Železná Ruda

Today it is one of the important sports and tourist centres of the Bohemian Forest.

• Name — Železná Ruda • Settlement Type — Town • Subdivision Type — Country • Subdivision Type1 — Region • Subdivision Name1 — Plzeň • Subdivision Type2 — District • Subdivision Name2 — Klatovy • Leader Title — Mayor • Leader Name — Filip Smola • Established Title — First mentioned • Established Date — 1569 • Area Total Km2 — 79.76 • Elevation M — 771 • Population As Of — 2026-01-01 • Population Total — 1580 • Population Density Km2 — auto • Timezone1 — CET • Utc Offset1 — +1 • Timezone1 Dst — CEST • Utc Offset1 Dst — +2 • Postal Code Type — Postal code • Postal Code — 340 04 • Website — https: www.zelezna-ruda.cz/

Železná Ruda consists of five municipal parts (in brackets population according to the 2021 census): • Železná Ruda (1,133) • Alžbětín (76) • Debrník (17) • Hojsova Stráž (137) • Pancíř (8) • Špičák (261)

The Czech name Železná Ruda and the historic German name Eisenstein mean 'iron ore'. They refer to rich deposits of iron ore that were found and mined here.

• Illustration — Lake Černé jezero Železná Ruda is located about 29 km south of Klatovy and 66 km south of Plzeň, on the border with Germany. It lies in a wild mountainous terrain of the Bohemian Forest. The town is surrounded with thick coniferous woods. The highest mountain in the municipal territory is Jezerní hora with an elevation of 1344 m. The southeastern part of the territory lies in the Šumava National Park, rest of the territory belongs to the Šumava Protected Landscape Area. The Regen River originates on the southern slopes of Pancíř mountain and flows through the town proper to the German border. The Úhlava River originates on the western slopes of the same mountain and flows across the northern half of the municipal territory. Černé jezero, the largest natural lake in the Czech Republic and Čertovo jezero, the third largest lake, are located in the territory of Železná Ruda.

Železná Ruda was founded at the beginning of the 16th century as a mining town. After around 150 years, the iron ore stocks were extracted and iron production ended. Because quartz and limestone deposits were also located here, the town's industry reoriented to the glass industry. The first factory was built in 1624. The Alžbětín Glassworks was later one of the largest glassworks in the Bohemian Forest. In the second half of the 19th century, it was known mainly for plate glass. In 1874–1877, the railway was built. The town's German population was expelled after 1945.

The local economy is very dependent on tourism because Železná Ruda is one of the most popular skiing centres of the Bohemian Forest, as well as a starting point for many hiking trips. The town has also gained a reputation as a hotspot for prostitution shortly after the Velvet Revolution.

• Illustration — Železná Ruda-Alžbětín railway station Železná Ruda is located on the railway line from Prague via Plzeň and Klatovy, which ends here. The territory is served by five train stations and stops: Železná Ruda centrum, Železná Ruda město, Železná Ruda-Alžbětín, Špičák and Hojsova Stráž-Brčálník. The station building of Železná Ruda-Alžbětín/Bayerisch Eisenstein is divided by the national border between the Czech Republic and Germany. A railway tunnel goes under the Špičák mountain. The tunnel was built in 1874–1877 and is 1747 m long. It was the longest railway tunnel in the Czech Republic until 2007 and since 2018 it has been the third longest railway tunnel in the country.

• Illustration — Town square with the Church of Our Lady of Perpetual Help of the Star There are many nature sights, such as lakes Černé jezero and Čertovo jezero, and the Špičák mountain at 1202 m above sea level. The most valuable historical monument is the Church of Our Lady of Perpetual Help of the Star. It was built in the Baroque style in 1729–1732. Its peculiarity is the floor plan of the six-pointed star and two cupolas with a star. Other historical sights include the Chapel of Saints Anthony of Padua and Barbara, and the Stations of the Cross. The local museum and information centre are located in a house from 1877, which was once the home of a well-known family of glassmakers. There is an exhibition of traditional glass, documents and photographs concerning history available all year round.

• Kristina Taberyová (1951–2023), theatre director and screenwriter

Železná Ruda is twinned with: • Aldeno, Italy • Bayerisch Eisenstein, Germany • Zernez, Switzerland