For a long time, the Czech Černý Důl near the foot of the Černá horá mountain (1299 meters above sea level) remained just a small provincial town in a picturesque place. Once, enterprising citizens came up with the idea of creating a popular and popular ski resort here. And so it happened – today more than 5,000 people come to Černý Důl every month – both skiers from neighboring countries and Czechs themselves. This place has become popular thanks to the clean air, the wide slopes of Mount Špíčák and its convenient location near the Czech capital, which is the starting point for most tourists. Černý Důl is located between Špindlerův Mlýn and Pec pod Sněžkou. Also nearby is the city of Janske Lazne.

Slopes

The ski resort of Cherniy Dul is located at an altitude of 600-1000 meters above sea level. The total length of all the slopes is almost 5 kilometers. Cherniy Dul is ideal for holidays with small children, as in addition to the usual slopes, there are also special children’s slopes.

In addition, the resort is equipped with standard types of slopes. “Red” for beginners and those who are not very confident on the slope. These tracks are devoid of turns, noticeable altitude differences and have gentle sections where you can slow down and rest for a few minutes. “Blue” tracks are designed for confident and experienced skiers who are not afraid of extreme elements of the track and altitude differences. However, for true professionals in their field there is a special “black track”. Access here is strictly limited – the staff carefully checks the category of visitors who go to ride this dangerous slope.

Those who are not yet very confident in skiing or do not know how to ski at all will be helped by the ski school instructors. They speak English, Czech, German and Russian and promise to put anyone on skis.

There are also cross-country ski trails here, as well as a fun park for snowboarders. The slopes for adults are called Veronika 1 and Veronika 2. The total length of the slopes is about 5 kilometers, and the Veronika slopes are suitable for beginners. For experienced skiers, there are steep slopes on Mount Spitsach, which is 1001 meters high, as well as 9 lifts. More than 2400 people per hour can climb the mountain on the lifts.

The creators of the resort have carefully thought out its infrastructure, creating the most comfortable conditions for recreation. With the onset of darkness, that is, after 16-00, all the trails are illuminated, which makes skiing safer and more convenient. In addition, comfortable and spacious lifts operate in Čorný Důl.

Price

At this resort, you can purchase both a one-day ski pass (lift pass) and a subscription for several days at once. The cost of a ski pass for one day in high season for an adult is 250 CZK, and for a child 200 CZK. A seven-day pass will cost less in total – 1360 and 1090 CZK, respectively.

Where to stay

Čorný Důl is such a quiet and peaceful place that after a few hours of staying here, tourists forget about the problems that worried them and about the city bustle. All hotels are located at the foot of Mount Špicák, and the resort village itself is practically devoid of the benefits 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 in fairness it is worth noting that more and more tourists come here for this peace.

One of the most popular hotels in these places is Aurum, located 300 meters from the ski lifts. 47 hotel rooms are ready to receive guests, equipped with the most necessary. In addition to traditional services, such as a sauna, swimming pool and fitness center, the hotel has its own small kindergarten, which will especially appeal to tourists vacationing with young children. The cost of one night in Aurum ranges from 790 to 2850 CZK depending on the type of room and the presence / 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.

50 meters from the skibus stop is another comfortable hotel, Pension Luna. The rooms are designed for 2-4 people and the average cost per night is 450 CZK. This price includes breakfast. The neighboring Tibor hotel has playgrounds and a heated swimming pool, which guests of Pension Luna can use free of charge.

Hotel U Zvonu

The family-run Hotel U Zvonu is located in the centre of Vrchlabí, in the Krkonoše Mountains. It offers free internet access, free parking and a buffet breakfast.

Breakfast is served in the morning. The on-site café offers a variety of desserts, sandwiches, as well as a variety of Czech and foreign wines and other drinks.

Lunch and dinner are served in the restaurant of a partner hotel, just 100 metres away. Guests of Hotel U Zvonu receive a discount at this restaurant.

Guests of Hotel U Zvonu can use the spa centre of the nearest partner hotel Gendorf, which features a sauna, hot tubs, a solarium, herbal steam baths, various beauty and massage treatments.

Hotel Union

Hotel Union is located in the town of Chorny Dul, 200 m from the ski resort. It features a buffet restaurant, a common area with a kitchen, a ski storage room and ski equipment rental. Free WiFi is available. A sauna is available for a surcharge.

Each room has a living area. The private bathroom is fitted with a shower. You can enjoy mountain views. The apartments and studios also have a kitchen.

The nearest grocery store is 50 metres from the Union Hotel. A café bar is 200 metres away.

Free parking is available. A bus stop is 20 metres away. The Śnieżka Peak is 10 km away. Špindlerův Mlýn is 20 km away.

Happy Hill

The Happy Hill complex is located in a quiet area, a 3-minute drive from the Chorny Dul ski resort. It offers free parking, a seasonal outdoor swimming pool, and a children’s playground. The ski bus stop is 50 meters away.

The Happy Hill complex offers two-storey villas with a private bathroom with a shower or a bathtub, satellite TV and a fully equipped kitchen. Each bedroom has 2 single beds. The terrace offers panoramic mountain views.

A restaurant is 200 metres from the complex, while a shop can be found in the centre of Černý Důl, a 2-minute drive away. The spa town of Janske Lazne is 9 km away, and many cycling routes start right outside the complex.

Penzion Gerle

Gerle Guesthouse is located in Čorný Důl. It offers ski-to-door access, ski storage space, a shared lounge and a garden. The accommodation offers a 24-hour front desk, a shared kitchen and currency exchange for guests.

The rooms at the guesthouse are equipped with a private bathroom and free WiFi.

Gerle Guesthouse offers a children’s playground. Ski equipment hire and bike hire are available. The area is popular for hiking and skiing.

Karpacz is 47 km from Gerle Guesthouse, while Špindlerův Mlýn is 27 km away. Pardubice Airport is 95 km away.

Apartmány U Šťastných

These apartments are located in a quiet area of Černý Důl, 2 km from the Černý Důl Ski Resort and 8 km from the Jánské Lázně Ski Resort. U Šťastných Apartments offers a seasonal outdoor pool. Free WiFi is available. A games room is available for children.
A DVD player is available. Complete with a refrigerator, the dining area also has an electric kettle and a dining table. Towels are provided in the private bathroom, which is fitted with a shower. Bed linen is included in the price. The apartments also have an equipped kitchenette.
At U Šťastných you will find a relaxation room with a family infrared sauna, a garden and barbecue facilities. Other facilities offered at the property include a ski storage room and a children’s playground. Hiking and cycling are popular in the surrounding area. Free covered parking is available on site.
Fresh bread rolls can be delivered upon request. Guests can also enjoy a rich breakfast buffet.
A bus stop is right next to the apartments. In winter, guests receive a free ski bus pass. The ski bus stop is right next to the house and in the area of the Černá Hora ski resort. Guests can use the free ski bus. The distance to the Dvur Kralove Zoo is 25 km.

Restaurants and cafes

There are not many places to have lunch or dinner in Černý Důl. There is only one restaurant, as well as hotel kitchens. 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 CZK, and a full, hearty dinner for two will cost 600-800 CZK. In addition to warming teas and mulled wine, tourists usually drink the famous Czech unpasteurized and unfiltered beer. The price makes it even more delicious – a half-liter glass will cost 40 CZK more.

What to do in your free time

In Černý Důl, you can’t miss the Muzeum Podzemí Krkonoš, which literally translates as a dungeon museum, but is actually a local history exhibition that tells about the mining of minerals in this region. This exhibition is open daily from 1:30 PM to 4:30 PM. Visitors will be told the history of mining in the mines of the Krkonoše Mountains, shown photos of huge caves and samples of mined minerals. The entrance ticket for adults costs 30 crowns, and for children and pensioners 20 crowns.

The Church of the Archangel Michael is considered one of the architectural monuments. The first chapel was built on its site in 1555. After that, it was expanded and transformed. Initially, the church was Protestant, but gradually transformed into Catholic. It is worth paying attention to one of the frescoes on the theme of the Last Judgment. It depicts the 12 apostles and the 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 paradise, and on the right – the devil, who takes sinners to hell. The fresco is made using the ancient technique of applying paint to wet plaster. Continuing this theme, 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. Thanks to one of the local associations, the church was restored, and in 2004 it resumed work.

After visiting local attractions, it will be especially pleasant 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 CZK, and a child ticket is 150 CZK.

After the pool, you can enjoy the services of the spa. The treatments offered here include massage (220 CZK), a bath with relaxing oils (30 CZK), mud wrap (30 CZK), ozone therapy (100 CZK), and others.

How to get here

You can get to the Černý Důl resort in several ways. By car from Prague, driving along the D11 highway, by bus or train. However, the easiest way to get here is from Pardubice Airport, which is 97 kilometers from the resort.