Czechia | Resort Český les: spa and bikes in West Bohemia

Resort Český les in Železná near Bělá nad Radbuzou is, for me, a base right on the German border. It is a tiny village with not much around, and that is exactly its charm. I came here to ride bikes in cooperation with Specialized, and I write about that in the other article. Here I write about the accommodation, the food and the walks. Amazing Places named the resort a Magical Newcomer in 2023.

White Český les Resort sign on a fence by a green meadow under a cloudy sky — Resort Český les.

Entrance to Aparthotel Železná with steps and a bike leaning in front of the building — Entrance to the Aparthotel.

What is Resort Český les and what makes it special?

On one side the Český les (Bohemian Forest) runs towards Šumava, and on the other the state border with Germany cuts through it. The landscape is rolling, with meadows and deep forests, and the hotel stands in the middle of it all. The owners come from this area, they came back "home" and wanted to breathe new life into the place.

Where did I stay and what are the studios like?

I always stayed in Aparthotel Železná, which has 43 design studios. The Master studio has 31.9 m², sleeps 2 adults and 2 children, and has a sofa bed and a kitchenette. The Comfort studio has 21.1 m² and is for two. Both are modern and nicely furnished, and above all they have excellent beds. I always slept beautifully here. In the original First Republic-era school (from interwar Czechoslovakia) there are also eight boutique apartments, which allow dogs.

Resort Český les: Attic boutique apartment V oblacích with wooden beams, a freestanding bath and a dining table — Boutique apartment V oblacích (In the Clouds). Photo: David Klimovič.

Room with a double bed, curtains and bedside lighting in the Na jezeře apartment — Boutique apartment Na jezeře (By the Lake). Photo: David Klimovič.

What are the restaurant and the beer like?

The Hvozd restaurant cooks Czech and international specialities from local ingredients and offers a rich buffet half board. Outside there is an Ofyr grill. I really liked it, and I had duck with potatoes, for example. In the Kotelna bar they have Pilsner Urquell, their own beer special NIKL and De Venoge champagne. With dinner I had a bottle of French sparkling wine Antech Blanquette de Limoux Cuvée Réserve Brut 2021 from the family winery Domaine Antech in the Limoux region, and it was excellent. A dessert came at the end.

Bright restaurant of Resort Český les with light wood, round chandeliers and chairs around tables — Hvozd restaurant. Photo: David Klimovič.

Plate with roast duck, potatoes, cabbage and cucumber, with a pint of beer beside it — Hvozd restaurant: Duck with potatoes.

Hand holding a bottle of Antech Reserve wine in front of a light wooden table — A bottle of French sparkling wine Antech 2021.

Dessert with scoops of ice cream and an edible flower, next to a glass of sparkling wine and a map — Dessert and a glass.

Is there a spa?

Yes. There is a Finnish sauna with temperatures up to 100 °C, a bio sauna with gentler heat and aromatherapy, and cooling in cold water. What I liked most was the narrow cooling pool with blue light and the shower with coloured light.

Resort Český les: Spa relaxation area with shelves of towels and yoga figurines on the counter — The spa area by the sauna. Photo: David Klimovič.

Narrow cooling pool with blue lighting in the spa — Cooling pool.

Where can you walk or run?

The surroundings are lovely for walks and running. It is only about 250 metres from the resort to the Výhledy viewpoint, with a bench, a fire pit and a view of Přimda castle. From reception you can order a picnic basket. The forest paths are ideal for running, and I ran 5.2 km (3.2 miles) here.

Only 500 metres from the resort is Obora Srdíčko: 160 hectares of forests, pastures and ponds on the grounds of the original estate of the Koc of Dobrš family, with beech trees more than 300 years old and a chapel of St Hubert. It makes a lovely walk for the morning or the evening.

If you cross the border into Germany, there are several game parks with deer, fallow deer and wild boar. It is a nice trip for children and adults alike.

Resort Český les: Sunset behind trees on the meadow by the resort in the Český les — Sunset by the resort.

A man in a cap and sports sunglasses under the tree canopy — Under the trees near Železná.

Where can you cycle?

The Český les is ideal for cycling: rolling countryside, wide forest tracks and almost no traffic. I rode from here on a Specialized Turbo Levo 4 e-bike, and the German border is within easy reach.

Two of my rides from Železná crossed the border into Germany, 69.4 km (43 miles) with 1,413 m of climbing and 78.5 km (49 miles) with 1,211 m. The third ride, via Tachov, was 68.1 km (42 miles) and stayed entirely in Czechia. You will find the routes and Strava recordings in the article about the e-bike routes into Germany.

Resort Český les: A man holding a bike on its rear wheel on a forest track among spruces — Forest tracks around Železná.

A woman on a red mountain bike on a road along the forest — On an e-bike around Železná.

What is nearby?

Obora Srdíčko game park, 500 metres from the resort
the Výhledy viewpoint with a view of Přimda castle, 250 metres
Tachov and the surrounding small towns
German game parks with deer, fallow deer and wild boar just across the border
cycling trips to Germany, see the other article

Trips nearby

More trips in Bohemia on GetYourGuide

From the Český les it is a short way to Plzeň, to Šumava and to the Bavarian border.

My experience

I was here at Easter too. I sat on the terrace in front of the resort, had a beer and braided a pomlázka (a traditional Czech Easter whip) from willow twigs, step by step. It is lovely and traditional like this, and for me it simply belongs to Easter.

Resort Český les: Three steps of braiding an Easter pomlázka: twigs in hands, braiding, and the finished pomlázka on the terrace with a beer — Braiding a pomlázka by the resort, step by step.

I like coming back to the resort. It is quiet, the food is good and the beds are great. The rest of the time I spent on the bike, and I write about that in the other article.

At the resort I rode a Specialized Turbo Levo 4 e-bike. You can find the reel from the test on my Instagram. The resort has the profile @resortceskyles.

Practical info

Address: Železná 37, Bělá nad Radbuzou.

Price: according to Amazing Places from 1,600 CZK (about EUR 64) per night (as of 13 October 2026).

Dogs are allowed only in the boutique apartments, not in the studios of the Aparthotel. Unlimited wifi, and the hotel has a sauna and space for team building.

You can find booking and more information on Amazing Places. The resort accepts Amazing Places gift vouchers.

More tips