River Vltava - Czech republic

spring (source):
Vltava river is created by confluence of Teplá (Warm) and Studená (Cold) Vltava in a natural preserve Mrtvý luh near to the community of Nová Pec in Bohemian Forest.

flow length:
430 km

Localites

Roztoky Forest - Quiet Valley

Locality type:
Educational path

Place:
Prague environs

This educational path has such advantage, as it is full of nature beauties and it is easily accessible by public transport. The path is easy from physical point of view, and it is passable on bicycles, too. You can pass it at any time and season and weather period. The stage of this path is excellent. It was open for public after a reconstruction in 2006. Its aim is historical as well as natural scientific, and very interesting for geologists, botanists and zoologists. The path leads through a countryside of ancient ancestors. The route is situated between ancient seats of Přemyslovci Parentage, who stayed on Levý Hradec and Prague Castle. Anyway, the community of Roztoky is rich on archaeological findings from primeval time (Rivnac culture, Unetice culture) or from early Middle Age. All beauties of this path are decribed on tables, placed on stops.

This path is offering other matters as historicdal information. You pass Unětice pond, where you can have a bath. Further, you pass also Spálený mlýn (Burnt Mill) where TV-serie about two clerks (actuaries) was filmed (according to scenes from Gustave Flaubert´s book). In Roztoky, Tiché údolí street, you can find two „Japanese cherry-trees“ (Sakuras). One is in private ownership, the second one is serving as a hospital. Joe Hloucha, famous traveller, let to built it. At the end of this street, on your right direction, you can see Brauner Mill. Here lived Zdenka Braunerová, famous graphician and  sweethart of writers Julius Zeyer and William Mrštik. Her mother belongs to pioneers of post-humous cremation. Her father, lawyer, prepared a petition from Emperor Ferdinand V. in revolution year of 1848. The exhibition regarding  Zdenka Braunerova life as well as archaeological findings could be admired in Central Bohemia Museum in Roztoky. You watch this building immediately, when you walk from Tiché údolí street and cross the road. Further, you pass below viaduct and see the castle, where the museum is placed.

In 17th century, the castle was in possession of Knights Boryna of Lhota, who participated in Estates Uprising. One member of this Parentage was executed in Old Town Square in 1621. Provided you wish to visit Levý Hradec, you need to do the following: you return to the road and walk in right direction towards bus stop. From here, you reach Hradec by bus, but not all buses are going there. By bus No. 350, you can visit Okoř Castle. Just in opposite this stop, there is tourist sign-table, leading you in direction to Levý Hradec, so you can even walk on foot. Provided you decided to go home, a stop in Prague direction could be seen just opposite railway station. 

How to get there via Suchdol:

From Vítezné náměstí (Victory square), not far from Dejvická Underground Station, you take the bus No. 147 or No. 107 and go up to stop Kamýcká. You continue 800 m ahead and see the first table of this educational path. You follow 12 tables altogether. The route is marked with yellow tourist sign. From last path-stop, you can continue ahead, following yellow marked tourist trail, the marking leads you towards ned-stop of bus No. 147 (stop Výhledy), or you pass Pod rybníčkem street and Suchdolská street towards end-stop of bus No. 107 (stop Suchdol).

How to get the path via Roztoky:

Roztoky could be reached comfortably by train from Masaryk Railway Station, or even from Děčín. So, in working days, you can use also a train from Prague-Libeň railway station. Further, you can take bus of Nos. 340 or 350 from Vítězné náměstí (Victory Square), not far from Dejvická Underground Station. You get off in Roztoky railway station. From bus stop, you walk downstairs, and on crossroads, you turn to the right, towards Tiché údolí street, and continue ahead, following yellow marked tourist trail. For cyclists: we wish to recommend you to go from Troja, along Vltava river up to the community of Klecany, where the ferry towards Roztoky is available. Both banks of Vltava river are bordered with rocks, and at railway crossing near Roztoky, you find archaeological finding place of Slavonic community. Time tables Roztoky-Prague could be found on address: www.roztoky.cz

Route length: 7 kms approx.

Text: Pavla Voborníková

Translation. ing. Jan Jonáš

Photo: Google