In the village of Dlouhá Ves, located about four kilometres south of the town of Sušice on the Otava River, a wood museum has been open since 2021 — an exhibition dedicated to the centuries-old history of forestry in this part of the Šumava region.
The earliest written records of Dlouhá Ves date back to the 13th century, but the village's true heyday began only in 1800, when it came under the ownership of the Schwarzenberg family. It was the Schwarzenbergs who established here the administrative centre of the Prášily estate — Dlouhá Ves — after which the village became the region's woodworking hub for generations to come. It is this long-standing connection to the timber trade that inspired the creation of the museum.
The museum building stands in the centre of the village and tells the story of woodworking both past and present. Even before entering, visitors are greeted by several antique tools once used by loggers and woodworkers.
The museum's lobby features a large photograph of Dlouhá Ves with markers indicating all the significant sites connected to timber processing. The remaining halls display wooden artefacts and numerous information panels covering everything from forest planting and processing to the transport of finished goods. A section dedicated to timber rafting on the river deserves special attention — once a crucial method of transporting wood. The exhibition concludes with a large hall used for lectures and other events.
The museum building itself is also worth admiring from the outside — its construction makes extensive use of wood, clearly showcasing the material's versatility. A large linden tree grows in front of the entrance, with a playground and football pitch nearby, and visitors can park right at the entrance to the museum grounds.
Admission to the museum is free, though it's advisable to check opening hours in advance. An educational trail dedicated to woodworking begins at the museum.
Source: turistika.cz