Educational Trail Podskalí – Strakonice
A walk through the romantic Otava River valley – nature within city reach.
PODSKALÍ – A romantic Otava River valley at the entrance to the town, featuring unique rock formations. Formerly used as an excursion and resting area, now a suburban recreational zone with diverse uses (cycling path, children's playground, fishing, campsite for paddlers). On the left bank stood the raftmen’s inn Oskořinka. On the opposite side is the Kalvárie hill, followed by Zellerin's slope with a 4.5-meter high replica of a Moai statue.
The entire area is crossed by the 3 km long Podskalí Educational Trail, established in 1992 and renewed in 2005. It begins on the left bank of the river, passing the Strakonice Burgher Brewery, where it is possible to arrange a tour including a look into the production facilities and beer tasting. It then continues upstream to a footbridge over a dead arm to the island, where it crosses to the right bank towards Kalvárie, a wooded slope with valuable forest communities, to the bust of F. L. Čelakovský, and further along the castle garden to the castle, where the trail ends.
Along the route, fourteen information boards are placed, providing insights into the history of Podskalí, the brewery, rafting on the Otava, Kalvárie, the Strakonice castle, and the local fauna and flora.
