SOUTH BOHEMIAN REGION

 

This time, Radka Brabcová has prepared some interesting tips for trips in the South Bohemian Region. Some of them are a little adventurous :-), so consider your abilities carefully – you will undertake them at your own risk :-).

 

Mladá Vožice – Šelmberk Castle – Mladá Vožice

This trip takes you to historical landmarks and points of interest near Mladá Vožice, a small town not far from Tábor whose history dates back to the 14th century, during the reign of Charles IV. The town and its immediate surroundings are full of reminders of times gone by.

The journey begins in the square in Mladá Vožice, where we can admire the chateau building, but only from the outside – it is considerably dilapidated and not open to the public. We will also look at the neighboring Baroque Church of St. Martin and find three tourist trail markers running together – green, red, and blue – which will take us to the beginning of the Stations of the Cross. As we view the individual stations, we climb the hill and stop in front of the Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, which stands on the ruins of the original castle.

After walking around the entire little church, we descend along the path back to the three tourist trail markers, enjoy the beautiful views of the surrounding countryside from the Vožice viewpoint, and continue along the red and blue trails to a place marked on the map as Mladá Vožice – Blatnice.

Here the blue trail leaves us, and we continue following the red trail to the Tree Avenue by the Grove, which is an avenue of beautiful protected trees. We can drink from the spring at the end of the avenue, then immediately join a field path that leads us below Šelmberk. We pass the local gamekeeper’s lodge, beside which an educational center has been growing in recent years. It aims to introduce visitors to life in a medieval town and its craft workshops, and we continue on to the ruins themselves.

Šelmberk Castle consists of a tall tower, which also serves as a lookout tower (and is sometimes open to visitors), the remains of the outer walls, and cellars (some of which can be entered). But our journey does not end with a tour of the castle; instead, we continue along the educational trail toward Šelmberk Mill, a place straight out of a fairy tale – a picturesque mill on the dam of a beautiful pond. We remain on the educational trail until the Šelmberk-Dvůr signpost, where we join the blue trail. It takes us along the Blatnice stream, whose surroundings are protected here because of the presence of rare animals, and then back to Mladá Vožice.

Anyone interested in extending the route should visit a modern attraction near Mladá Vožice – the Kovářka stone lookout tower, built in Moraveč in 2011 by a local blacksmith. The lookout tower also serves as a small blacksmithing museum. You can reach the village by turning onto the blue trail at the Šelmberk-Dvůr crossroads, but heading toward Noskov, then continuing along the blue trail to Slup. From there, take the field path to Moraveč. Return to Vožice along the road.

More info http://www.centrumselmberk.cz/cs/

Sudoměřice u Tábora – Smrkov – Pikov – Sudoměřice u Tábora

This trip will improve your mileage statistics, let you enjoy the natural beauty and views, and in gloomy weather you may even feel as if you were in Midsomer (and where is the murderer lurking?). It is definitely worth it.

We begin our journey in the village square in Sudoměřice u Tábora. From there, we head toward the road leading to Borotín. We do not go far, however. At the first turn, we turn right. After approximately two hundred meters, the village road becomes a paved forest road that will lead you past a local outing spot known as Obrázek, almost to the settlement of Šeborův Mlýn. There is a crossroads just before it. You cannot miss it: take the right-hand turn, which leads past cottages, and turn right again before the pond.

I recommend following the map and the forest paths from there. They will take you through the forest to the village of Sychrov. There, choose the path leading to Boratkovský Pond, Palouky, and Smrkov. From there, continue to Kamenná Lhota and then over Dehetník Hill to Pikov. The view from this village can be a reward for the entire trip, because it is simply breathtaking.

But since you will undoubtedly still have plenty of energy 😊, I recommend continuing along the forest path to Kostelec, where the Church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary stands (the oldest church in the Tábor region). Besides being very attractive, it also offers more enchanting views.

Now you will begin making your way back – follow the road to Nový Kostelec. Find the field path leading to the settlement of Na Basantce, then continue a little farther along the forest paths until you reach the red tourist trail marker. It will take you to the romantic ruins of Borotín Castle. From there, take the road or the forest path back to Sudoměřice.

From Bechyně to Bechyně, or Marlboro Cross River – an adrenaline-filled hike through the Smutná stream for the hardy only

Be warned: you are embarking on a journey full of obstacles. I recommend bringing sturdy sandals and strong friends. But it is worth it.

We start in the square in Bechyně. From there, we descend to the bridge over the Smutná stream (Plechhamr). Immediately after the bridge, we turn onto a path that runs through a belt of trees along the Plzinský stream and continue to the edge of the forest. From there, head toward Radětice. Along the way, you will pass the Radětice lookout tower, so do not forget to climb it. A short distance beyond it, you join the paved road to Radětice.

From there, follow the road toward the settlement of Na Prádle. Just before or just after the settlement, find a suitable place to enter the stream, then walk in the streambed all the way to Bechyně. Good luck!

Pacova Hill and Kladrubská Hill

Near Chýnov, close to Dolní Hořice, there are three protected areas. Since they are close to one another and not particularly large, it is possible to visit all of them in a single day. The best known of them are the Chýnov Caves, an approximately 1,400-meter-long cave complex of which about 260 meters are currently open to visitors. Compared with their counterparts in the Moravian Karst, the Chýnov Caves are smaller and are not typical dripstone caves, but they are picturesque and have a charm of their own. They are valuable from a zoological perspective because they provide shelter and wintering grounds for several species of bats.

A few meters from the entrance to the Chýnov Caves lies Pacova Hill. The name is somewhat misleading, as it currently refers to a former, now closed limestone quarry. It has been abandoned since the late 1990s, and nature is reclaiming the area. Trees and shrubs are covering the rocks, and part of the quarry floor is filled with water. A number of protected animals and plants can be found here.

Kladrubská Hill, located about one kilometer from the Chýnov Caves, is also a former quarry. While it was still in operation, a railway line led to it, and remnants of the line, along with other structures, can be found directly on the Hill or in its surroundings. Other traces of mining are no longer immediately apparent, however. Most of the rocks have been covered by vegetation, and the place looks very romantic. It is evidently appealing not only to people, but also to various animals and plants that thrive in limestone. If you come at the right time, you may even find rare orchids here.

More info https://www.caves.cz/jeskyne/chynovska-jeskyne

Novohradské Mountains – Terčino Valley

When I was supposed to visit the Novohradské Mountains last year, I spent the whole week persuading the weather to improve and stop raining. I am persistent, so I eventually succeeded. The sun was already shining in Nové Hrady, inviting us out for a walk.

This little town has several more sights, but I had already visited the chateau, so we set off for Terčino Valley – see the opening photo (I had been there before too, but in fact I remembered very little of it). Count Buquoy owned this area, and his wife Tereza wanted to establish a natural park there, which he graciously allowed her to do. We can thank him for that today, because Tereza certainly made the most of the place: she had various buildings constructed there (such as a spa and the Blue House) and even created an artificial waterfall. She planted exotic trees in the local forests. She put the finishing touch to the valley with Cuknštejn Fortress (the original medieval fortress). Tereza clearly had good taste, because today the place does not feel artificial at all; on the contrary, it feels completely natural and invites you to take a walk.

More info, for example, here: https://www.trebonsko.cz/tereziino-tercino-udoli-nove-hrady

Židova Strouha – from the stream’s source

I recommend setting out from the settlement of Židova Strouha (on the road between Březnice and Týn).  From there, it is easy to keep going in the right direction – simply follow the trail along the stream. At first, you walk beside an ordinary little brook. It gradually grows stronger, however, and the surroundings change. Forest-covered rocks begin to appear, and soon you feel as though you are in a fairy tale (and I can confirm it – I really did experience a miracle here). Before the stream flows into the Lužnice, you will find several larger pools that are perfect for swimming. The water in them is completely crystal clear.

More info, for example, here: https://www.kudyznudy.cz/aktivity/zidova-strouha-romanticke-udoli-nedaleko-bechyne

 

Many thanks to Mrs. Radka Brabcová for the great tips, text, and photos!

Romana