Discover Habersbirk: Nature, History and Hotels

For a trip to Habersbirk, nature, outdoor activities and remembrance each offer a different focus. The Lítovská spoil heap and its nature trail highlight the natural environment; the Habartov March and activities at Lake Boden offer opportunities to get active. The Museum of the Security Forces and the monument to the shot gendarmes turn attention to the history of 1938.

Nature on the Lítovská Spoil Heap

The Lítovská spoil heap is home to the Lítovská nature trail (Lítovská naučná stezka), subtitled “Artificial Semi-Desert.” The reclaimed spoil heap consists mainly of material from the former Libík, Boden and Medard brown-coal open-pit mines. The spoil heap and trail therefore draw attention both to the area’s former resource extraction and to its reclamation.

It is difficult for a continuous plant cover to take hold on the highly acidic substrates along the trail. This creates a distinctive natural environment with unusual flora and fauna. This gives the site a clear natural focus: it is the unusual conditions, rather than dense plant cover, that shape the character of the spoil heap. Those interested in landscapes and their plant and animal life will find a different focus here than at the memorial sites commemorating the history of 1938.

Hiking, Cycling and Other Activities

The Habartov March starts at the sports field in Habartov. The route is 21.7 kilometres long, runs mainly along paved paths and is also recommended for cycling. This gives you specific details for planning, including the starting point, distance and surface. The cycling recommendation adds another intended use to the route’s character as a hiking trail. At this length, it is best considered a standalone excursion.

Lake Boden has an inline skating track and a workout course. These facilities differ from a trip along the Habartov March: here, two specific activities are named, while the march is a longer route. The municipal sports plan for 2021–2025 listed an inline skating track, a building, beach courts and Russian skittle alleys for Inline Boden. Check which of these facilities are currently available before visiting.

Remembering the Events of 1938

The Museum of the Security Forces is in the Kluč district of Habartov. It was established as a fitting memorial to the heroes of the so-called Habartov Incident and covers the tragic events of 1938. On 13 September 1938, Czechoslovak gendarmes and Sudeten Germans clashed in Habartov. The place and date give the museum’s subject a clear historical context.

Another memorial is the monument to the shot gendarmes in Habartov. Its design includes a bronze relief in the shape of a waving flag and a prominent two-tailed Bohemian lion. A bronze plaque bears the names of the gendarmes who fell there on 13 September 1938. While the museum covers the tragic events of that year, the monument commemorates the fallen gendarmes through its relief and their names.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Douglasgrün, Josefsdorf, Frühbuß, Schwaderbach, Ebmeth, Teschwitz, Maria Kulm, Bukwa

Back to the regional travel guide: Falkenau an der Eger District.