This is a land of deep forests, peaceful and romantic valleys with clean rivers and streams, vast bogs, mountain meadows and pastures, magical lakes, granite rocks, magnificent views and watch-towers and small castles as well - this is Šumava. It is one of the most beautiful mountain massifs in the Czech Republic spreading along the border with Austria and Germany. Šumava is said to have got its name from the Czech word "šum", meaning "hum", reffering to the sound of the breeze in the trees. It is true that the "green lungs of Europe" (formed together with the neighboring hills on the Bavarian side of the border) is really one of the cleanest locations in Europe. The area is famous for gold mining - mainly near the town of Kašperské Hory, and the production of glass. We can find good examples of folk architecture in the region (Kvilda, Dobrá, Volary, Stachy, Borová Lada) and castles (Vimperk), towers or tower ruins (Velhartice, Kašperk), fine municipal architecture (Prachatice) or remarkable industrial monuments. There are also numerous historic churches.
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