Some of the best Vltava views. From Vysoký Újezd to Třebsín

Date of last visit: 8. 5. 2013

Nature will probably become green much sooner than last year so consider one day trip from Prague to this beautiful area for amazing views and hike in forests and meadows.

From Prague, take a bus from Smíchovské nádraží, no. 390, change at Štěchovice to bus no. 438 to Vysoký Újezd. If you want to make your trip shorter or go further to Štěchovice for example, you can also get off already at "Krňany, Teletín".

See map: http://mapy.cz/s/9qGd

 Follow blue trail direction Rabyně for 2 km to crossroads called "Pexův luh" where you change to yellow. From there it is only 6,5 km to Třebsín so it's really not a challenging hike:)

If you have GPS, consider small detour to one extra beautiful view at N 49° 49.505 E 014° 27.012 (or http://mapy.cz/s/9yK0 )

 
 

After passing Teletín, you will reach detour to view called "Máj" (May) which is 101% worth visiting. You may need map to continue as there were too many marks missing in the next part of the trail.

Shortly before reaching Třebsín, take another detour to Smetanova vyhlídka (view).

When you reach road, there is a station of bus no. 438 (station called "Krňany, rozc. Třebsín").

You can also continue further (for example up to Štěchovice); just a little longer on blue marked trail "to the left" (direction Štěchovice) and you can stop at "Usedlost Medník", little local farm. If you're lucky you can get wonderful products (milk, "tvaroh", meat...). It is very close to next station of bus 438 called "Krňany, Závist, u křížku", a bit back following the main road (exactly here: http://mapy.cz/s/9yKA )

The best of Krkonoše - allow a weekend or more!

So, Krkonoše (Giant Mountains) is highly visited area not just because our highest mountain (Sněžka at 1602 metres) is there. It is popular destination for winter sports as well as for all kinds of summer sports including hiking. Just with hiking, you could spend weeks there... especially when mushrooms and blueberries start to grow. But be aware of the fact you are in national parc and it is not allowed to go outside of official trails.

More about Krkonoše generally including many photos: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Krkono%C5%A1e

I was there couple of times, climbed Sněžka in April when there was still snow and we sledged down on a slope... but the best visit was a 3 days hike which I am going to present you here as a suggestion for a long weekend. It all started with geocaching and perfectly planned multi-cache called "Krkonose Crossing" - http://coord.info/GC1KVVN - in English, too. It takes you to the main red trail across the ridge and most people finish in less than 2 days. However when you are already that far why not make it 3 or more days?

Start in Harrachov - it takes less than 3 hours to get there by bus (direct) from Prague. Or take a train to Tanvald and then change to local train to Harrachov - it's a unique and beautiful railway! (specific details at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cog_railway_Tanvald%E2%80%93Harrachov) 

There is quite a lot to do in Harrachov itself but if you want to finish at Luční bouda this day you should hurry up:) Head to Mumlavský vodopád (waterfall) following blue sign. Continue further to crossroads at "Krakonošova snídaně" ("Krakonoš's breakfast") where you turn left (and up!) towards Vosecká bouda. Yet further up and there you are, at the red trail following Czech - Polish borders, called Polish–Czech Friendship Trail (Cesta česko-polského přátelství) which you are going to follow for a long time now... more details about the trail at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polish%E2%80%93Czech_Friendship_Trail

Map: http://mapy.cz/s/7Cwy 

Take a breath, enjoy the views... and continue towards Sněžné jámy. And Petrova bouda. And Špindlerovka. And Slonecznik. Hate me already? :) Last part! Enjoy the fantastic view to the lakes (Wielki and Maly Staw) and soon you'll reach crossroad where you turn right, taking yellow to Luční bouda to sleep over. It is not exactly cheap but you don't have to go anywhere down and you stay on the ridge. Plus now they have their own brewery, beer spa, sauna, restaurant etc. Cheapest accommodation is 300 CZK with your own sleeping bag or 400 CZK without it (or more as the luxury goes up:) http://www.lucnibouda.cz/en/

Map: http://mapy.cz/s/7Cx3 (red trail; Luční bouda in right below corner) 

Get up, have a breakfast, have a look around outside... See it? Yes, Sněžka. Take blue trail across moorland to Obří sedlo. Then it's clear - red trail and up! It's worth it... 

You go down on the other side and continue on red towards Jelenka, Nad pomezními boudami etc. There are quite many places to eat at "Malá Úpa - Pomezní boudy" - try for example the divine blueberry dumplings! 

Map: http://mapy.cz/s/7Cxj

 Take a green trail now. You'll still follow Czech - Polish borders go through "Pomezní hřeben" (Border ridge). I can't tell you exactly where you'll finish not to spoil the geocache but I promise beautiful views and rewarding hike. 

We then went down and slept at this pension - and I really liked it (and the owners and their hospitality, too!) - but their prices went up a lot since then though... now 650 CZK per person / day incl. breakfast, I hope it's still worth it http://penzion-jonas.webnode.cz/cenik/

Map: http://mapy.cz/s/7CxB

Third day, we first took green trail going south (up to "Pod Starou horou" crossroad where we changed to blue to a spa town Janské Lázně. Nothing extremely special but a very nice mostly forest hike (and kilos of mushrooms at that time). Map: http://mapy.cz/s/7CxL

There are some direct buses to Prague (almost 3 hours) or you may change in Jičín depending on the connection.

From Beroun to Řevnice - 24 km (or more!)

From Damil

Waterfall in Tetín

View from Tetín castle

Map: http://mapy.cz/s/6U0z We started at Beroun - there are frequent trains from Praha Hlavní nádraží or Smíchov (or buses from Zličín). If you have enough time take a walk in the town - it's very nice - but I'm leaving details for another post.

You can follow the blue mark for most of the trail. First interesting stop is Tetín. Before reaching the village square you can make a detour to the big hill on your right sight - Damil. Besides a perfect view it is a piece of beautiful nature (there used to be a medieval fortress too).

In Tetín itself, some local sights including the castle ruins with perfect view - more about the history at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tet%C3%ADn_%28Beroun_District%29 . There is a waterfall (15-17 m) under the castle - you can hear the sound of water - just follow it (there is a small but clear path). 

Then the blue trail continues through national natural reserve Koda (with forests, a cave etc.), to village Liteň with a chateau (you cannot see much of it though. You can make a short detour to local Jewish cemetery founded in 1680 - N 49° 53.759 E 014° 08.690) . Next is chateau Svinaře – opened only occassionaly (there will be festival of smithery 1.-2. 6. 2013). 

Altough a big part of the hike is on roads it's still nice because of the landscape views. 

I recommend to stop for a lunch in Halouny in really good pub “U zrzavého paviána”. Look for the signs to follow (some of them say just "Hospoda, občerstvení") or ask - you have to leave the main road to the right... N 49° 53.136 E 014° 12.252. Different menu every day. 

After that, you have to decide for where to continue - our lazy half of the group (including me) took the most direct green trail to Řevnice. Not a bad choice - it's a nice walk in open area with beautiful scenery! If you still have enough energy though, continue on blue trail. Expect quite a few level lines but also perfect hike in forest with a short detour to rock viewpoint Babka. It's also a few km longer.

Trains from Řevnice leave every half an hour Prague.

For geocachers: there are some traditional caches on the way. In Tetin, there is an outstanding multi in English http://coord.info/GC3GMK9 

In Řevnice, don't miss "Spionska" and "Hasici" traditionals.  

 

Walk from Lipany to Kouřim and its open air museum

From Prague, take a bus to station "Vitice,Lipany,mohyla" - check for direct buses but you'll probably have to go to Český Brod first. There is a memorial of famous Lipany battle (1434) - read more at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Lipany 

Follow red trail all the way up to Kouřim - it's an easy walk, less than 7 km, through village called Království (= Kingdom) - no idea of whom. There are lot of geocaches around (TFTC serie + some very popular caches in Kouřim). Ideal for winter / early spring (we did it in Dec. 2011). 

http://cernokostelecko.info/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/kourim-img.jpg

In Kouřim, you can spend quite some time sightseeing (historical square, fortification (walls), Jewish cemetary...). There is also astronomical middle of Europe! 

If you have time take yellow trail to educational trail (2,5 km) "NS (naučná stezka) Stará Kouřim" - southeast. Map http://mapy.cz/s/6KeK. First interesting stop is "Lechův kámen" (stone) connected with some legends and beautiful panaroma of the town. Second main point of interest is a former hillfort dating back to years around 4800 B.C. with several settlements during the history. I missed this trail unfortunately but some say the yellow mark dissapers at some parts and goes around the sights. Hope you can find it.

But the main attraction is open air museum (skanzen / muzeum lidových staveb) - collection of old buildings fully equipped to show how people used to live in 17th-19th century. Official website is in Czech only http://www.skanzenkourim.cz.To get there, take green trail from Kouřim square (Komenského and Ruská street, it's less than 1 km).

Opening times: Jan, Feb, March, Nov closed

April, Oct: Fri-Sun, 10:00 - 16:00

May, Jun, Sept: Tue-Sun, 10:00 - 17:00

July, Aug: Tue-Sun, 10:00 - 18:00

Dec (except of 24., 25., 31.): Fri-Sun, 10:00 - 16:00, also opened 26. and 27. 12.

Entrance fee adult - basic 60 Kč, when there is some special programme - 90 Kč

There are some "special days" during the year connected to traditional feasts and handcrafts days during summer - expect special programme, actors in costumes, performance of handcrafts and opened restaurant in the area (tiny but fantastic!). Listed here: http://www.skanzenkourim.cz/pro-navstevniky/narodopisne-porady. 

To get back to Prague, take train to Pečky and change to another train to Praha, Masarykovo nádraží. Train station is 1 km west from the centre. Or there are some buses going to Český Brod (there you change to a train). 

Nové Město nad Metují + nature trail Peklo

"Peklo" actually means "hell" but that's something you would never think of when visiting these places.

We did this hike the opposite way, starting already in village Borová but that part is not so interesting so I'll just skip that.

Recommended start is in Nové Město nad Metují which is beautiful town worth spending some time at. English website http://english.novemestonm.cz provides good information about history, sights, historical square, accommodation and restaurants as well as some hiking and cycling trails recommendations ("For tourists" chapter)! From Prague, you can get here by bus (2,5 h). We ate at "U Paďourů" at the squary - nothing fancy, classic Czech pub, but the food was great! (and cheap).

The main sight there (besides the historical centre, square and fortification) is a chateau - with a web in English http://www.zameknm.cz/en. Check the opening hours. Entrance fee - 100 Kč adult. Gardens free of charge (very nice! Plus unique collections of caricature dwarfs statues from year 1713). 

You can find a map here: http://mapy.cz/s/6K8Z - so you can see you can easily spend a day there with a short walk for example to a viewpoint and castle ruins (red trail to south-east; Juránkova vyhl. + zříc. hradu Výrov - photogallery at http://www.turistik.cz/cz/kraje/kralovehradecky-kraj/okres-nachod/nove-mesto-nad-metuji/zricenina-vyrov/galerie)

Geocaching - there is a power trail close by - first cache at http://coord.info/GC3NG2E - contact me if you need help with translation

So now the PEKLO TRAIL - THE HELL! I couldn't find out why it has such name:( From the town centre and/or bus station, follow red trail. Most of the time you'll go through a beautiful river Metuje valley; it is a nature reserve. You can even go canoeing on the river! Details here http://rivers.raft.cz/metuje/jaro.aspx?ID=3. After about 6 km you reach crossroads of 8 trails with a confluence of rivers Metuje and Olešenka and restaurant called Bartoňova útulna in a unique old building by architect Jurkovič. Our experience was unfortunately rather bad there (the food). 

Now you have to decide where would you like to continue - check map at http://mapy.cz/s/6Ka2. To go back to NMNM, take yellow (very steep at the beginning) or blue (later green) trail with a stop at Sendraž lookout tower (photos at http://rozhledny.webzdarma.cz/sendraz.htm). OR you can continue to Dobrošov (see another post here about it) and/or to Náchod. From there you can take a bus back to NMNM (15 min) or just stay there, take bus/train to Prague etc. Take blue trail if you want directly to Náchod (7 km) or red if you want to stop at Dobrošov first (5 km).

http://turistika.arkotechnik.cz/Reports/R_023_Peklo/R_023_Peklo_08.jpg

20 km hike Jevany - Mnichovice

Easy and nice hike close to Prague. 

Get a bus from Háje metro station to Jevany (45 minutes). Follow red trail all the way to "Ondřejov - hvězdárna, rozc." - map available at http://mapy.cz/s/6K2g. You will go through national nature reserve "Voděradské bučiny" which is beautiful forest area. You can maybe pick some mushrooms along the way.

From the crossroads, start walking on yellow all the way till Mnichovice. You can stop at the observatory (details http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ond%C5%99ejov_Observatory). 

Consider leaving the yellow mark app. 350 m before "Vlčí halíř rozc." (about 1 km before edge of Mnichovice) and start walking up instead. There is a small not very interesting chateau and mainly an amazing oak which is at least 600 years old (according to a legend 1100! ). Map: http://mapy.cz/s/6JWR or coordinates N 49° 56.167 E 014° 44.486. There is also fantastic geocache http://coord.info/GC3MK96. 

Before entering Mnichovice, you can stop at http://www.sibenicnivrch.cz - we tried the restaurant, it was quite good. Besides, they claim to be the biggest log house in middle Europe, have lot of sport facilities, ski slope 250 m, and a goat farm. 

From Mnichovice, take a train back to Prague (38 minutes to Main train station / Hlavní nádraží).

20 km Mirošovice - Kamenice + brewery Velké Popovice + chateau Štiřín

This hike is connected to our geocache "Landscape of Baron Ringhoffer" - http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=00138a3a-58a6-4afc-85a9-c359dfc0be68 

Classic tourist map: http://www.mapy.cz/s/6JTC 

Map of the specific trail and photos (PDF): http://www.laduv-kraj.cz/e_download.php?file=data/editor/40cs_3.pdf&original=krajinou_barona_ringhoffera.pdf 

Let me quote following source: http://www.laduv-kraj.cz/tourist/landscape-of-baron-ringhoffer

"The nature trail called Landscape of Baron Ringhoffer has been established in memory of the prominent industrialist who greatly influenced the landscape in the Velke Popovice and Kamenice regions in the 19th century. Baron Frantisek Ringhoffer, the owner of an engineering empire in Smichov in Prague and an important figure in the elite circles at the time, established the brewery in Velke Popovice and a number of other manufacturing enterprises, including a copper mill, saw mill, brickworks and dairy. The Baron and his family took care of the local landscape with great dedication, planting avenues of trees, and maintaining the roads and land surrounding two of their residences – the Stirin, Lojovice and Kamenice chateaus. Their care for the landscape is noticeable to this day.

The tourist trail Landscape of Baron Ringhoffer is one of the greatest walks in the surroundings of Prague. It offers magnificent views of the Velkopopovicko nature park and the surroundings of the Sazava river, an excursion to the Velke Popovice brewery, a stroll through the park belonging to the Stirin chateau, a walk through the avenue of trees leading to the Ringhoffer family crypt, a visit to the church with a rotunda and the Jewish cemetery in Kostelec u Krizku and much more.
The trail is 20 km long, includes 10 information signs and can be reached by the integrated Prague public transport. The walk starts in Mirosovice (on railway line no. 221 – Prague Main Station – Benesov u Prahy) and ends in Kamenice, with transport options including buses to Prague, to the Budejovicka underground station.
This project of the Josef Lada Country micro-region was completed in 2005 – 2006 with a financial support of the Central Bohemia Region."

TRAIL IS SUITABLE FOR CYCLISTS EXCEPT OF SHORT DISTANCE BY REPCICE.

  

Beginning of the trail is to be found next to the train station at Mirosovice. Follow first yellow then blue tourist marked trail and continue until Velke Popovice where you can go to excursion in local brewery or have a great lunch and beer (one of my favourite)! 

English web for details: http://pivovar.kozel.cz/en/homepage.html

Next, follow yellow tourist marks that will lead you to board no. 5. Follow the trail up the hill (across the stream) – this time, first green marks then blue again direction Stirin. Consider visit to the Stirin chateau (you cannot go inside though) and its parc – it is very beautiful! Otherwise continue following blue marked trail to board no. 7 at Hamersky pond. Keep on blue marked trail. Go through a beautiful avenue of trees to Ringhoffers‘ tomb and to 8th board. Still on blue, you will soon reach 9th stop. From there consider a short detour to local Jewish cemetary (photos at http://www.atlasceska.cz/stredocesky-kraj/zidovsky-hrbitov-kostelec-u-krizku)

Unmarked trail will then lead you to the centre of Kamenice and last board at N 49° 54.258 E 014° 35.194 and also to the bus station. Or you can take cycling path or partly green trail - check the map, it's easy. Hope you will like it there!

Geocaching

EVERYTHING ABOUT GEOCACHING: WWW.GEOCACHING.COM

This activity already brought me so much fun, helped me discover so many new places and learn so many new things! Basic membership is for free so all you need is a GPS - which more and more people have in their smartphones anyway. Give it a try. Start with some easy, traditional caches. The more "favourites" it has the more popular and worth going it is. For many people, it is highly addictive activity! :)

For me it is also perfect diversification of the hiking trips, not to mention most caches include interesting facts about places so you can read it when you are there.

Here are lists of my favourite geoocaches ("bookmarks" were here before the system of "favorites" was introduced):

http://www.geocaching.com/bookmarks/view.aspx?guid=35e40194-2234-48b1-b0d5-47ebdc549a46

http://www.geocaching.com/profile/?guid=e9d31188-989d-40d9-a4f5-fe319f4e178b