Czech Republic: Fairy Tale Castles and Country Walks

Czech Republic: Fairy Tale Castles and Country Walks 9 Days

From $4395 USD

Trip URL: www.adventurelink.com/

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Overview

Highlights

Duration: 9 Days
Comfort: 66.6666666666667%
Language: English
Rating: 80.0%
Trip ID: 88763
Start Location: vienna-austria
End Location: prague-czechia

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Primary Activities: Walking Tour
Other Activities: Local Culture & Cuisine, castle, Monasteries, Nature Reserves
Activity Level: Basic

Fairy tale castles built by feudal lords reign over the lush countryside and traditional villages of the Czech Republic. There’s hardly a better place in Europe for a journey built around country walks, and many of our hikes begin and end at wondrous castles. The medieval heritage of this vibrant nation is thoroughly enchanting and beautifully intact, especially in towns like Cesky Krumlov, a World Heritage Site where virtually nothing has changed since medieval times, and at tiny Telc, one of the best-preserved 16th century villages in all Europe, which we first see as we enter its arched gates at the end of a memorable day’s hike. Our journey begins in magnificent Vienna and concludes in Prague, the jewel of Bohemia, one of the world’s most evocative cities.

Note: We recommend that trip members arrive in Vienna the night before. We are happy to book extra nights at our recommended hotel.

What the Trip is Like: This trip is rated Level 2+, Easy to Moderate. It is an easy town and country walking tour consisting of day hikes of 2-5 hours over gently hilly terrain. You carry just a daypack. Our vehicle usually meets us at midday, bringing us either to a local restaurant, to the beginning of the next walk, or to another spot to explore. Our luggage is transported for us by van, so it is always possible to ride in the van if you want to opt out of a day's hiking. Please note that in Europe, the dinner hour is considerably later than what it is in the US. We do our best to secure early reservations for our groups, but most often the evening meal will be at 7:30 p.m.

Itinerary

Day 1: A Hiking from Austria into the Czech Republic’s Moravian Wine Country

We meet this morning in Vienna for a scenic 2.5-hour drive to the onceforbidden border between Austria and the Czech Republic. We cross the border on foot, hiking from Austria into the Czech Republic’s Moravian wine country, a lovely landscape of woodlands interspersed with orchards and vineyards. After lunch in the village of Valtice, we visit the nearby Lednice Castle for a walk through the sylvan setting of the castle’s stately grounds. Trails here connect beautiful gardens with outlying pavilions, statues, chapels, and peaceful ponds where swans glide. This magnificent garden is one of the largest formally designed landscapes in Europe, connecting with a twin chateau several miles away. Built by the Liechtenstein family as an enduring display of their wealth, Lednice once served as the family’s summer residence and was primarily used for formal dances. The castle underwent an extravagant renovation in the mid-19th century, leaving it flamboyantly neo-Gothic, its interior adorned with sumptuous silk wall coverings. Overnight at hotel in Lednice...LD

Lodging: My Hotel
Description: Located on the grounds of the historic Lednice chateau in the verdant Lednice-Valtice area, a World Heritage Site, this modern hotel built in classic style has large, comfortable rooms and a well-stocked wine cellar. Breakfast on the open-air terrace is a delight, and all rooms have views over the peaceful, forested grounds of the chateau.

Day 2: Palava Highlands Nature Reserve - Gothic castles and grand Baroque and Renaissance mansions

Gothic castles and grand Baroque and Renaissance mansions—more than 2,000 of them—dot the countryside of the Czech Republic, and for us, these historic monuments provide dramatic beginning and ending points for many of our hikes. Today, we enjoy our first castle-to-castle hike, this one taking us through the Palava Highlands Nature Reserve, a dramatic landscape of limestone outcrops and hardwood forests recently placed on the exclusive UNESCO list of biosphere reserves. Our hike begins below the ruined tower of a 10th century castle perched on a limestone crag. We pass through mixed forests of beech, maple, linden, and oak and cross meadows overlooking Moravia’s vineyards and villages, ending our hike at another crag-top ruin. After our hike, we enjoy a picnic or a restaurant meal in Mikulov, a Moravian town with Baroque and Renaissance houses surrounding its main square. The town is dominated by a huge Baroque castle with views out across wine country. This castle is where Napoléon stayed during his negotiations with the Austrians after the battle of Austerlitz, and Bismarck came here for the signing of a peace treaty with Austria. Mikulov once had a flourishing Jewish population, especially in the mid-19th century, and we visit the town’s medieval
Jewish cemetery, one of the largest in eastern Europe, with its finely carved tombstones. Overnight in Lednice...BLD

Hiking Distance: Approximately 7-8 miles

Lodging: My Hotel
Description: Located on the grounds of the historic Lednice chateau in the verdant Lednice-Valtice area, a World Heritage Site, this modern hotel built in classic style has large, comfortable rooms and a well-stocked wine cellar. Breakfast on the open-air terrace is a delight, and all rooms have views over the peaceful, forested grounds of the chateau.

Day 3: Enjoy a picnic lunch in the fairytale setting of the 14th century Castle Rostejn

Driving westward this morning, we enjoy a picnic lunch in the fairytale setting of the 14th century Castle Rostejn, then begin our hike from here. This Gothic apparition seems to rise straight up from the rock outcrop it is set upon. During part of the 15th century, it served as a hunting chateau for the feudal lords of the area, and there is a large game preserve established around it. We set off on trails that descend from the castle ramparts into enchanting pine forests and rolling meadows. Our trail brings us to the tiny village of Doupe. We continue further on a lakeside trail through fields of poppies, ending our hike with a walk through the arched town gates of Telc, one of the best-preserved Renaissance towns in all of Europe, now a World Heritage Site. When a fire destroyed the town’s wooden buildings in 1530, Telc was rebuilt from scratch, and today we see a perfectly preserved example of 16th century town planning. No building in Telc is less than 250 years old. The wedge-shaped main square looks like a stage set, with Renaissance arcades, Gothic and Renaissance houses of subtle pastel colors, and absolutely striking architectural unity. At the northern end of the square, the 14th century chateau, originally Gothic, was given its Renaissance facade by Italian craftsmen in the 16th century. We enjoy dinner on a terrace in the town square and an evening stroll to the small moat-like lakes that flank the town, where the red-tiled roofs are reflected in serene waters. We spend tonight and tomorrow night in Telc...BLD

Hiking Distance: About 6 miles

Lodging: Hotel U Hrabenky
Description: Set in a converted 18th century building of charming Baroque architecture, the 16-room Hotel U Hrabenky ("House of the Countess") is just a two-minute walk from the stunning medieval square of Telc, a World Heritage Site of Renaissance-era gingerbread houses.

Day 4: A Hike from Stare Mesto pod Landstejnem to Slavonice

The highlands of southern Moravia, a gentle rolling landscape of pastures and forests, became a “forbidden zone” between Austria and Czechoslovakia in the aftermath of WWII. Ironically, as a result, the region’s natural beauty has been well preserved. The area is great for hiking and the local folks can once again explore these woods for wild mushrooms (we may meet some mushroom gatherers as we hike). Our hike begins from Stare Mesto pod Landstejnem, about a 40-minute drive from Telc. As we hike, we see the remnants of fortifications that were meant to protect the Czech border on the eve of World War II; they proved useless when the Allied nations traded away much of eastern Europe in a futile attempt to appease Hitler. Our trail leads us through pine forests to Slavonice, a gem of a town with an intact medieval urban design, just a mile from the Austrian border. This Renaissance outpost was partially abandoned in the 18th century when the stagecoach road between Vienna and Prague was rerouted. It fell into further disrepair during the Cold War. Today its Renaissance main square, with its unusual biblical paintings on the exteriors of houses, has been carefully restored. We enjoy a picnic lunch and return to Telc for overnight...BLD

Hiking Distance: About 5 miles

Lodging: Hotel U Hrabenky
Description: Set in a converted 18th century building of charming Baroque architecture, the 16-room Hotel U Hrabenky ("House of the Countess") is just a two-minute walk from the stunning medieval square of Telc, a World Heritage Site of Renaissance-era gingerbread houses.

Day 5: A visit to the tiny medieval spa town of Trebon and Trebon’s Renaissance chateau

Today we cross into rural southern Bohemia, its winding roads lined by fruit trees, and visit the tiny medieval spa town of Trebon. Trebon’s Renaissance chateau is where the infamous Petr Vok, last heir of the noble Rozmberk family and a comrade of Mad King Ludwig II, lived quite colorfully. We continue to our destination, Cesky Krumlov, a beautiful town of Renaissance and Baroque houses lying on a double “S” curve in the Vltava River. We spend the afternoon on a walking tour of this unforgettable town. Like a miniature Prague, Cesky Krumlov is dominated by a grand castle that rises through five courtyards and ends in a huge watchtower. Only three families have lived in this castle since the Middle Ages: the Rozmberks, lords of the Renaissance era, the Eggenbergs, who built the castle’s first theater in the 1680s, and the Schwarzenbergs, whose untold wealth helped to defeat Napoléon. After dinner, you may wish to take a stroll along the banks of the Vltava River. Cesky Krumlov’s castle is illuminated at night, providing an enchanting backdrop for wandering and café hopping. Overnight at hotel...BLD

Walking Tour: About 4 miles

Lodging: Hotel Ruze
Description: This 16th century Jesuit monastery-turned-hotel has been restored with great attention to detail and it boasts a prime position on the Vlata River in the heart of medieval Cesky Krumlov, one of the most romantic towns in Europe. From the riverside patio, there are enchanting views of Cesky Krumlov’s castle and the St. Vitus church (especially at night when they are lit by floodlights).

Day 6: A hike on the wooded trails of the Sumava, one of the last wilderness regions in central Euro

Today’s hike takes place on the wooded trails of the Sumava (Bohemian) Forest, one of the last wilderness regions in central Europe and a natural border between the Czech Republic on one side and Germany and Austria on the other. We start our hike at Vyssi Brod, a serene 13th century Cistercian monastery whose bright white walls contrast vividly with the forest greenery. This centuries-old pilgrimage site, with its Romanesque cloisters and courtyards, is being restored by returning monks after four decades of closure under Communism. Vyssi Brod was returned to the Cistercian order in 1991. From the monastery, we hike across open fields with wonderful views of distant villages and continue to Rozmberk, a charming town built around the serpentine curves of the Vltava River. Above town rises a Gothic castle that once belonged to the lords of the Rozmberk family. After a late lunch in Rozmberk, we return to Cesky Krumlov in the late afternoon. Overnight at hotel...BLD

Hiking Distance: About 6 miles.

Lodging: Hotel Ruze
Description: This 16th century Jesuit monastery-turned-hotel has been restored with great attention to detail and it boasts a prime position on the Vlata River in the heart of medieval Cesky Krumlov, one of the most romantic towns in Europe. From the riverside patio, there are enchanting views of Cesky Krumlov’s castle and the St. Vitus church (especially at night when they are lit by floodlights).

Day 7: A visit to a fabulously intact 18th century Baroque theater Cesky Krumlov

Virtually nothing has changed in Cesky Krumlov since medieval times except for the addition of electricity. The town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Numerous sidewalk cafes liven the scene in Cesky Krumlov, and lovely old bridges cross and recross the Vltava River as it snakes through town. In Cesky Krumlov’s castle complex is a fabulously intact 18th century Baroque theater, one of few in the world that retain so much original wardrobe, scenery, and props. We enjoy a visit to this extraordinary theater and other parts of the castle this morning. The afternoon is free for independent exploration in town. Dinner is on your own this evening; the Trip Leader will offer various restaurant recommendations. Overnight at hotel...BL

Lodging: Hotel Ruze
Description: This 16th century Jesuit monastery-turned-hotel has been restored with great attention to detail and it boasts a prime position on the Vlata River in the heart of medieval Cesky Krumlov, one of the most romantic towns in Europe. From the riverside patio, there are enchanting views of Cesky Krumlov’s castle and the St. Vitus church (especially at night when they are lit by floodlights).

Day 8: Prague - the jewel of Bohemia and one of the world’s most beautiful cities

A drive of about three hours brings us to Prague, the jewel of Bohemia and one of the world’s most beautiful cities. Prague’s golden age lasted from the 14th to the 18th centuries, and much of the city’s present look was achieved in the 14th century during the long reign of Charles IV, the Holy Roman Emperor. Today, 600 years of glorious architecture, from Renaissance to Cubist, are on display in one of the few major cities to miraculously escape destruction by war. We arrive in Prague in time for lunch at a restaurant on the Vltava River with a beautiful view of the Prague Castle and Charles Bridge, then devote the afternoon to a wonderful walk through narrow Baroque lanes and over medieval stone bridges in this pedestrian-friendly city.

We begin with a walk in Old Town (Staré Mesto), the city’s Baroque medieval hub and a bustling center for mercantile activity since the 13th century. The heart of Old Town is the dazzling Old Town Square (Staromestské Náméstí), lined with brightly colored houses with Baroque facades. The square’s most famous sight is the 15th century Astronomical Clock, which during its hourly chime presents a mechanical tableau of large, moving figures including 12 bowing Apostles and a skeletal Death with his hourglass. One of the “new” additions to the square is the Jan Hus Monument, dedicated in 1915, with its inscription, “Truth Prevails.” In August, 1968, when the Soviets invaded Prague to the end the nationalist movement known as the Prague Spring, protestors shrouded this huge statue in black drapes. The famous Velvet Revolution of 1989 bloodlessly brought down the Communist government and the democratic election of 1990 installed Vaclav Havel, dissident and playwright, as president. On our walk, we pass by the theater where Havel’s first plays were performed.

Another part of our afternoon walk passes through Prague’s Jewish ghetto, Josefov, which dates to medieval times and is now a quiet, middle-class residential quarter. Much of Josefov was demolished in the 19th century when the Jews were moved to another ghetto, but Europe’s oldest functioning synagogue is still here, as is the poignant Old Jewish Cemetery, in use from the 15th century until 1787, with its crowded tumble of headstones. Under Nazi occupation in World War II, most of the 35,000 Jews living in Prague were deported or killed in concentration camps.

Before dinner, you may want to take a walk on your own on the Charles Bridge, one of the favorite destinations of visitors and locals alike, with its breathtaking panoramas of the Lesser Quarter (Mala Strana). The bridge is an impressive medieval structure set between two Gothic gateways. It links the Old Town with the Lesser Quarter and for four centuries was the only bridge across the Vltava River. We gather for our farewell dinner this evening. Overnight at hotel...BLD

Walking Tour: Around 3 to 4 miles

Lodging: Radisson Blu Alcron Hotel
Description: Just a two-minute walk to Wenceslas Square, this stylish hotel has one of the best locations in town and great access to every part of the magical city of Prague. The hotel was built in Art Deco style in the 1930s and has been faithfully and tastefully renovated. The hotel’s award-winning La Rotonde restaurant serves a delectable breakfast buffet, and there is a fully equipped fitness center with sauna, solarium, and spa treatments.

Day 9 Depart

Morning checkout and taxi transfer on your own to Prague’s airport for homeward-bound flights, or for other destinations in Europe...B only

Nuts & Bolts

Trip Includes

Expert leadership of a Wilderness Travel Trip Leader and local guides
Accommodations in hotels and comfortable inns
All meals included except 2 dinners
Ground transportation throughout the trip
Sightseeing and entrance fees on group tours

Trip Excludes

International airfare, Airport/hotel transfers
Any meals not specified in the Full Trip Brochure
Airport departure taxes
Optional tipping or gratuities to leaders or staff
Additional hotel nights that may be necessitated by airline schedule changes or other factors
Pre-trip expense of medical immunizations (if any)
Travel insurance or passports
And other expenses of a personal nature (alcoholic beverages, laundry, telephone calls, etc.).

Trip ID#: 88763

CANCELLATIONS: 20% cancellation fee applied if cancelled 60 days prior to departure. Cancellations within 60 days are 100% non-cancelable

Operator

For the specifics on this tour operator, please contact AdventureLink directly.

Reviews (8)

Ginger R.

We just loved the whole trip—the Trip Leaders were the best!
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Bob P.

We enjoyed the beautiful countryside and the castles. The guides really made the trip fabulous. They were great!
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Sharon M.

Our Trip Leaders did a wonderful job. I’m so glad we chose the Czech Republic—a beautiful country with ease of travel.
- Overall Rating
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Teresa K.

Our trip was perfect. As I’ve told many people, there isn’t a thing I would change. Especially loved our two guides.
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Sandra G.

This was a special trip with two exceptional Trip Leaders.
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David H.

Very enjoyable, with excellent Trip Leaders.
- Overall Rating
  90%
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  90%
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Mary P.

There was just the right mixture of walking and sightseeing. Everything was well thought out and planned.
- Overall Rating
  90%
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Russ F.

"Our guides made this trip extra special with their attentiveness to detail, their enthusiasm, and their delightful personalities. The areas we were in were beautiful, accommodations and food very good, and the sights quite interesting."
- Overall Rating
  80%
- Guide Rating
  90%
- Value Rating
  70%
- Itinerary Rating
  70%
- Accomodation Rating
  80%

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