Gratzen Mountains Mountains

The Gratzen Mountains, also called the Novohradské hory, are a low, forested mountain range on the Czech Republic-Austria border in South Bohemia.

The range is characterised by rounded wooded summits, rural valleys and a network of hiking and cycling trails that cross the border. It is primarily a natural and recreational landscape rather than a high alpine environment.

The mountains are a natural physiographic unit within the Bohemian Massif and have been used historically for forestry, pastoralism and small-scale settlement; their cross-border position shaped local economy and movement.

The range lies in the South Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic along the frontier with Austria, forming a modest upland area distinct from the higher Alpine zones further south.

• Alternate name: Also known by its Czech name Novohradské hory and straddles the border with Austria, offering cross-border trails and forested hills.

• Base yourself in Nové Hrady or nearby South Bohemian towns and use the marked cross-border trails to explore quieter ridges early in the day before weekend visitors arrive.
• Visit in late spring or early autumn for clearer views and to see the plateau meadows and bogs at their most distinct - summer can bring low clouds and midges in wet areas.
• Seek out the protected bogs and observation towers on the plateau; these habitats and viewpoints are often overlooked by hikers who stick to the lower valley paths.