Do You Know That? Vyšší Brod - Abbot's Trail

If you will get to Vyšší Brod, a quiet town in the middle valley of the Vltava river, which comes alive especially during the summer boating season, and our destination is mostly local or camp known Cistercian monastery, which is a major landmark Vyšší Brod and one of the most important monuments South Bohemia. Unique Library, amounting to 70 000 volumes, its volume is the third largest in the Czech Republic. Among the unique objects is especially extensive collection of Bibles in 40 language editions, over 200 parchment manuscripts and 400 incunabula, which is term for incunabula, a kind of forerunner of the serial printing. Each roll is then unique. The monastery was founded at the instigation of First Wok von Rosenberg in 1259. For the most important monastery in South Bohemia House also served as the “necropolis”, a final resting place - the cemetery for over 10 generations until 1611, when it was buried known Peter Wok von Rožmberk.

The dominant feature and focal point of the monastery is the Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary from the 14th century, which, together with other facilities, libraries, corridors, halls and picture gallery frequently visited by foreign tourists in particular. The fate of the monastery and its inhabitants are certainly an interesting chapter in the history of this city, but then maybe we will pay later. Today we look at another interest of Vyšší Brod, but it is directly related to the monastery.

Along the artificial canal, supplying water from the nearby monastery of forests and streams, nature trail leads today, which I highly recommend a visit. When you work watermen or just passing through Brod, try to find a half hours of time and head out into the picturesque gorge Malá Vltavice, forest streams feeding the monastic channel.

Abbot's Nature Trail begins just a few meters from the top of the monastery gates, and after a gentle climb takes you to the mouth of an artificial channel, where practically imperceptibly rises into the hillsides along the vault M. Vltavice in atmosphere of 200 years old mixed forest. After about 1,5 kilometers of easy walking on well-marked nature trail that follows the direction of one yellow marker Czech Tourist Club, waiting for you around the most interesting part of the journey, while its highest point - Falls of St. Wolfgang. This is not directly about other famous waterfalls and mountain streams of water do not expect or falling water from the rise of several meters. Falls of St. Wolfgang are rather bigger rapids, but it fits beautifully into the scenic forest atmosphere. Occasional occurrence of crayfish Kamenáč is a proof of the quality of the water and the environment. From waterfalls, over which there is also a place of pilgrimage Maria Rast already trail again drops back to Vyšší Brod. Along the way, you will find a building that from 15 to the early 20th century served as an iron hammer. Only a few dozen feet below him is nestled in the hillside remarkable stone pillar, the original body of the city of refraction of the second half of the 19th century, which supplied the granite blocks machined Vyšší Brod and its surroundings. From there it's been in town a stone's throw away and if you could say the way after all, try to taste the cool water from nearby wells, located on the opposite slope, which leads to well-marked trail.

In the valley of the stream Menší Vltavice in recent history really lived, water-powered mills, watered stone quarry and a monastery. Today, people are back here again, to remember a little of our history, or just a short stroll pass the time before sailing.

Text a foto: Jan Chaloupka