Lesy ČR have built 31 emergency shelters across the country, where it is possible to stay overnight

Hradec Králové - The state enterprise Lesy České republiky (Forests of the Czech Republic) built 31 emergency shelters for tourists last year. They are mostly located in remote areas where commercial or other accommodation is not available. People can rest in the wooden structures, wait out a snowstorm or thunderstorm, or even spend a night in them. Eva Jouklová, the enterprise’s spokesperson, said this today. The Forests of the Czech Republic manage nearly half of the forests in the country.

The shelters were built at a cost of 6.85 million crowns as part of the "Forests for Life" program. There are two types; most of the structure is made of spruce wood. The more common type is a shelter with an enclosed sleeping area and seating in the ground floor. The second type is intended for mountainous areas. It has an A-frame shape, with benches and a table inside and a raised platform at the back for sleeping. In both types, up to four people can spend the night.

According to foresters, tourists began using the shelters right from the first days after their completion. "Since we do not keep any records of shelter users, it cannot be said whether more people spend the night in them or just rest temporarily," the spokesperson said. People should follow several rules while using the shelters. Tourists must take their trash with them, they can only spend the night once, and open fires or smoking are not allowed in the shelter or its surroundings. There is also a rule that the shelter has space for more people, not just for a couple.

The first shelter was built by the foresters at the end of 2023 above the settlement of Severní in the Šluknov Hook, about two kilometers from the northernmost point of the Czech Republic. The last two emergency shelters were created last December in the Vysočina region near Jihlava and in southern Moravia near Bítov. Tourists can use the shelters, for example, when crossing the country along the Via Czechia trails or while wandering along the Trail of the Czech Republic.

The foresters are not stopping with the construction of shelters. "Tourism and relaxation in nature have our support, so we are continuing this project. We have identified additional locations and are also planning emergency camping sites for tents," said the general director of the enterprise, Dalibor Šafařík.