Alš's trail
A hiking trip between Mirotice and Čimelice shows a little-known side of South Bohemia. The rolling landscape is rugged and sometimes reminiscent of mountainous areas, while the villages have a traditional, friendly South Bohemian atmosphere.
Download the route including the map in PDF
Total length
12 km
Duration
2 hours
Terrain
Dirt roads, gravel, asphalt
Difficulty level
The route is suitable for hiking or mountain biking. It is quite pleasant and easy, leading mainly along field roads. The local history focus of the trail is reflected in the individual stops, where visitors are introduced to the historical, natural and archaeological attractions of the area.
Marking
YES
Interesting places on the route
Mirotice - This former royal town is picturesquely situated on the banks of the Lomnica River. We recommend visiting the Mikoláš Aleš and Matěj Kopecký Museum. In August, the Mirotice Puppet and Music Meeting takes place on the local river island. The Mirotice Jewish Cemetery, founded in 1681, is one of the oldest and best preserved Jewish cemeteries in South Bohemia. It is protected as a cultural monument of the Czech Republic.
Budský dvůr - The southern part of the village of Boudy is dominated by the Baroque chateau Budský dvůr, which still bears the remains of the original exterior decoration. The chateau was built on the site in 1720 by the nobility of Písek in order to make the most of the potential of the region. Therefore, a potash factory, a sheepfold and a brewery were built here. The painter Mikoláš Aleš met his first wife here. He drew the chateau several times in his sketchbook and it served him, among other things, as a motif for illustrating Jirásek's short story The Hussars.
Viklan in the Malý Kosatín forest - This is a granite formation shaped by erosion in such a way that the upper boulder only touches the lower one with a small area and moves when touched. It was previously believed that the boulder was used in prehistoric times for bloody ceremonies. The place has a mystical atmosphere.
Botanical Natural Monument Malý Kosatín - A protected meadow with interesting moisture-loving flora is regularly mowed and only its edge is accessible.
Castle near Buda - A prehistoric hillfort from the Early Iron Age was built between the 7th century and the first half of the 5th century BC. Two lines of enclosures made of dry-laid stones and part of the internal structure have been preserved.
Solitude at Nováků - The history of this place was captured in Tereza Nováková's short story The Iron Cross.
Rakovice - former castle and alley to Čimelice - An alley of ancient red oaks leads from Rakovice to the castle park in Čimelice, where the horticulture department is located.
Čimelice Castle - Čimelice Castle is the only monument of palace architecture in the Baroque style in the Písek region. The castle is closed, its interiors were largely destroyed after 1948, when a film school and vocational training school were located here.
Čimelice - The first written mention of the village dates back to after 1400, but the surrounding area has been inhabited since prehistoric times. This village is often mentioned in connection with the end of World War II. It is speculated that the surrender was signed in a local villa on the outskirts of the village, thus ending World War II in Europe for good. However, eyewitnesses confirm that the signing took place in a nearby mill in the village of Rakovice. The film Hogo Fogo Homolka was filmed in Čimelice. On weekdays, you can buy fresh fish in local fish markets.
