The life of old Sumava

Šumava from Prehistory to the Beginning of the 20th Century

This book by historian and writer Vlastimil Vondruška provides a readable yet well-founded account of the changing life in the old Šumava region. It is supplemented by almost a hundred unique period photographs from the collections of the Museum of Šumava in Sušice. The author describes the settlement of the mountains from prehistory to the beginning of the 20th century and, through stories and quotations from period sources, introduces the diverse groups of inhabitants of that time, whether they were farmers, woodcutters, glassmakers, shepherds, or smugglers and robbers. The book also describes folk architecture, clothing, customs, and livelihoods.

It will certainly delight not only those who admire the beauty of Šumava, but all who appreciate the lives of our ancestors.