History of Kvilda and the Strunz Sawmill

Today, Kvilda is best known as one of the most popular mountain resorts in Šumava. However, behind its present-day appearance lies a long history shaped by the harsh mountain landscape, forestry, glassmaking, trade and the lives of people in this border region.
 
Part of this story is the Strunz Sawmill, on whose former premises you will find the Wellness Apartment PILA KVILDA today. The history of this place dates back to 1820.
 
 

The Strunz Sawmill in Kvilda

The Strunz Sawmill was founded by Petr Strunz in 1820. The original woodworking operation gradually developed into an important local business and became one of the major employers in Kvilda.

The sawmill processed mainly construction timber and resonance wood, as well as producing a variety of other wooden products. High-quality resonance wood from Šumava was particularly valued for the manufacture of musical instruments, and products from Kvilda found customers far beyond the region.

Woodworking was one of the most important sources of livelihood for local people during the 19th century. Following major windstorms in 1868 and 1870, additional sawmills were established in Kvilda and timber processing became one of the characteristic industries of the entire area.
 
 

The Strunz Family and the Development of Kvilda

One of the most prominent figures in the history of the sawmill was Josef Strunz (1823–1907). His activities were not limited to business; he also contributed significantly to the development of Kvilda itself.

To improve the village's connections with the surrounding region, he introduced regular horse-drawn transport between Kvilda and Strakonice. Products from the sawmill were transported away from Kvilda, while food and other goods for local merchants were brought back on the return journeys. The carriers also transported mail to Vimperk and Passau.

Josef Strunz was also involved in the development of the railway connection from Strakonice to Vimperk in 1893 and from Vimperk to Volary in 1899.

The Strunz family also played an important role in village life. In 1874, Josef Strunz provided premises in his house for the local school. Interestingly, timber from a former hunting lodge belonging to Count Wilhelm Wurmbrand-Stuppach, which once stood on the outskirts of Kvilda, was used in their construction.
 
 

Modernisation of the Strunz Sawmill

In the 1920s, when the business was managed by Adolf Strunz, the sawmill underwent further modernisation.

Horse-drawn transport was gradually replaced by motor vehicles. In 1926, two lorries and one passenger car were purchased. The vehicles regularly travelled between Kvilda and Vimperk and, in addition to goods, also transported local residents who needed to travel to town.

The Strunz Sawmill was therefore much more than an industrial enterprise. For many years, it was an important part of both the economy and everyday life in Kvilda.
 
 

The Strunz Sawmill in Films Starring Tomáš Holý

The site also has its own place in Czech film history.

The Strunz Sawmill and its immediate surroundings appeared in the famous Šumava film trilogy starring Tomáš Holý and Gustáv Valach: Pod jezevčí skálou, Na pytlácké stezce and Za trnkovým keřem.

Many locations familiar from Czech films can still be discovered in and around Kvilda today.

You can find out more on our dedicated page Pila Kvilda and Kvilda on Film.
 
 

From the Strunz Sawmill to Today's PILA KVILDA

The history of the site continued throughout the 20th century. The original industrial activities gradually came to an end, and the premises underwent a major transformation over the following decades.

Today, a modern building stands here, its name still recalling the original Strunz Sawmill.

This is also where you will find the Wellness Apartment PILA KVILDA. When you stay here, you are therefore staying in a place whose history has been closely connected with Kvilda and Šumava's woodworking tradition for more than two centuries.
 
 

History of the Village of Kvilda

The history of Kvilda itself, however, reaches much further back than that of the Strunz Sawmill.

The name Kvilda is documented in connection with the local forest area as early as 1345. It is possible that gold prospectors had already been active in the area on a seasonal basis before then.

The first lumberjacks probably began to settle here at the end of the 15th or beginning of the 16th century. The year 1569 is generally considered the first written record of Kvilda as a permanently inhabited settlement.

Life here was never easy. The high altitude, long winters and harsh climatic conditions had a profound influence on everyday life and on the ways in which local people could earn their living.
 
 

Timber, Hammer Mills and Glassworks

The wealth of the surrounding Šumava forests shaped the development of Kvilda for centuries.

In addition to logging and woodworking, hammer mills and glassworks began to appear in the surrounding area towards the end of the 18th century. As these industries developed, new parts of the village gradually emerged, including Hamerské Domky, Svatý Jan and Hraběcí Huť. Lesní Chalupy and Vilémov were settled later.

During the 19th century, industrial timber processing became increasingly important. Construction and resonance timber, wooden shingles, barrels, crates, boxes, wooden components and many other products were manufactured here.

It was during this period that the Strunz Sawmill also expanded and became one of Kvilda's important businesses.
 
 

Kvilda at the Turn of the 20th Century

Kvilda's population reached its peak during the second half of the 19th century. The village depended mainly on forestry, woodworking, crafts, trade and other local businesses.

The Church of St Stephen became an important landmark in the centre of the village.

The original wooden church, built in 1765, was destroyed together with several houses and the school in a major fire in 1889. The present stone Neo-Gothic church was built on the same site between 1892 and 1894.

Its distinctive appearance is enhanced by wooden shingles protecting the masonry from the demanding Šumava weather.
 
 

The Second World War and Post-War Changes

The first half of the 20th century brought major social and political changes to Kvilda.

After the end of the Second World War, most of the German-speaking population was expelled, dramatically changing both the community and the number of inhabitants. Subsequent resettlement from the Czech interior did not restore the village to its former population.

Some parts of the municipality, including Hraběcí Huť and Lesní Chalupy, eventually disappeared completely.

Another major change was the establishment of a strictly guarded border zone. The proximity of the border with West Germany restricted the natural development of the area for several decades, and many places around Kvilda were closed to the public.
 
 

The Story of Kvilda's Old Cemetery

The cemetery next to the Church of St Stephen is another reminder of Kvilda's turbulent history.

In 1978, the historic cemetery was abolished by order of the authorities. Its gravestones were removed to the then inaccessible border zone near Hraběcí Huť.

It was not until the spring of 2004 that the surviving gravestones were returned to Kvilda and respectfully placed within the grounds of the former cemetery.

Here you can also find a memorial to the Strunz family, whose name is closely associated with the history of Kvilda and its sawmill.
 
 

Kvilda After 1989

The Velvet Revolution and the opening of the formerly guarded border zone marked the beginning of a new era for Kvilda.

The route across the border into Bavaria reopened, and the region, which had been partly isolated for decades, gradually developed into one of Šumava's most important tourist destinations.

Traditional industries and crafts were gradually replaced by tourism.

Today, Kvilda is a popular destination for both summer and winter holidays. It is an excellent starting point for hiking, cycling, cross-country skiing and excursions to some of the most beautiful parts of Šumava National Park.
 
 

Kvilda – A Place with a Story

When you walk through Kvilda today, its past may not be immediately visible. Yet behind the modern appearance of the village lie centuries of human stories – from gold prospectors, lumberjacks, glassmakers and craftsmen to the Strunz family and the people who experienced the dramatic events of the 20th century.
 

PILA KVILDA is a small part of this story.

The name of our apartment recalls a place where part of Kvilda's history was written for more than two centuries. And when you stay with us, you can discover this history all around you.