Cycling Route Velešín – Roudné

From the town square, we join part of the famous Římov Passion Way, adding a spiritual layer to our journey. If desired, one can ride the entire route before continuing on.

The Baroque Way of the Cross with 25 stations leads from the northwest part of Římov northward, encircles Cedron Hill, follows alongside the Malše River, and ascends back to the village’s southeastern edge. The pilgrimage site with a Loreto Chapel was initiated in 1658 by the Český Krumlov Jesuit pharmacist Jan Gurre.

We then connect to the main road toward České Budějovice, passing through Hamr, where there’s a campsite and a chance to swim in the Malše. We continue to Doudleby, whose name was also given to an asteroid discovered in 1980. In Straňany (part of Doudleby), we descend toward the Malše River. During the second wave of Slavic settlement in Bohemia, after tribes moved from Pannonia, this area became the center of the Doudleby (ancestors of South Bohemians) in the late 8th to early 9th century. After Čapek Bridge, one can detour 200 meters to the parish Church of St. Vincent, the Pietà sculpture, or the Chapel of St. Barbara—remnants of a Přemyslid stronghold from the 10th century. Further downstream awaits the Biaggi Footbridge, restored with support from motorcycle racer Max Biaggi.

Following a scenic meander of the Malše lined with cottages, we reach a bridge. This is a “rechle” – a unique technical structure used since 1895 to capture free-floating logs during timber rafting.

We must push our bikes over the bridge and the path above Plav up to a viewpoint with a statue of St. John of Nepomuk. From there, we descend steeply into Plav. The final 4.5 kilometers are flat. In Vidov, we recommend a ride along the educational trail “Changing Landscape,” followed by a well-earned lunch. Then simply follow the Malše River to Roudné. You’ll now be at the edge of České Budějovice, and like in Srubec at the start, there are multiple ways to reach the city center—one being cycle path no. 1018.