Obří sud Javorník

Reasons to visit: the longest bobsleigh run

Ještěd Mountain with its TV transmitter and mountain hotel, peat bogs, forests, views of rock formations and alpine meadows are the main attractions of the Jizera Mountains. This range of attractions was recently supplemented by the Obří sud Javorník complex.

A restaurant known as Obří sud, including a lookout tower, stood on the peak of Javorník as far back as 1899. Both of these buildings disappeared over time and, while consideration was given several times to their renewal, Obří sud was only revived in 2011. The restaurant is located at the peak of the mountain and serves, as before, as a mountain guesthouse and restaurant.

Take a look round the surrounding area for a wide range of high-adrenaline attractions. The biggest tourist magnet is the bobsled run and its exciting design, including turns, a spiral and several artificial waves. The 1,100 m long run has an elevation of 80.5 m and uses two-person bobsleighs, with a maximum speed of 45 km/hour. The run also includes an electronic clock.

Fun in summer and winter

Similarly to the bobsled run, visitors also have at their disposal year-round an 800 m long, four-person ski lift. In winter the chairlift takes you to the start of the main piste, and in summer it’ll take you and your bike to the summit. The many hiking trails and cycle routes are supplemented by a bike park, which is divided into two parts. The upper section, with several long, sloping bends, is aimed at all cyclists and riders regardless of age and experience, mountainboards and off-road scooters. More experienced bikers may prefer the lower section, where the more demanding track is supplemented by narrow bridges and a variety of off-road features.

In winter the hillside is transformed into a 900 m long piste, as well as a snow park for snowboarders, a 1,500 m long ski cross route and a children’s piste with ski tow. The Obří sud complex also offers evening skiing, as well as a ski school, sports equipment rental, services for skiers, refreshments and other services.

More fun awaits in Liberec

If you’re going to the Jizera Mountains and plan to visit the Obří sud complex, make sure your trip also includes a tour of Liberec, a city boasting a grand, Neo-Renaissance town hall. Fun and games for all age groups, including a hotel and restaurants, are on offer at Centrum Babylon, which includes an indoor water park and Wellness Centre, and in the iQPark science centre you can experiment with several hundred interactive exhibits from the world of science and technology; smaller children will enjoy the Lunapark and mirror maze. In town you’ll also find the DinoPark, containing lots of moving models of prehistoric animals, the zoo, with its famous white tigers and the botanic gardens. And don’t forget to take the ski lift up Ještěd, from where you’ll see Obří sud and the peak of Javorník like they’re in the palm of your hand!