Anenské údolí

The Anenské Valley is a natural monument situated not far from the centre of Harrachov in the Krkonoše Mountains. It is just a short walk from the OREA Resort Sklář Harrachov. This protected area, covering approximately 1.1 hectares, is best known for its abundant population of white-flowered crocus (Crocus albiflorus). In early spring, several hundred to just under a thousand crocuses bloom here, scattered across a large part of the regularly maintained meadow. Before you head out into the countryside, don’t forget to pack a snack at breakfast. At OREA, you can put together a snack to suit your taste and pack it into the bags provided.

What can you find in the Anenské Valley?

The meadow lies in the flat floodplain of the Mumlava River, between the river and the local road, at an altitude of 660 to 665 metres, next to the lower station of the cable car to Čertova hora. Due to the abundance of white-flowered saffron, the area was designated a protected natural feature in 1985 and has had the status of a natural monument since the 1990s. The natural monument also lies within the buffer zone of the Krkonoše National Park and forms part of the Krkonoše Site of Community Importance within the Natura 2000 network.

In addition to saffron, plants such as Alpine milkwort and soft-leaved chickweed grow here. In the wetter parts of the area, the Alpine newt and the common frog are also found, both of which use the local pond for breeding.

The meadow has been farmed for many years. Regular mowing – ideally twice a year – together with the removal of old growth and moss, helps to maintain conditions suitable for a stable crocus population.

The wooden hunting lodge Annathal is also linked to the history of the Anenské Valley. It was built in 1836 by the administration of the Jilemnice-Bransko estate and served primarily as a residence for the nobility and their guests. After the war, it was converted for use as a forestry school. It burnt down in 1986 and was not rebuilt.

Another reminder of Harrachov’s history are the local ponds, which were established in 1873 by Count Jan Nepomuk František Harrach for trout farming. Of the original system of ponds, three partially silted-up ponds have survived to the present day; the town revitalised them in 2019 and 2020 at a cost of 1.6 million crowns, largely with the help of a grant from the Ministry of the Environment. Historically, they were supplied with water from a canal fed by the Bílá voda stream; however, due to subsequent development in the valley, this is no longer possible, and so today the ponds are fed by a natural spring that rises directly in the Anenské Valley. An educational trail called ‘Rybárna’ runs alongside the ponds, featuring wooden interactive panels about life in the ponds and their surroundings. It begins at the former forestry training college in the Anenské Valley.

How do you get to Anenské Valley?

From the OREA Resort Sklář, you can reach Anenské Valley by taking a short walk towards the centre of Harrachov and the lower station of the cable car to Čertova Hora.

If you’re travelling by car, you can use the car park by the cable car in the centre of Harrachov, approximately 100 metres from its lower station and in the immediate vicinity of Anenské Valley. Another option is the Central Car Park behind the coach station.

When is the best time to visit the Anenské Valley?

If you want to see the crocuses in bloom, go in early spring. The exact date depends on the course of the winter and the snowmelt. Please do not enter the protected meadow, particularly during the spring thaw and in the early part of the growing season, when visitors’ movements may damage the plants.