Kouty nad Desnou

Kouty nad Desnou is one of the fastest-growing ski resorts in the Czech Republic. Built only a few seasons ago, it can already boast the country's first six-seater chairlift and one of the longest pistes in the Czech Republic. And that does not exhaust the skiing potential of the place, which has announced further investment over the coming years. The resort lies in the upper part of the valley of the Desná river, whose headwaters reach up to the main ridge of the Jeseníky. From the car parks by the main road, the Doppelmayr-built chairlift mentioned above runs to the summit, its top station reaching almost 1,100 m. The pistes start here: the main one is blue, more than 3 km long, and brings you down in a wide arc, with shorter, harder and steeper red variants branching off it. In total the resort has more than 11 km of downhill pistes, served by the chairlift and three T-bars. There is a dedicated area for the youngest skiers, and one of the slopes, wide and gentle, is ideal for beginners. More than 27 km of cross-country trails have also been prepared in the area. Especially recommended is a trip on skis (or on foot) to the Dlouhé Stráně pumped-storage power station, which was voted one of the most interesting structures in the Czech Republic in an online poll. It is also worth visiting nearby Velké Losiny, where a thermal spa complex, thoroughly renovated not long ago, offers public access to its pools and wellness facilities. While there, visit the old paper mill, one of the oldest in Europe, where paper is still made by hand today.