Fritsch Trail through the Vltava River Valley

Total length

10 km

Duration

3 hours

Terrain

Paved paths, unpaved forest trails

Recommended period for visiting

Year-round

Difficulty level

Moderate; not suitable for strollers or wheelchairs

Marking

Yes

Route description

The entire trail consists of three sections built gradually. The most difficult section, 4 km long, from Boršov nad Vltavou to Jamné, was carved out between 1933–1935. In 1936, the 7 km section from Jamné to Dívčí Kámen was opened, followed by the final 7 km stretch in 1938, ending in Zlatá Koruna. Some rocky parts were even blasted by army engineers. In 2010, a commemorative plaque was restored to honor the construction of the trail.

We begin at the Church of St. James in Boršov nad Vltavou and follow the red hiking trail. The trail runs along the left bank of the Vltava River through a romantic canyon of meandering waters, designated as the protected natural monument “Vltava at Blanský Forest.” About 1 km from the start, a detour leads to the oval medieval stronghold of the Lords of Boršov from the 13th century and to the memorial of US Air Force pilot Capt. R. F. Reuter, who was shot down here in 1945.

If you stay on the red trail, after about three hours of walking—filled with beautiful river and landscape views—you’ll arrive beneath the ruins of the medieval Dívčí Kámen Castle. In summer, you can také a dip in the river or wave to the passing canoeists. Just before you reach the castle (about 400 m away), you’ll pass the remains of a unique hydroelectric power plant from the 1920s, destroyed in 1980 when a five-ton boulder fell on it. Water from the Křemže Stream once flowed through a tunnel carved directly into the granulite rock neck.

After exploring Dívčí Kámen Castle, perched on a rocky outcrop surrounded by the Křemže Stream and the Vltava River, you have several options:

Continue on the red trail for the shortest route (about 1 km) to the train stop at Třísov,

Or také a slightly longer educational trail (about 2.5 km) through the Křemže Stream valley to the Holubov train station 

Both stops lie on the České Budějovice–Černý Kříž line, offering a comfortable return by train to České Budějovice. More ambitious hikers can continue on the Fritsch Trail along the red route to Plešovice or Zlatá Koruna (about 6 km).

Interesting places on the route

Boršov nad Vltavou

Located on the southwestern edge of České Budějovice, Boršov is famous as the endpoint for water sports lovers paddling the Vltava from Český Krumlov or Zlatá Koruna. Its history dates back to the 13th century, with notable features including the defensive ramparts of the Boršov Castle and the late Gothic Church of St. James, boasting a seven-meter fresco of St. Christopher and a still-functioning bell from 1495. Worth visiting are the inspiring Parish Garden with visual art installations, the restored Habermann Orchard, and the Glagolitic Path in the park behind the cemetery. Across the river in Březí, opposite the “Poslední štace” campsite, stands a historic mill that still processes 60,000 tons of wheat annually. Europasta ranks among the top five largest pasta producers in the world.

Dívčí Kámen Castle

A gem among medieval Czech castles, Dívčí Kámen stands on a high rock above the confluence of the Křemže Stream and the Vltava River. The combination of rocky formations, winding waterways, and human craftsmanship creates a landscape rich in botanical and zoological diversity, declared a nature reserve and part of the Blanský Forest Protected Landscape Area. The castle has likely been abandoned since 1506 and was referred to as desolate in 1541. It is open year-round from sunrise to sunset.

Celtic Oppidum Třísov

One of the most important prehistoric sites in South Bohemia, this oppidum is the southernmost of its kind in Bohemia. Covering about 26 hectares, it sits strategically 120 meters above the confluence of the Vltava and Křemže Stream, near Dívčí Kámen Castle. It emerged sometime after 150 BCE and was abandoned after the mid-1st century BCE. Archaeological findings show it was burned and rebuilt. The Boii tribe, from whom Bohemia gets its name, flourished during this era.

Zlatá Koruna

Originally called “Svatá Koruna” (Latin: Sancta Corona), Zlatá Koruna is a village north of Český Krumlov on the Vltava River. Highly attractive to canoeists as an overnight stop on their journey from Vyšší Brod through Český Krumlov to Boršov, Zlatá Koruna is home to a significant medieval Cistercian monastery—one of the most valuable Gothic monasteries in Central Europe. The historical village center is a protected heritage zone.

Blanský Forest Protected Landscape Area (CHKO Blanský les)

A region of exceptional value, known for its preserved natural structures, forested foothills, blooming meadows, and many rare plant and animal species. The highest peak, Mount Kleť, is a defining landmark of the entire area.

Refreshments along the trail

 Boršov nad Vltavou, Canoe campsite Dívčí Kámen (summer only), Dívčí Kámen Castle, Třísovský hammer mill in the Křemže Stream valley, Třísov, Holubov, Plešovice, Zlatá Koruna