Útulna Pařížov: A New Roof in the Doubrava Valley
In the wooded Doubrava valley near Běstvina, just above the Pařížov reservoir, stands one of the newest additions to the Czech shelter network. Útulna Pařížov doesn't announce itself — a fresh timber structure on a forest track, a table and benches inside, and a roof that's there whether you arrive at noon or midnight.
Hikers from a nearby summer camp have nicknamed the spot Bajkonur. Make of that what you will.
What you'll find
A single open-fronted wooden shelter with a sleeping loft — capacity is four people, and stays are limited to one night. There's no water, no electricity, and no toilet. The structure is brand new, built around 2025, and early visitors rate it highly (one review's only complaint: the unplaned beams shed a little sawdust on you overnight).
The shelter is owned by Lesy ČR, who ask visitors not to leave litter and not to make open fires in the area. Pack out what you pack in.
Getting there
The shelter sits directly on the Via Czechia – středozemím long-distance route, at 328 m above sea level. The nearest villages are Pařížov and Běstvina in the Pardubice region, with the Pařížov dam a short walk away. If you're coming by car, park near the dam and you're at the shelter within minutes on foot.
Don't miss the dam
The real landmark here is the Pařížov dam, built 1910–1913 from local gneiss to tame the flood-prone Doubrava. With its arched masonry crown and twin stone towers, it looks more like a small castle than a piece of water infrastructure — and it's widely considered one of the most beautiful historic dams in the country.
Below the dam, the Doubrava cuts a rocky little gorge through the Přírodní park Doubrava — worth the short detour before or after your night at the shelter.
Bivigo rating
Classified as a bivouac — the most basic category in the Bivigo taxonomy. No staffing, no booking, no facilities beyond the structure itself. As a one-night stop on a Via Czechia thru-hike, or a low-effort first night out for a beginner, it's exactly what it needs to be.
The full data card is below, including GPS coordinates and the shelter's position on the Bivigo map.