Travelling on the “iron curtain” route to South Bohemian fish ponds
Term: Guided cycling tours:
distance: 280 km long
duration: 8 days
This cycling tour begins right in the heart of Bohemian Šumava National Park and continues along the Schwarzenberg Canal to the lake which brings us to the highest situated lake in Bohemia – Plešný Lake, which is also a remnant of the Ice Age. We will go downhill to the valley of the Vltava river (the area of the former “iron curtain” around the “czech sea”, the largest water surface in Bohemia), which is full of numerous cultural and historical sights such as monsteries in Vyšší Brod and Zlatá Koruna, the Rožmberk castle and the breathtaking historical town of Český Krumlov having the second largest castle in Bohemia and a great number of pubs which are full of character. At this point it is time to come back to the borderland through scarcely inhabited Novohradské Mountains, through which the imigrants for freedom used to escape. From here we will move on to the Třeboň region, full of silver ponds, pictures villages and fl oodplain forests.
The programme includes also something extra:
- A return ferry-boat trip across the Lipno dam
- A chair-lift ride up to the top of Kleť (altitude 1084 m)
- Dinner in a stylish tavern in Český Krumlov
The total length of the route is 280 km and it is divided into daily sections ranging from 26 to 52 km. The Šumava region and the neighbourhood of Český Krumlov have more demanding terrain and longer downhills. Flat surface and the low level of diffi culty in the region of Třeboň.
Itinerary:
Day 1
Meet in Prague, transport to Šumava, accommodation
in a boarding house in Stožec, followed by dinner.
Day
2
From Stožec to Horní Planá, 47 km. First we will set off through
the heart of the National Park of Šumava along the Schwarzenberg Canal, which
used to serve as a place where Šumava wood was transported to Vienna. We can go
uphill up to Plešný Lake, a remnant of the Ice Age, from which we get to the
Lipno dam – the “czech sea”.
Day 3
Horní Planá to Rožmberk,
41 km. We travel by boat to the right bank of the Lipno Dam and then to the
former “forbidden zone” territory, which used to be occupied by Russian soldiers
in the socialist era. Nowadays we can come across only secluded and half-ruined
houses in these formaly occupied areas (Přední Zvonková, Zadní Zvonková and
Saint Tomáš). Another transport to Frymburk from which we are in for a downhill
to the Vltava valley - to the picturesque town of Rožmberk village boasting its
massive castle dominating on the rock above the river.
Day
4
From Rožmberk to Český Krumlov, 26 km. After the optional midday
visit to the castle, we may “struggle” with slightly more demanding terrain
which leads stright to the Český Krumlov.
Day 5
Trip around Český
Krumlov, 30 km. Visit to the Zlatá Koruna monastery, a chair-lift to the top of
Kleť (the altitude: 1084 m) and return to Český Krumlov (11 km). Optional visit
to the town. Dinner in a stylish tavern.
Day 6
Český
Krumlov to Tereziino údolí, 52 km. This breathtaking and demanding track will
lead us to the abandoned and deserted boarderland of the Novohradské
Mountains.
Day 7
Terezino údolí to Třeboň, 38 km. We
continue downhill along the Czech–Austrian border to the wide and flat
countryside where the Lužnice River meanders. Here we will see the first fish
ponds and then travel to Třeboň.
Day 8
At midday
eithertour round the town with the opportunity to visit the Schwarzenberg tomb,
from a 14th century brewery or take a trip to the neighbouring “water” chateau
Červená Lhota. Return to Prague.
