The best hikes from bus stations around Dam Josefův Důl

Nová Louka has a history closely linked to Bedřichov. A glassworks had been operating there since the end of the 16th century, which was run by Johann Josef Kittel in 1756. Because he was prospering successfully and the work of the Bedřichov glassworks was not enough to cover orders, he built a glassworks 2 km further north in the forests, around which a small settlement of several houses (of glassworks employees) arose in the following years. In the deep Jizera forests, there was enough wood available, necessary for lighting glass furnaces and for producing potash - an ingredient for glass raw materials. In 1769, Nová Louka came into the hands of the Riedel family, the most important glass entrepreneurs in the Jizera Mountains. In the middle of the 19th century, the glassworks stopped working due to increasingly unfavorable economic conditions (lack of wood, the advent of more modern technologies in glass production). The glassworks and its associated buildings were demolished, leaving only the so-called Manor House, which was rebuilt into a hunting lodge by the estate (owners of the Nové Louka land).

The Slovanka lookout tower is the oldest iron lookout tower in Bohemia. In 1887, it was built by the joint efforts of three sections of the German Mountaineering Association - Jablonec, Janov and Hornokamenice. The location for the lookout tower was decided by the fact that the owner of the hill, Mr. Seibt, offered the land to the association free of charge. All that remained was to choose a suitable project. In the end, the proposal to purchase an eleven-meter cast iron structure from the Viennese company Waagner won. It was not far from the idea to the implementation. The first construction procedure was held within a week. Within a few days, a single mason built a 3-meter-high stone foundation, and then the cast iron parts of the structure were delivered to the site and assembled within 17 days.

Šámalova chata, originally a hunting lodge of the Clam-Gallas family, was used during the First Republic by Dr. Přemysl Šámal, chancellor of President T. G. Masaryk. The interior was paneled with larch and the suite with a bathroom was furnished in the same way as in the Černín Palace. Today, the cottage is used by all tourists to recharge their batteries. Nová Louka is a retreat near Bedřichov located on the Blatný stream in the Jizera Mountains. The only building here today is Šámalova chata with a popular restaurant. The retreat is located near the Nová Louka nature reserve, which protects the local peat bog. Another name used today is Šámalova louka in memory of the period when the First Republic Chancellor Přemysl Šámal used the cottage.

Vila Vilekula in Hrabětice provided us with facilities for our trip to the Jizera Mountains. Excellent half board, pleasant environment, close to cross-country skiing trails and a smaller ski slope for beginners. Highly recommended!!!

The kiosk is a popular place when you enter the Jizera Highway in Hrabětice. Buy something here!!!

Parking lot with kiosk in typical architectural style.

A bit too noisy for my taste, but this is where the cross-country ski trails start. And you can get a hot drink from Ben. Even better is the bus turnaround. From here, you can take a bus anywhere in the world...

The reservoir lies above the village of Josefuv Dul and is easily accessible from there. Many hikes into the Jizera Mountains start from here. The circular trail around the reservoir is well signposted and suitable for all types of sports. (There is no continuous paved road.)