Historic Šumava Site Offered to Investors in Czechia

A large tract of land in the central Šumava Mountains is being offered to investors, opening the door to one of the most ambitious development opportunities in the region in recent years.

The property, known locally as Františkov, stretches across almost 38,000 square metres between Kvilda and Borová Lada. Once home to a 19th-century paper factory, the area also carries a more complex history: wartime accounts suggest that underground workshops may have been used to produce parts for German aircraft during the Second World War. The factory buildings were torn down in the 1950s, but remnants of cellars and waterways remain visible in the landscape today.

The current owner has put the land on the market and entrusted Prague-based auction house GAVLAS with managing the sale. A development concept prepared by ATELIER SAEM is included in the package. The plans envision a small residential quarter of 74 flats combined with cultural and community elements, including a museum recalling the paper mill’s heritage, a small brewery and dining space, as well as landscaped public areas. The proposals emphasize that any new construction should be discreetly integrated into the surroundings, with underground parking and careful attention to environmental standards.

Out of the nearly 38,000 square metres, about 12,000 are classified as buildable, situated within the cultural zone of Šumava National Park. Utility connections are already in place, including power lines and a wastewater treatment facility, and water can be sourced on site. The land is situated outside identified flood areas.

The seller has presented the site as one of the most significant parcels in the central Šumava available for new use, offering both natural beauty and a strong historical identity. For prospective buyers, it represents a rare chance to combine housing, culture and tourism in one of the Czech Republic’s most protected landscapes.