Welcome to Transeurotrek.com - 2nd Trek: Czech Republic
Germany Munsterland to Brandenburg
France Aveyron to Haute Provence
FROM NORTH SEA TO ADRIATIC
Czech Republic
SEVENTH SECTION 20 to 25 July 2008 Varnsdorf (North Bohemia) to Melnik (North Bohemia) by E10 - 222Km.
Crossed the border into Varnsdorf and ascended along grassy paths well signed and marked to Jiretin - many mediaeval restored houses and very pretty - and into the Lusatian Mountains. The people and public infrastructure look poorer than Germany. Now much more hilly, even mountainous, along rough tracks with good views - stag beetles, raspberries, billberries. Lovely sub-alpine walking with small villages, isolated farms and small quiet towns, soft countryside and grassy paths. Stayed in Ceska Lipa, an aluminium town and previously a glass one. It has one of the biggest public housing developments in Europe - our cameras can not do it justice. Onward through fields and pine forests to Mt Bedzed with a wonderful castle at its peak - meditated in its atmospheric chapel. Lovely place. Onward to the lake resort of Doksy which was busy with holiday-makers though fewer now that Czechs are holidaying abroad. Finally two days of our best walking anywhere across sandstone mountains to re-join our old friend from east Germany, the River Labe (Elbe), at Melnik - old villages dug into sandstone cliffs, deep river valleys carved into sandstone with mixed woods, ridges, ravines, cornfields, grasslands, deer in full antler.
EIGHTH SECTION 1-17 October 2008 Melnik (South Bohemia) to Limburk (South Bohemia) by E10 and local paths - 368Km.
This section is possibly the best trekking of our two transeurotreks. A week of sunny warm weather following two of Europe's great rivers: Labe and Vltava through extensive woodlands and fantastic autumnal colours. Left E10 as no accommodation on the route and followed River Labe south on easy tracks through forests, villages and fields on roads, lanes and paths and past a huge 2Km long chemicals factory. Buzzards and red woodpeckers. River wide and slow-moving - lovely - strangely no traffic on it. Stayed in Brandys nad Labem - busy town with down-at-heel street infrastructure. Then due west to Prague on small roads and cycleways through housing estates in poor repair to big fields and entered Prague on higher ground (350m) along busy roads. Lots of birds along the way: moorhens, redstarts, starlings, buzzards, kestrels, jays plus hares, red quirrels, partridge, pheasants and grouse. Lots of sports facilities by the Vltava. Spent half day in the historic magnificent centre and enjoyed the fine layout of the suburbs either side. Continued south along the Vltava cycleway through more sports facilities and then turned east across the river plain and into the hills to reach Karlstejn with its magnificient fairy castle. Understandably touristy here. Stayed the night overlooking the River Berounka - herons and cormorants - and continued south across undulating fields and forests - lots of deer. Lakes and farmland to a large forest to reach a large memorial to a WW2 battle at Slivice. This is old and famous mining area centered on Pribram. Crossed extensive farmland to rejoin the Vltava at Zvíkovské Podhradí jutting into the lake formed in the river with a majestic castle on the headland above sheer cliffs. Followed the river through early morning mist and big fields, forests and lanes. Lots of deer, woodpeckers, buzzards, polecat, goldfinches and fish jumping. Spectacular views along the river on small unwalked paths through hidden valleys with wide banks for holiday homes and fishing. Pisek, a prosperous, busy, modern town with historic houses and squares, and on through hills and pine forests to much poorer Tyn nad Vlatavou. Lovely, picturesque track along edge of the river through hamlets in the narrow valleys. Ascended from the river at a dam and power plant to cross higher meadows in the mist. Series of pretty villages in the farmland before returning to the river at charming propsperous village Purkarec. Sat with the fishermen as the sun poked through the mist. New EU funded cycle track until we followed a path along the waters edge through the woods of an old estate to rejoin the cycle track into Hluboka - an exceptional day. Continued along this Prague to Vienna cycleway along the river to edge of Ceske Budejovice. Then struck south-west through lakes and fish farms to fields and deciduous woods with deer, woodpeckers, jays, ducks, herons, gulls, mushrooms, apples, cows and sheep. Hot day when mist cleared and reached Kremze in hot sun from where we climbed southwards into the Blansky mountain forest(800m) - easy walking into UNESCO listed town, Cesky Krumlov, an amazingly preserved, exquisite mediaeval town - stuffed with tourists. South-west from the huge castle along lanes and paths through quiet country and poor villages (still burning brown coal in communist-era housing). Passed a cemetery with old damaged German graves restored in a gesture of reconciliation with the banished communities post-1945 and a series of shrines dedicated to exiled German locals. Tougher, hillier but lovely, walking today on old drover tracks to Frymbuk where we crossed Lake Lipno by ferry to climb through the thick Sumava forest to the border.
DISTANCE IN CZECH REPUBLIC – 435Km = 272 miles
DISTANCE FROM NORTH SEA – 1943Km = 1214 miles
