For a long time, the Czech Chorny Dul near the foot of the Black Mountain (1299 meters above sea level) remained only a small provincial town in a picturesque location. One day enterprising citizens came up with the idea of creating a sought-after and popular ski resort here. And so it happened – today more than 5,000 people come to Chorny Dul every month – both skiers from neighboring countries and Czechs themselves. This place became popular due to the clean air, wide slopes of the Špyčak mountain and convenient location not far from the Czech capital, which is the starting point for most tourists. Black Dul is located between Špindlerův Mlýn and Pec pod Sněžka . The city of Janske-Lazny is also not far from here .
Tracks
The Chornyi Dul ski resort is located at an altitude of 600-1000 meters above sea level. The total length of all tracks is almost 5 kilometers. Cherny Dul is ideal for recreation with small children, as in addition to the usual tracks, there are also special children’s slopes.
In addition, the resort is equipped with tracks of standard types. “Red” for beginners and those who are not too sure about the slope. These tracks are devoid of bends, significant elevation differences and have gentle sections where you can slow down and rest for a few minutes. “Blue” tracks are created for confident and experienced skiers who are not afraid of extreme elements of the track and altitude differences. However, there is a special “black track” for real professionals in their field. Access here is strictly limited – the staff carefully checks the category of visitors who go to ride on this dangerous slope.
The instructors of the ski school will help those who don’t feel confident skiing yet or don’t know how to ski at all. They speak English, Czech, German and Russian and promise to put anyone willing to ski.
There are also cross-country skiing trails, as well as a funpark for snowboarders. The descents for adults are called Veronika 1 and Veronika 2. The total length of the descents is about 5 kilometers, and the Veronika descents can also be suitable for beginners. For experienced skiers, there are steep descents and 9 ski lifts on Mount Spitsy, which is 1,001 meters high. More than 2,400 people per hour can go up the mountain on lifts.
The creators of the resort carefully thought out its infrastructure, creating the most comfortable conditions for recreation. With the onset of darkness, that is, after 16:00, all tracks are illuminated, which makes skiing safer and more comfortable. In addition, there are comfortable and spacious lifts in Black Dula.
Price
At this resort, you can buy both a one-day ski pass (lift pass) and a pass for several days at once. The cost of a ski pass for one day in the high season for an adult here is 250 kroner, and for a child 200 kroner. A seven-day pass will cost less in total – 1,360 and 1,090 kroner, respectively.
Where to settle
Black Dul is such a quiet and peaceful place that after a few hours of stay here, tourists forget about the problems that worried them and about the city bustle. All hotels are located at the foot of the Shpychak mountain, and the resort village itself is practically devoid of the advantages of modern infrastructure. If you stay here for more than a week, there is a chance to get bored with the usual restaurants, bars and supermarkets. Although, for the sake of fairness, it should be noted that more and more tourists are coming here precisely for this peace.
One of the most popular hotels in these places is Aurum , located 300 meters from the lifts. 47 hotel rooms are ready to receive guests, equipped with the most necessary. In addition to traditional services, such as a sauna, a swimming pool and a fitness center, the hotel has its own small kindergarten, which will especially appeal to tourists vacationing with small children. The cost of one night in Aurum varies from 790 to 2850 kroner depending on the type of room and availability / absence of breakfast. This price already includes the cost of parking and the right to use the gym, jacuzzi and swimming pool at any convenient time.
Another convenient hotel, Pension Luna, is located 50 meters from the skibus stop . The rooms are designed for 2-4 people and the cost of one night’s stay is 450 kroner on average. This price includes breakfast. The nearby Hotel Tibor has children’s playgrounds and a heated swimming pool, which Pension Luna guests can use free of charge.
Hotel U Zvonu
The family hotel U Zvonu is located in the center of Vrhlaby, in the Krkonose Mountains. It offers free internet access, free parking and buffet breakfast.
In the morning, guests are served breakfast. You can order a variety of desserts, sandwiches, as well as various Czech and foreign wines and other drinks in the on-site cafe.
Lunch and dinner are served in the restaurant of the partner hotel, just 100 meters from the hotel. Guests of Hotel U Zvonu are served at a discount in this restaurant.
Guests of the Hotel U Zvonu can visit the spa center of the nearest partner hotel Gendorf with facilities such as sauna, hot tubs, solarium, herbal steam baths, various beauty and massage treatments.
Hotel Union
Hotel Union is located in Chornyy Dul , 200 m from the ski resort. It offers a buffet restaurant, a common area with a kitchen, ski storage and ski equipment rental. Free Wi-Fi is provided. You can visit the sauna for an additional fee.
Each room has a living area. The private bathroom has a shower. The windows offer a view of the mountains. Apartments and studio rooms also have a kitchen.
The nearest grocery store is 50 meters from the Union Hotel. The distance to the cafe-bar is 200 m.
Free parking is provided. The bus stop is 20 meters away. The distance to the peak of Mount Snow is 10 km. The distance to Spindleruv Mlyn is 20 km.
Happy Hill
The Happy Hill complex is located in a quiet area, a 3-minute drive from the Chornyi Dul ski resort. Free parking, a seasonal outdoor swimming pool, and a children’s playground are available. The ski bus stop is 50 meters away.
Happy Hill offers two-story villas with a private bathroom with a shower or bathtub, satellite TV, and a fully equipped kitchen. Each bedroom has 2 single beds. The terrace offers a panoramic view of the mountains.
There is a restaurant 200 meters from the complex, and a shop in the center of Chornyi Dul (a 2-minute drive). The resort town of Janske-Lazny is 9 km away, and many cycling routes start right next to the complex.
Penzion Gerle
Guest house Gerle is located in the village of Black Dul . Among the facilities of this property are a ski-to-door access, ski storage space, a shared lounge and a garden. Guests have access to a 24-hour reception desk, a common kitchen and a currency exchange office.
Guest house rooms have their own bathroom and free WiFi.
Gerle Guest House has a children’s playground. Ski equipment and bicycles are available for rent. Hiking and skiing are popular in the surrounding area.
Karpacz is 47 km from Guest House Gerle, while Spindleruv Mlyn is 27 km away. Pardubice Airport is 95 km away.
Apartmány U Šťastných
These apartments are located in a quiet area of Chorny Dul, 2 km from the ski resort of Cherny Dul and 8 km from the ski resort of Janske Lazni. Apartments U Šťastných offers a seasonal outdoor pool. Free Wi-Fi is provided. There is a playroom for children.
A DVD player is at guests’ disposal. A refrigerator, an electric kettle and a dining table are installed in the dining area. The private bathroom comes with a shower and towels are provided. Bed linen is included in the price of accommodation. The apartments also have an equipped kitchenette.
Apartments U Šťastných offers a recreation room with a family infrared sauna, a garden and barbecue facilities. Other amenities include a ski storage room and a children’s playground. Hiking and cycling are popular in the surrounding area. Free indoor parking is available on the territory.
Fresh rolls are delivered upon request. Guests can also order a rich buffet breakfast.
A bus stops near the apartments. In winter, guests are provided with a free pass for the ski bus. The ski bus stop is located next to the house and in the area of the Black Mountain ski resort. Guests can use the free ski bus. Dvur Kralove Zoo is 25 km away.
Restaurants and cafes
There are not many places where you can have lunch and dinner in Chornoy Dula. There is only one restaurant here, as well as kitchens at hotels. The main dishes are, of course, traditional Czech dishes – goulash, chops, dumplings, steaks, hot soups and the legendary strudel with apples and a scoop of ice cream. The average bill per person is 250 kroner, and a full hearty dinner for two will cost 600-800 kroner. In addition to warming teas and mulled wine, tourists usually drink the famous Czech unpasteurized and unfiltered beer. The price makes it even tastier – a half-liter glass will cost more than 40 crowns.
What to do in your free time
In Černý Dula, you cannot fail to visit the Muzeum Podzemí Krkonoš , which literally translates as underground museum, but is actually a local history exhibition that tells about the mining of minerals in this region. This exhibition is open every day from 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Visitors will be told the history of mineral extraction in the mines of the Krkonoše Mountains, shown photos of huge caves and samples of mined minerals. The entrance ticket for adults costs 30 kroner, and for children and pensioners 20 kroner.
The Archangel Michael church is considered one of the architectural monuments. The first chapel was built on its site in 1555. After that, it was expanded and transformed. At first, the church was Protestant, but gradually turned into Catholic. It is worth paying attention to one of the frescoes on the theme of the Last Judgment. It depicts 12 apostles and Archangel Michael holding scales. These scales symbolize the balance of good and evil on earth. In the left part of the image you can see the figure of St. Peter, who unlocks the gates of heaven, and on the right – the devil, who takes sinners to hell. The fresco is made according to the ancient technique of applying paint on wet plaster. Continuing this topic, it is worth mentioning the chapel of the Holy Cross, which was built at the very beginning of the 19th century, but was almost completely destroyed during the Civil War.
After visiting the local attractions, it will be especially nice to relax in the thermal pool, 1.2 – 1.5 meters deep. The water in the pool comes from natural mineral springs, which makes swimming especially useful. The second part of the pool is equipped with various water attractions: water slides, a waterfall, a special massage tunnel, as well as two hydromassage baths. The pool is open from 16:00 to 20:00, the cost of an adult ticket is 250 kroner, and a child’s ticket is 150 kroner.
After the pool, you can enjoy the services of the SPA salon. It offers such procedures as massage (220 kroner), bath with relaxing oils (30 kroner), mud wrap (30 kroner), ozone therapy (100 kroner) and others.
How to get here
There are several ways to get to the Black Dul resort . By car from Prague, driving along the D11 route, by bus or train. However, it will be easiest to get here from the Pardubice airport, which is 97 kilometers from the resort.