The Czech Tourist Club, a group of avid hikers and hiking enthusiasts, owns fascinating chalets located in unique spots throughout the Czech countryside. Ladislav Macka, the club’s vice-chairman, presents these individual chalets.
The Na Čiháku tourist chalet is situated in the picturesque landscape of the Eagle Mountains. What is its history?
This chalet is nestled in a truly stunning landscape, located near the Zemská brána (Land’s Gate) natural reserve. This is the spot where the Divoká Orlice River flows from the Polish border, carving through the ridge of the Eagle Mountains toward Klášterec nad Orlicí, forming a valley that is now a natural monument and a genuine tourist attraction. The Na Čiháku chalet is positioned right on the border with Poland, in an area named from the word “číhati” (lurk), as it was once a place where people used to lurk for smugglers.
Originally, there was a mill at the site, which was transformed into an inn and operated for many years. This inn, called Na mlýně, an already old structure, was purchased by the Czech Tourist Club Hradec Králové in 1930 and converted into a chalet, which is still there today. A new two-story accommodation building was added, and it was opened to the public in 1932 under the name Hradeček guesthouse, serving tourists for only seven years. The chalet’s later history was rather unfortunate. The entire area was annexed into the German Reich after the 1938 annexation of the border region, and the chalet was damaged by the end of the war. After the war, tourists regained access to the cottage, and from 1945, it was known as Chalet Na Čiháku. However, in 1949, the Czech Tourist Club was forcibly dissolved, and the chalet became the property of the then all-sports organization the Czechoslovak Union of Physical Education, ceasing to be used by tourists. In 1990, the Czech Tourist Club took possession of the chalet through the restitution process and acquired it. It required significant effort to restore the building to operational condition. From a historical perspective, it might be intriguing to understand why tourists sought out a hut at this specific location. The Na Čiháku chalet complemented the existing Czech National Tourists huts, facilitating a journey across the Eagle Mountains with options for overnight stays. Alongside Jirásek’s hut on Dobrošov, Masaryk’s hut on Šerlich, and Kramář’s hut on Suchý vrch, they continue to provide hospitality to hikers and cyclists exploring the Eagle Mountains.
Can the chalet be used for corporate clients?
The chalet is excellently equipped for this purpose. It features a training room, double and quadruple rooms with private bathrooms, a restaurant, a lounge, a sauna, a whirlpool, and a fitness centre.
We have already presented several Czech Tourist Club’s chalets for corporate clients. What can you offer these clients in the coming years?
The Czech Tourist Clubs chalets are primarily intended as accommodations for tourists, offering affordable lodging and basic refreshments. This is how they were originally built by our ancestors, and we aim to preserve them in this manner for both the current and future generations. These chalets will always remain focused on tourism and do not offer luxury. Their true worth lies in their outstanding locations within our landscape. Despite their simplicity, they can appeal to discerning clients and even managers, many of whom enjoy nature or seek relaxation through physical activity. Truly fascinating hiking or cycling tours through our forests and mountains can be realised thanks to the Czech Tourist Club chalets. Our sole goal for the future is to maintain these chalets in a condition that allows them to continue serving this purpose for as long as possible.
Thank you for the interview
