South Bohemia is a spot that appears like somebody pressed pause on time. Gilded ponds, misty forests, and castles perched on mild hillsides appear nearly made as an instance storybooks.
On this highway journey, you’ll loop by means of the area’s most evocative spots, connecting Czech appeal with a contact of fairytale glamour.
Count on half‑timbered squares, baroque estates and stretches of forested serenity the place nature and historical past whisper at your window.
This highway journey by means of Bohemian forest & castles begins within the jewel‑field city of Český Krumlov, arcs by means of lakeside villages and hilltop castles within the Czech Republic’s south, and lands in Slavonice, a superbly preserved Renaissance settlement on the Austrian border.
Route Overview
Český Krumlov → Hluboká Citadel → Třeboň → Jindřichův Hradec → Telč → Slavonice
Elective addition: Holašovice
Splendid journey size: 4 – 6 days
Greatest time to go: Late spring to early autumn for lengthy days and leafy inexperienced landscapes
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Begin: Český Krumlov – cobblestones and riverbanks
Start in Český Krumlov, a UNESCO‑listed magnificence that appears like a stage set by Mozart or Kafka.
The river meanders in vast loops round timbered homes topped with terracotta rooflines, and a wood raft river cruise presents a peaceable solution to take all of it in from the water.
Earlier than you permit, discover the fortress’s tower for the perfect panorama and wander the Baroque theatre in its courtyard. Then discover a spot by the Vltava River with chilled Svatovavřinecké wine and watch the kayakers drift under.
Evenings in Krumlov have a quiet magic; delicate lights, road musicians and late‑night time dumplings. It’s the right heat‑up for the highway forward.
Keep: Base your self at Resort Grand, a historic city-centre resort on the primary sq., proper beside the fortress, with elegant rooms, breakfast buffet, and a restaurant serving Czech specialties.
Cease 1: Hluboká Citadel – white turrets and Woodland trails
A brief 30‑minute drive brings you to Hluboká Citadel, a Rococo masterpiece that cribbed inspiration from Windsor.
It sits on a wooded hill above Hluboká nad Vltavou and offers off a romantic English air in a Czech setting.
Wander by means of its ornate interiors – restored rooms, looking halls and a mirrored billiard room – then observe backyard paths right down to the Vltava’s edge.
Eat: Pop into the stables for a espresso or park‑aspect snack earlier than you hit the subsequent stretch of highway.
Keep: Keep simply steps from the fortress at Resort Podhrad, with fashionable rooms, a spa, sauna, and Czech dishes served in its cosy restaurant. Excellent after a day of exploring.
Cease 2: Třeboň – lakes, fish ponds and UNESCO sprawl
Proceed south to Třeboň, surrounded by Renaissance fishponds and shaded by willow‑lined channels.
That is spa and gradual‑journey territory; not castles, however mild water‑world superb for pedalling or paddling at lunch.
Discover the dimmed inside of Třeboň Chateau, stroll throughout the huge Svět Pond, and pop right into a lakeside tavern for carp, freshly smoked within the village smokehouse.
In summer season, paddleboard leases and boat excursions slip between islands on the pond – peaceable and picturesque.
Keep: Relaxation your night time at Resort Galerie, a contemporary spot within the city centre with a terrace and on-site restaurant – superb for enjoyable after a day by the lakes.
Cease 3: Jindřichův Hradec – crimson‑tiled fortresses and canal boats
From the ponds, loop east to Jindřichův Hradec, a hillside fortress city set on a moated island and fringed by outdated canals.
Spend a morning within the fortress advanced – royal summer season retreat, puppet museum and Renaissance courtyard – the place even the stables scent like historical past.
Take time to wander the canal walks or hop on a historic slender‑gauge railway ticketed by platform.
Eat: For lunch, hunt out the outdated city’s cafes and bakeries, go for koláče, a mild, fruity pastry good with Czech espresso.
Keep: Base your self at Penzion Měšťan, a relaxed guesthouse close to the fortress with spacious rooms and a comfy breakfast spot.
Elective Cease: Holašovice – conventional village
When you’ve a little bit of time, swing north to Holašovice, the superbly preserved South Bohemian village.
It’s a mannequin of people Baroque structure, whitewashed farmhouses cocooned by decorative gables, and is nice for a half‑hour wander and scenic photograph stops.
Cease 4: Telč – color‑block Renaissance central
Subsequent is Telč, simply essentially the most Instagramable place on this route. A sq. of vibrant Renaissance gabled homes rim a placid pond, and the chateau’s courtyard spills into lush gardens.
Be part of a guided stroll to understand the arcade structure, then make your solution to the fortress to discover its gilded rooms and manicured grounds.
Eat: For dinner, sit by the pond and absorb reflections whereas sampling regional sport or trout.
Keep: Keep within the coronary heart of city at Resort Celerin, set proper on the primary sq. with traditional rooms and wonderful views of Telč’s historic facades.
Closing cease: Slavonice – Renaissance border appeal
End your journey in Slavonice, a lesser‑identified gem sitting just some kilometres from Austria. Its labyrinth of pastel, frescoed façades seems frozen in time.
Climb to the city’s ramparts for countryside vistas, and hunt for painted portals that trace at what Telč’s artisans as soon as did a lot extra publicly.
Seize a biergarten close to the city sq. and toast the journey. When you’ve time left, hike the woods alongside the border trails – quiet, shady and superbly undisturbed.
Keep: Spend the night time at Resort Pivoňka, with cosy rooms, a backyard terrace and a relaxed bar, superb for having fun with Slavonice’s peaceable appeal.
Necessities
Driving time with out stops: Approx 4 – 5 hours whole
What to pack: Strolling sneakers, gentle layers for forest shade, insect repellent close to water, and a digicam battery for each picturesque sq..
Driving tip: Secondary roads are properly‑paved however gradual, park at city edges the place doable and stroll in for the perfect expertise.
Closing Ideas
This highway journey by means of Bohemian forest & castles within the Czech Republic is about slipping into outdated‑world appeal along with your car as your information.
Drop your map, park in a churchyard lane and find time for the small moments: morning mist on a pond, a spoil peeked at from a forest glade, the sudden hush of a sq. when vacationers drift away.
This was a quiet nation lengthy earlier than the highway, and it hasn’t been forgotten.
