Folk Baroque to Písek

An easy day south from Čimelice to Písek through villages of South Bohemian rural architecture — Smetanova Lhota, the spa village of Vráž — ending at the oldest stone bridge in Bohemia.

Čimelice is easiest to reach by bus — the train works too, just a bit slower. From there the route heads south through gently rolling farmland, and its theme is South Bohemian village architecture: the first showcase is Smetanova Lhota, with the Karlov castle estate just off the route beyond it.

Past Ostrovec the way continues to Vráž, where the spa chateau sits in its park between the two village parts — Stará Vráž is the one to slow down in, for the rural architecture. What little climbing the day has falls in this middle stretch.

The final leg passes Topělec and drops into Písek. Plan time to explore the town — the stone bridge and the old centre are the natural end of the walk, and trains and buses run from Písek in every direction.