7 – The Otter Bridge
The history of the Otter Bridge
Several kilometers southeast from here, in times of the Golden Trail´s existence, the estate of the town of Kašperské Hory ended and the Zdíkov-Vimperk estate of Malovec of Chýnov began. Both sides had long-term disputes over the border.
Several kilometers southeast from here, in times of the Golden Trail´s existence, the estate of the town of Kašperské Hory ended and the Zdíkov-Vimperk estate of Malovec of Chýnov began. Both sides had long-term disputes over the border.
Remains of the Golden Trail between the Otter Bridge and Kvilda
After the Thirty Years´ War this border moved 2 kilometers north, here just in front of Horská Kvilda, to the Otter Bridge (Vydří most) across the Hamry stream. At that point, there were not many reasons for a dispute left, as the commerce on the Golden Trail began to diminish and gradually disappear and so the profits it brought were no longer significant enough to quarrel over. A very detailed 1736 map of the Kašperské Hory branch of the Golden Trail depicts the border between the estates on the Otter Bridge. The tradition of administrative divide remains to this day, with the Pilsen and South-Bohemian districts having their border here.
We have detailed information above the Golden Trail around the Otter Bridge from the early 18th century. In 1729, the Prague Gubernium ordered both Pilsen district representatives to personally investigate the state of the Kašperské Hory and Vimperk branches of the Golden Trail. The goal was to evaluate the possibility of transforming them into modern communications connecting Bohemia with the Donau region. The Vimperk branch eventually underwent this modernisation and today the main road from Vimperk to the border crossing Strážný leads through here.
Area, nature, personalities, events
Geomorphology of Šumava
In the geological past, in the time following varian geomorphological processes, that being around 380–280 million years ago, the Earth's crust was elevated and eventually eroded and its relief evened out. The Alpine processes then raised the formerly even surface and divided it into blocks. The highest raised were the edges of the Bohemian Massif, of which Šumava is a part. The hydrological system changed in that time as well. The Moldau stopped flowing into the Donau and instead turned north.
The remains of Tertiary even surface can today be found in heights between 1000 and 1200 m.a.s.l., where it creates the Šumava plains, typical for their minimal jaggedness.
We have detailed information above the Golden Trail around the Otter Bridge from the early 18th century. In 1729, the Prague Gubernium ordered both Pilsen district representatives to personally investigate the state of the Kašperské Hory and Vimperk branches of the Golden Trail. The goal was to evaluate the possibility of transforming them into modern communications connecting Bohemia with the Donau region. The Vimperk branch eventually underwent this modernisation and today the main road from Vimperk to the border crossing Strážný leads through here.
Area, nature, personalities, events
Geomorphology of Šumava
In the geological past, in the time following varian geomorphological processes, that being around 380–280 million years ago, the Earth's crust was elevated and eventually eroded and its relief evened out. The Alpine processes then raised the formerly even surface and divided it into blocks. The highest raised were the edges of the Bohemian Massif, of which Šumava is a part. The hydrological system changed in that time as well. The Moldau stopped flowing into the Donau and instead turned north.
The remains of Tertiary even surface can today be found in heights between 1000 and 1200 m.a.s.l., where it creates the Šumava plains, typical for their minimal jaggedness.