely Luční bouda.

It stands at an elevation of 1,410 meters on Bílá louka between Sněžka and Studniční hora and has withstood the harsh mountain weather for centuries.

It is the oldest mountain hut in the Krkonoše Mountains, one of the largest in the Czech Republic, and a place around which countless stories, legends, and significant historical events still revolve today.

The history of Luční bouda dates back to the first half of the 17th century. During the building’s reconstruction in 1869, a stone bearing the date 1623—or 1625, according to some sources—was discovered. This year is generally considered the beginning of continuous settlement at the site.

Historians believe that the structure at that time did not resemble what we know today. It was likely a simple wooden mountain hut serving shepherds and people traveling along the old trade routes between Bohemia and Silesia. Later, it was rebuilt into a sturdier stone structure better able to withstand the Krkonoše winters.

Several legends also surround the origins of Luční bouda. One tells of a young married couple who fled to the mountains in search of religious freedom and built a new home on Bílá louka. The second legend speaks of two noble brothers who, after a family dispute, reconciled and built a shelter for pilgrims on the site to protect them from the dangers of the mountains.

Whatever the truth may be, it is certain that Luční bouda very soon became an important stop on the mountain trails.

The first documented owner was Christoph Erben, who purchased the lodge in 1707 from the Vrchlabí estate of the Counts of Morzin. The purchase included not only the buildings themselves but also the surrounding meadows, pastures, and farming rights.

Even back then, the lodge was not merely a farm. It also served as a shelter for merchants, pilgrims, and travelers crossing the mountain ridges. This is evidenced by contracts from that time, which required the owners to provide food and lodging.

After Erben, a succession of innkeepers took over—the Bradlers, Renners, Hollmanns, and Härings. Each of them contributed to the development of the lodge and its gradual expansion.

The greatest boom came at the end of the 19th century, when the enterprising Bönsch family took over the lodge. By that time, the first tourists were beginning to discover the Krkonoše Mountains, and Luční bouda was becoming one of the most important mountain hotels in the region.

The Bönsch family invested in modernization, expanding accommodation capacity, and improving services. The lodge offered a level of comfort that was exceptional by the mountain standards of the time.

At the turn of the century, more than sixty employees worked here. Up to eight hundred hot meals and a similar number of cold dishes were prepared daily. In the summer, dozens of head of cattle grazed in the surrounding meadows, and milk was brought in from nearby mountain huts for the kitchen’s needs.

It was during this period that Luční bouda also became a hub for the burgeoning sport of skiing.

At the beginning of the 20th century, the area around Luční bouda was among the best ski terrains in the entire Krkonoše Mountains. Contemporary chronicles describe this place as a veritable “university of skiing.”

Skiers set out from here toward Studniční hora, Luční hora, Obří bouda, or Špindlerův Mlýn. The vast plains offered ideal conditions for both beginners and experienced athletes.

It is no coincidence that the Krkonoše Mountains became the cradle of Czech skiing and Luční bouda was one of its main centers.

The year 1938 left a significant mark on the history of Luční bouda. On the night of October 1–2, a massive fire engulfed the building, nearly destroying it.

To this day, it is not entirely clear how the fire started. One version blames retreating Czechoslovak soldiers, while another attributes the blame to members of the Sudeten German Freikorps. The only certainty is that the damage was enormous, and only parts of the walls remained of the building.

Nevertheless, the locals did not give up. Reconstruction began almost immediately, and with the help of substantial financial resources, the lodge was rebuilt within a few years.

During the war, Luční bouda took on a completely different function. A prisoner-of-war camp was established on its premises, and the building was also used to train the Hitler Youth and other branches of the Nazi regime.

After the war, the lodge was occupied by the Czechoslovak Army and the National Guard. At that time, the Krkonoše Mountains were going through a difficult period marked by population transfers and changes in ownership.

Today, Luční bouda is one of the most visited sites in the Krkonoše National Park. It is a popular destination for hikers heading to Sněžka, cross-country skiers, cyclists, and lovers of mountain history.

Although it has undergone many transformations, it still retains its unique character. It offers lodging, a restaurant, its own brewery, and the chance to glimpse the history of a place that has survived wars, fires, mountain storms, and hundreds of harsh winters.

When visitors today climb up to Bílá louka and the imposing silhouette of Luční bouda appears before them, few realize they are standing on a site whose story began more than four centuries ago.

It is precisely this history, intertwined with the beautiful landscape of the Krkonoše Mountains, that makes Luční bouda one of the most significant and impressive places in the entire Krkonoše region

Source: History of the Krkonoše Mountain Huts (published by the Krkonoše National Park Administration in 2016)