Trail through the Lužnice Valley Toulava – Příběnice Stage

Total length

15 km

Duration

4 hours

Terrain

Paved path, unpaved forest trail, asphalt.

Difficulty level

Moderately demanding, not suitable for strollers or wheelchairs.

Marking

Yes

Route description

We start the trail at Bechyňská Gate and Kotnov Castle in Tábor. Right at the start, we can choose:

From the gate, follow the green tourist trail towards the square, and after 100 m, turn left down the stairs. After 900 m, we cross the valley of the Tismenický Stream and an ancient alley to reach the Pilgrimage Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary in Klokoty. We continue on the green trail, passing the Baroque chapel at Dobrá Voda, and after another 2 km, we reach the footbridge at Harrachovka in the Lužnice valley, where we cross the river.

We then follow the red trail, which marks the entire path along the Lužnice River. After 600 m, we arrive at Švehla’s Bridge, cross the river, and descend past St. Eleonora’s Spring into the deep valley right by the Lužnice. After 2.7 km, we reach the footbridge at Harrachovka again. Here, we can cross to the other side and go 200 m upstream to the Harrachovka tourist restaurant.

From the footbridge, the trail continues along the red-marked tourist trail, passing several preserved old mills. After 4.8 km, we arrive at the tunnel in the Candátí rock massif. Another 1.8 km leads us through a romantic wooded valley, along an old alley, and finally along a rocky walkway under the Příběnice Castle ruins. In the remains of the lower castle, there’s a cozy guesthouse where you can refresh yourself.

The yellow tourist trail leads us from there with a 300 m steep climb directly to the ruins of the castle. We continue another 100 m on the yellow trail and then connect to the blue trail, which takes us 4.3 km to the Malšice railway station. From there, we return to Tábor on the oldest electrified railway line in Central Europe, built by František Křižík. (The route totals 15 km.)

If you want to extend your trip, we have another tip for you: continue from Příběnice further along the red trail by the river. You’ll encounter many more remarkable sights – for example, the only preserved chain Empire-style bridge in the country. The entire route to Bechyně measures 28 km. Experienced hikers can cover it in one day, but you can also plan it as a two-day trip and use one of the canoeing campsites for an overnight stay.

Detailed info at www.toulava.cz/stezkaluznice

Interesting places on the route

Tábor – The winding streets and corners of Tábor’s Old Town have a unique atmosphere. In the Gothic town hall, you’ll find the Hussite Museum, and you can descend into mysterious underground tunnels. You can enjoy a view of the town and the river valley from the Kotnov Castle tower. Children will appreciate a visit to the Chocolate and Marzipan Museum, the Lego Museum, or the only film armory in Europe, located in the nearby Housův Mill. Dads might enjoy a stop at Tábor’s Brewery Museum.

Pilgrimage Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary in Klokoty – This Baroque gem was likely inspired by the work of architect Jan Santini. Over time, it was complemented by cloisters and chapels, creating an extraordinarily impressive complex in the shape of a double cross, comparable to the greatest architectural treasures of European Baroque. Nearby is the Dobrá Voda Chapel, where, according to legend, the Virgin Mary appeared.

Harrachovka Footbridge – Standing since World War II, the footbridge arches gracefully over the Lužnice, where the river rushes and roars, drawing hikers into the wild, mystical landscape. Nearby is the Harrachovka tourist restaurant, which replaced the original wooden Harrach’s Pavilion. The footbridge underwent complete reconstruction in 2013.

Mills on the Lužnice – Silent witnesses of old times stand along the Lužnice banks – Beneš Mill, Kvěch Mill, Matoušovský Mill. They guard the right bank of the river. Though the trail doesn’t pass directly by them, you can admire them from across the river.

Tunnel in Candátí Rock – Suddenly, the trail leads you upwards and straight into the heart of Candátí Rock. The 32 m long tunnel was built by the Czech Tourist Club just before World War II so that hikers wouldn’t have to climb a dangerous path high up the rock.

Příběnice – You approach the lower castle dramatically via a walkway above the river that wraps around Příběnice Rock, where the castle once stood. Here, you can regain your strength at a restaurant with a children’s playground. To reach the remaining ruins of Příběnice Castle, you must climb a steep hill. Once, it was the largest castle of the famous Vítkovci family and later the Rožmberks. Today, you’ll find remnants of a unique octagonal tower and the overgrown foundations of several buildings.

Malšice and Křižík’s Railway – Here, you can visit a renovated gallery hosting exhibitions and cultural events, as well as the Church of the Holy Trinity with rare Beuron-style wall paintings. Malšice also offers another attraction – it is traversed by the first electrified railway in Central Europe, from Tábor to Bechyně. It was opened in 1903 and built according to the plans of electrical engineer and inventor František Křižík. The line is still in operation, and you can enjoy a romantic return ride to Tábor between meadows and villages. On summer weekends, you can even ride on one of the historic trains operated by Czech Railways, where regular tickets apply.