Gratzen Mountains

The Gratzen Mountains stretch along the border between Austria and the Czech Republic, forming a low range within a triangle of towns including České Budějovice, Freistadt and Gmünd. On the Austrian side they are called the Freiwald, while the Czech section is known as the Novohradské hory. The range covers roughly 20 by 30 kilometres and separates the Granite and Gneiss Highland from the northern lowlands. Its highest summit, the Viehberg near Sandl, reaches 1,112 metres, with sixteen other peaks exceeding 1,000 metres. Thirteen of these taller mountains lie in Austria and three in Bohemia. The region remained largely cut off after the Second World War when residents were forced to leave and the Iron Curtain closed the border. After reopening, waymarked trails and basic tourist facilities were restored across the range. About three quarters of the area is covered by coniferous and deciduous forest, and autumn gales often sweep the ridges. Five rivers rise in the mountains, including the Lainsitz and the Malše, feeding clear streams that cut through quiet valleys. Walkers can follow well-signed paths that lead to viewpoints such as the Tischstein and Nebelstein. The Freiwald section crosses from Unterhaid and Leopoldschlag towards Sandl, where the main ridge turns north. On the Czech side, protected areas like the Žofínský prales contain ancient woodland untouched for centuries. The Terčino údolí and Hojná Voda offer secluded spots beside mountain streams, while the summit of the Viehberg provides wide views over the surrounding highlands.