Tour detail
At this tour through the heart of the Czech Republic you can look forward to a great variety of landscapes offering both rewarding hikes and relaxed walks, together with a host of spectacular medieval sights. From Brno, the center of Moravia, go up and deep into the Bohemian-Moravian Highlands, where the majestic Pernstejn Castle, walled town of Policka, or pilgrimage church at Zdar nad Sazavou in rare Baroque-Gothic style wait for you. Stop in Kutna Hora, a royal mining town with two Gothic cathedrals that might have become the Czech capital in the Middle Ages. Before reaching Prague visit the early-medieval Sazava monastery, monumental Cesky Sternberk Castle and romantic Konopiste Castle. The natural beauties of deep river valleys, lush forests, meadows and hills offering great vistas are perfectly matched with a lot of medieval UNESCO World Heritage Sites, which gives this tour a unique feel.
Itinerary
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Day 1
Brno - Pernstejn - Vir (18 km / 11.5 miles, elevation gain 450 m)This hiking tour starts in Brno, the capital of Moravia, dominated by a Gothic cathedral. After the morning welcome briefing, you will be transferred to never conquered 13th century Pernstejn Castle, one of best preserved examples of Gothic fortresses in the Czech Republic. And there is more to come. After walking along the forested Svratka River valley you will climb to another imposing, though ruined, Zubstejn Castle and the remnants of Pysolec Castle. Then descend to Vir arriving back at the Svratka River.
Overnight in Vir.
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Day 2
Vir - Svojanov (15 km / 9.5 miles, elevation gain 570 m)Start the day ascending from Vir over Javoruv Hill and the nearby lookout tower, both offering far views of the pristine forested landscape. Through the village of Nyklovice with nice timber houses come to well-preserved 13th century Svojanov Castle with a restored Renaissance palace. Then get a transfer to Policka, a town surrounded by the best-preserved medieval defensive walls in the country, 1220 m long. A delightful walk along a reconstructed part of the wall allows for superb views of Svojanov Castle. The town’s Neo-Gothic church tower is the birthplace of the world-famous music composer Bohuslav Martinu.
Overnight in Policka.
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Day 3
Policka - Kratka - Zdar nad Sazavou (20 km / 13 miles, elevation gain 190 m)After a car transfer to the heart of Bohemian-Moravian Highlands, start an easy, though long, walk through the Zdarske Hills Protected Landscape Area. Beginning in Kratka, a tiny village reserve with picturesque timber houses, go through Kadov, an idyllic place with a ‘good-old-times’ pub, and past romantic fishponds at the Tri Studne resort. Before descending to the town of Zdar nad Sazavou visit today’s highlight – the UNESCO protected site of St. John of Nepomuk Church, the masterpiece of Jan Santini Aichel, the creator of unique Baroque-Gothic style.
Overnight in Zdar nad Sazavou.
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Day 4
Zdar nad Sazavou - Svobodne Hamry - Hlinsko (10 km / 6 miles, elevation gain 90 m)Transferred to Svobodne Hamry, a village known for its medieval inn and historical forge, start an easy walk along the Chrudimka River valley. Continue to Vesely Kopec, where you can visit the local open-air museum presenting the typical folk architecture of the Highlands region. Thanks to its idyllic setting many movies and fairytales have been filmed here. Keep going through a varied landscape, crossing the Chrudimka multiple times on your way to Hlinsko, a town featuring well-preserved ensemble of timber houses called Betlem, which still lives with traditional crafts and costume parades enlisted as UNESCO World Heritage.
Overnight in Hlinsko.
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Day 5
Hlinsko – Doubrava River – Chotebor (8 km / 5 miles, elevation gain 200 m)Today’s hike is quite short, however it will take your time to explore the dramatic landscape of the Doubrava River canyon. After a transfer to Ore Mountains Protected Landscape Area, you will enter the steep-sided valley carved by the wild river. Be ready for a slow walk enjoying the sound of small, yet rapid waterfalls, climbing to riverside rocks and breathing the fresh air of deep forests. Reaching the town of Chotebor, you can walk around its historic center with a massive Gothic church.
Overnight in Chotebor.
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Day 6
Chotebor - Svata Katerina - Kutna Hora (12 km / 7.5 miles, elevation gain 100 m)Today you will take the Way of St. James route walking from one Christian sight to another. After a transfer to Svata Katerina (Saint Catherine) join the pilgrimage route at the early-medieval village church. Continue through the vast park of Kacina Chateau, a fine example of Empire architecture, which houses a National Agriculture Museum with exhibitions devoted to farming, herbs, and the history of the local lords. In Sedlec on the outskirts of Kutna Hora, we highly recommend seeing the ossuary and the cathedral reshaped in Baroque-Gothic style by Santini. Together with Gothic St. Barbara’s Church in Kutna Hora they are great examples of the country’s architectonic legacy protected by UNESCO. Then enjoy the magnificent historic center of Kutna Hora, a medieval silver mining town, in the 15th century matching with Prague.
Overnight in Kutna Hora.
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Day 7
Kutna Hora - Sazava - Cesky Sternberk (18 km / 11.5 miles, elevation gain 470 m)Start your day of walking after a transfer to the town of Sazava, home of one of the oldest monasteries in the Czech lands, founded in 1032. Walking along the Sazava River you will climb to Talmberk castle ruins and return back to the river in Rataje nad Sazavou, a popular riverside campsite. Walking over the forested hills you will come to the Sazava for the third time to see the Gothic jewel, majestic Cesky Sternberk Castle, still owned by the same family which built it in the 13th century. The castle features one of the largest European collections of historic prints illustrating the Thirty Years War of the mid-1600s.
Overnight in Cesky Sternberk.
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Day 8
Cesky Sternberk – Porici nad Sazavou – Konopiste - Prague (15 km / 9.5 miles, elevation gain 200 m)Begin the day with a car transfer to Porici nad Sazavou, and start walking from the local perfectly-preserved 12th century stone church. Mildly ascending along a romantic stream in a forested valley come to Konopiste, originally an early-Gothic castle reconstructed in the 19th century as the seat of the Archduke Franz Ferdinand d’Este whose assasination in Sarajevo in 1914 sparked World War I. Continue to a nearby Chvojen Hill which offers a wonderful view, unique 13th century church, and supposedly prehistoric fortifications. From here you can say goodbye to the Czech countryside, glimpse Konopiste Castle, and descend to its park to get a car transfer to the city of Prague, a treasury of Gothic sights, such as the Old New Synagogue, Old Town Hall, Charles Bridge or St. Vitus Cathedral, reminding us of the fact that Prague was repeatedly the capital of the Holy Roman Empire.
Gallery
Best time to go
The Central European continental climate consists of hot summers and cold winters. The best time for walking tours is between April and October. In the summer months it can get quite hot. May, June and September are generally good months to take advantage of the cooler, but still warm weather.
Events calendar
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Brno
The International Music Festival Spilberk
Music Festival in the grounds of Spilberk castle in Brno.
International Guitar FestivalInternational Guitar Festival which is considered to be one of the most important festivals of its genre in Central Europe.
Uprostred FestivalA programme full of wide selection of music productions, workshops, theatre performances, ballrooms, sport and multimedia events.
Concertus MoraviaeThis international music festival offers the opportunity to travel around the various châteaux and churches of South Moravia and the Highlands listening to music. The programme includes about thirty concerts.
Ignis BrunensisInternational fireworks competition – enjoy spectacular fireworks above Spilberk castle and music and dance performances.
JazzFest BrnoAn international jazz festival established in 2002 and one of the most impactfull jazz events in the Czech Republic.
Easter Festival of Sacred MusicThe very first festival dedicated solely to sacred music in the Czech Republic, a unique international project that showcases outstanding performances.
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Kutna Hora
St. Wenceslas Festival
Event featuring folk festivities, folk, country and modern music, craft markets, wine tasting and fireworks.
Kutna Hora International Music FestivalClassical chamber music event which incorporates also jazz and even rock. Much of its music is created on the spot during festival workshops.
Royal Silvering of Kutna HoraGothic celebration that takes you back to the 15th century. Royal knights tournaments, handcraft presentations and costumed parades bring this town alive.
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Prague
Strings of Autumn
One of the Czech Republic´s major music festival that brings together Czech and international artists.
Bohemia Jazz FestExperience one of the largest summer music festival in Europe featuring world-class jazz performances in spectacular medieval settings.
United IslandsEnjoy the music weekend in Prague – six open air stages, more than 100 bands of various genres (rock, pop, indie, electro, world, folk & jazz music), movies, exhibitions, workshops, street art, gastronomic experiences.
KhamoroA Roma festival which strives to show the richness of Roma culture and traditions as an integral part of Czech, European and world culture.
International Prague Spring Music FestivalAn international music festival featuring orchestral and theatre series, church concerts, recitals, morning concerts, chamber music and symphony orchestras.
Prague Spring FestivalInternational music festival featuring orchestral and theatre series, church concerts, recitals, morning concerts, chamber music and symphony orchestras.
2024 Tour dates
Self-guided tours
Every day from April to the end of OctoberGuided tours
to be specifiedFor a custom guided tour in different dates, send us an e-mail.
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