For the inhabitants of the Beskids and the immediate area, Lysá hora enjoys almost cult status. At 1325m it’s the highest peak in the Czech Republic’s stretch of the Beskids, but the top can be reached fairly easily, with little real effort involved. The view from the top is regarded as one of the best in the region, with more than twenty mountain ranges visible! If you want to enjoy some truly widescreen vistas, head for Lysá hora.
You can climb Lysá hora, originally known as Gigula, many ways. Used to keep mountain chalets supplied, a road leads right to the summit. You can reach the summit on foot, by bike, on cross-country skis and even by bus! The road is used by hikers and cyclists as the easiest way up.
Hike to the top!
For those who truly love the Beskids, the road is the option of last resort. If you want to experience the peak’s wonderful natural beauty to the full, take a hike. The perfect launch pad for a hike up the mountain is Ostravice; a picturesque path from there will help you appreciate the magnificence of the landscape, with the route heading over tree roots and boulders. From Ostravice head along the red marked trail for around 8.5km.
Giant peaks as far as the eye can see
If you’ve made it to the top, you can be rightly proud of your achievement. The summit is home to a fair number of buildings – a television transmitter, the Lysá hora mountain refuge and several others. Take on refreshments in the form of real Wallach cabbage and sausage soup, and then just sit back and enjoy the view. From this high up you can see in every direction. You can spot more than 20 mountain ranges in both the Czech Republic and Slovakia, as well as the TV tower atop Mount Praděd and the white rock faces of the Belianské Tatry, Gerlachovský Wall and Lomnický Wall.
Other places in the Beskids
The Beskids have their queen in the form of Lysá hora, but they also have a king. His name is Radegast, a pagan god, and if you want to see his statue, you’ll have to climb to the top of Mount Radhošť. Head up via Pustevny, where you may be surprised to see some typical examples of timber architecture built in an odd folk style. From Pustevny it’s a short way to Radhošť. At an altitude of 1,129m the god of the Sun, war and victory rules supreme. If you’ve got a taste for wandering the lonely peaks of the Beskids, head for the Grúně ridge. Popular halts here include the hamlet of Bílý kříž, with its monument to the border guards who once protected the mountains from smugglers.