South Bohemia - Lonely Planet

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142
South Bohemia
For many travellers, the lakes, forests and fields of South Bohemia whiz by in a cinematic
scroll outside the window of a Prague to Český Krumlov bus. And while the region’s pampered main attraction will definitely steal your heart, be ready to share your devotion with
busloads of other camera-wielding suitors. Invest a couple of nights to stroll Český Krumlov’s
medieval maze and canoe the meandering Vltava, but also find time to explore the rest of
South Bohemia.
SOUTH BOHEMIA
In the forests of the Šumava mountains, hiking and mountain-biking tracks link pensions
(guest houses) and alpine lodges where hush comes as standard. On Lake Lipno the beaches
are thronged with summertime visitors, but just a ferry ride away the lake’s western shore
is subdued and secluded, legacy of its past as a closed border zone during the Cold War.
To the east, near the Austrian border, the melancholy serenity of Slavonice almost demands
you whisper, and the town’s parade of Renaissance facades is really quite remarkable.
After a few authentic Budweisers with the locals in České Budějovice’s raucous beer halls,
bring centuries of history to life in chateaux like the delicate lakeside confection at Červená
Lhota, or the spectacular twin fortresses of Zvíkov and Orlík. Get pleasantly lost amid the
narrow lanes radiating from the photogenic main square of Tábor, the imposing bastion
of the unyielding Hussites, or negotiate walking trails around the historic carp ponds and
lakes surrounding Třeboň.
Are you still thinking a hurried day trip to Český Krumlov is a good idea?
HIGHLIGHTS
 Canoeing round the graceful arc of the
Vltava River through Český Krumlov (p153),
just maybe Central Europe’s prettiest town
 Bringing history to life in the former Hussite
bastion of Tábor (p165)
Orlík nad
Vltavou
Tábor
Zvíkov
 Immersing yourself in the hushed Renais-
sance perfection of Slavonice (p172)
 Catching a leisurely river boat between the
spectacular castles at Orlík nad Vltavou
(p164) and Zvíkov (p165)
 Imbibing the original Budweiser beer in
České Budějovice (p148), an energetic
blue-collar brewery town
Àeské Budêjovice
Àeský Krumlov
Slavonice
E49
va
Blatná
Mirotice
To Prague
Zvíkov
CENTRAL
BOHEMIA
Tábor
To Prague
Chýnov
19
Kámen
E65
Grosser
Arber
(1456m)
Klatovy
Š
u
¤elezná Ruda
Hojsova Stráz
Nýrsko
Úhla
va
Nepomuk
m
a
v
a
Lenora
GERMANY
See South Šumava Map (p160)
Švarcenberský
kanál
Plechý
(1378m)
Philippsreut
4
Husinec
Àerná v
Pošumaví
Dolní Vltavice
Àeský
Krumlov
¤ofínský prales
Protected Landscape
Rybnik
Region
Weigetschlag
Lipno
nad Vltavou
Wullowitz
Vítkûv Kámen
(1053m) Vyšši
Horni Dvoåištê
Brod
Studánky
Dolní Dvoåištê
E49
Grametten
Gmünd
0
0
Slavonice
AUSTRIA
E59
Jihlava
Havlíàkûv Brod
E49
SOUTH
MORAVIA
Daàice
Telà
Humpolec
Fratres
Pelhåimov
Nová Byståice
Neunagelberg
Halámky
Àeské
Velenice
Nepomuk
Branná
E551
Jindåichûv
Hradec
Àervená
Lhota
Ro¢mberk
Tåeboñsko
Protected
Landscape
Region
Veseli nad
Lu¢nici
Sobêslav
Tåeboñ
E55
Trocnov
Dobrá
Voda
Kaplice
E55
Blanský Les Boršov nad
Vltavou
Protected
Landscape Region
Dívàí kámen
Tåísov
Kleì (1083m)
Zlatá Koruna
Rájov
Holašovice
Àeské
Budêjovice
Týn nad Vltavou
Hluboká
nad Vltavou
Ohrada
Sezimovo Ústí
Bechynê
33
Milevsko
Lake
Lipno Frymburk Ro¢mberk nad
Vltavou
Horní
Planá
Šumava
Protected
Landscape
Region
Volary
Temelín
Cicenice
Netolice
Kratochvíle
E49
Protivín
Prachatice
Strakonice
Zvíkovské
Podhradí
Písek
nad
4 Orlík
Vltavou
Slanik Keståany
Boubín
(1362m)
Horní
Vltavice
Šumava
National
Park
Vimperk
Ota
Strá¢ný
Àeñkova Pila
Sušice
WEST
BOHEMIA
Vltava
SOUTH BOHEMIA
Švihov
Orlík
ὈὈ
ὈὈὈ
ὈὈ
ὈὈὈὈὈ
ὈὈὈ
ὈὈ
ὈὈ
ὈὈ
ὈὈ
ὈὈὈ
ὈὈ
ὈὈὈὈὈ
To Plzeñ
(14km)
a
tav
Vl
SOUTH BOHEMIA
To Vienna
(40km)
To Znojmo
To Tåebià
30 km
20 miles
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