From this spring, the restorative calm of the deep forests of the Chodsko borderlands can be enjoyed in the company of chef Martin Šiling's creations and with a great drink in hand, in a hotel setting shaped by design. In Železná near Smolov, in the heart of the Český les protected landscape area, an ambitious new wellness hotel opens at the end of April – Resort Český les.
Resort Český les is being created through a radical reconstruction of two long-disused buildings – a former First Republic school and original military barracks. The complex, set amid pristine forests on the Czech-German border, will offer a total of 52 spacious boutique studios and rooms, a gourmet restaurant, a bar, conference facilities and a wellness area with a sauna, steam room, salt wall and sophisticated massage therapies
The design of the airy rooms, signed by the Konceptual studio, draws inspiration from the character of the breathtaking surrounding nature of the forests below Čerchov and from the idea of creating an ideal setting for undisturbed relaxation. It is defined by a combination of solid wood, metal and glass, minimalist lines and a neutral colour palette. Throughout the complex, particular attention is paid to panoramic views of the greenery.
MARTIN ŠILING COOKS ČESKÝ LES
The gastronomic heart of Resort Český les is the stylish restaurant Hvozd, led by chef Martin Šiling, whom foodies may know from the top fine dining venue V Zátiší. His menu draws on the gifts of the Chodsko forests, the restaurant's own herb garden and the Železný pond, as well as on the honest produce of regional farmers.
The restaurant's designer interior, detailed with motifs of the Český les fauna, flows seamlessly onto an outdoor terrace where guests can enjoy specialities from the OFYR grill. The culinary portfolio of Hvozd is rounded off by the creative Kotelna bar with its mixology menu, an excellent selection of wines and ciders from the Kolowrat orchards.
A BREAK FROM THE ORDINARY
Around Resort Český les there are some 270 kilometres of cycle trails and countless cross-country skiing and hiking routes. Domažlice lies just thirty kilometres from the hotel. The resort's owners also want to use the meditative calm of the surrounding forests as a setting for yoga weekends. This region, threaded with centuries-old pilgrimage paths and ancient trade routes, has an extraordinarily
rich history full of stories about glassmakers, defenders of the border and vanished villages – the largest of them is Pleš, where 700 people still lived at the beginning of the 20th century.
INVESTORS WITH A VISION
Behind the Resort Český les project stands the family investment group FKCG, a. s., whose portfolio also includes the Wine & Bike apartments in Znojmo and the Plzeň branch of the Ibis hotel chain. FKCG, a. s. is owned by Ondřej and Jindřich Karhan, who bought the buildings from which Resort Český les is being created only in 2020. Nearby they have already established Srdíčko, a game park for red deer, fallow deer and mouflon. Alongside the wellness hotel, the investors are also setting up an endowment fund to support the Český les region, its culture and its inhabitants.