Relaxed hike from Jindřichův Hradec to a scenic viewpoint

Total length

16 km

Duration

4:30 h

Terrain

Paved forest, field, and asphalt roads.

Difficulty level

Easy

Marking

Yes

Route description

Start from Náměstí Míru (Peace Square) and head towards Balbínovo Square, passing the Jindřichohradecko Museum, through the Nežárecká Gate, across the bridge over the Nežárka River, until you reach the tourist trail junction, which directs you right, uphill. Continue following the red tourist trail. After passing through the town area, on your right you’ll see Mertovy Gardens, which feature a Way of the Cross and the neo-Gothic Church of St. James, whose crypt holds the Černín family tomb. Continue along the red trail, past the Jindřichův Hradec Airfield, through the village of Děbolín, and up to the summit of Rýdův kopec with its lookout tower.

The trail then leads past St. Barbara’s and onto an asphalt road that takes you to the charming village of Mnich. There, you briefly join the blue tourist trail, but just past the chapel, you turn left onto the old road to Kardašova Řečice, known as the Zrádná cesta (“Treacherous Road”). After 2.5 km, you’ll reach a small pond, turn right, and continue along the dam to the site of the former Řečice Castle, before arriving in Kardašova Řečice.

Interesting places on the route

Jindřichův Hradec

A South Bohemian town on the Nežárka River, perfect for an attractive holiday or weekend trip. It offers a charming historic center, a castle complex (the third-largest listed monument in the Czech Republic), museums, galleries, sports and cultural activities, plus a wide range of accommodation and dining options.

Jindřichův Hradec Airfield

At this public domestic airfield, you can visit a restaurant with a viewing terrace and watch the flight operations. The airfield also offers scenic flights and tandem parachute jumps. Outside the summer season, we recommend calling ahead to check the availability of refreshments: +420 384 321 009.

Rýdův kopec Lookout Tower

A 33-meter-tall lookout tower, freely accessible from March to October, daily from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM. The viewing terrace is located 24 meters up. Visitors can climb it via either a spiral steel staircase with 102 steps or a wooden staircase with 128 steps.

St. Barbara

This site, once likely a sacred Celtic location, lies at the junction of several underground springs. In the 13th century, a hermitage chapel was built here, followed by a late-Gothic church in 1503. Since 1888, a Swiss-style hunting lodge has stood here. Today, thanks to a private owner, the historic site is in beautiful condition.

Former Řečice Castle

Only parts of the moat and ramparts survive from this former guard castle, which was destroyed during the 15th-century conflicts between the Lords of Hradec and the Hussites and later dismantled.

Kardašova Řečice

Originally called just Řečice, the name “Kardašova” was added in the 16th century, reportedly after a nearby pond (kardaš = Turkish for “brother”). Local points of interest include the Church of St. John the Baptist, whose foundations lie in an old Romanesque-Gothic church. There’s also a Baroque chateau built in the first half of the 18th century. The local town museum, located in a mill, is open from April to September (minimum 3 people) by prior phone arrangement: +420 725 053 386.