SWC Trip Tips ****************************************************************************************** * ****************************************************************************************** In this series you will find the SWC team’s tried and tested tips for trips that you won't guidebooks and that are therefore less known and largely undiscovered; so much so that you you are still in Prague. We will mostly show you routes that lead directly from Prague to of choice, so you can walk or bike there straight from your house. We hope you have a grea Simona´s Trip Tip No. 1 Petra´s Trip Tip No. 2 Heda´s Trip Tip No. 3 Edita´s Trip Tip No. 4 Simona´s Trip Tip No. 5 Petra´s Trip Tip No. 6 *========================================================================================= * Simona’s Trip Tip No. 1 *========================================================================================= Žižkov - Hrdlořezy - Hloubětín - Kyjský pond On foot or by bike This pleasant and flat route almost fully follows marked bike trails, with most of it lead forest. What’s great about it is that it is spacious and that it’s not crowded or filled w stands. If you feel like biking, there is a bike-sharing station next to the Kaufland supe can both rent a bike and return it afterwards, as you will be returning to the same spot. leads through an unpaved forest road, so it is not suitable for inline skates. You will set off from the Kaufland supermarket in Jarov, Prague 3 (tram 9, terminus “Spojo you will pass through the Třešňovka orchard, which offers a beautiful view of Prague. At t you will have to go down a steep hill leading around the local community garden behind whi located. The bike trail will then take you along an upward sloping asphalt road. After abo you will take a right turn leading to a meadow interwoven with meanders of the Rokytka riv You will then cross the meadow and continue across the Hořejší pond. Make sure to keep to (which alternates with A26 for a while). Once you go over a small hill and through the edg you’ll have reached your destination – the picturesque Kyjský pond. If you are thirsty or a snack, there are 2 restaurants there where you can get a hot meal throughout the day. Yo advantage of the beautiful setting and relax at the edge of the pond. The trail is suitable for hiking, and it makes for a great half-day trip. If you go by bik several bike paths leading from the Kyjský pond to Hostavice, Dolní Počernice and the edge You can take the same route back to Prague 3. *========================================================================================= * Petra´s Trip Tip No. 2 *========================================================================================= Smíchov – Řeporyje – Požáry Quarries By train and on foot This reasonably easy trip will be appreciated by a former boy or girl scout or a trapper, not want to travel far away to get out of Prague, amateur geologists or Jurassic Park fans no need to worry – you will not meet a dinosaur on your way. However, if you are lucky, yo some fragments of trilobites or other prehistoric arthropods or shellfish. You will be tak and rocky (at times muddy) country in the outskirts of Prague, to former quarries Požáry [ lokality.geology.cz/d.pl?odlok=1&vyb=1&id=221&item=3&l=e"] that were closed in the middle century. You will meet nobody there except for a few dog keepers. You’d better set off whe good! Make sure you wear a pair of good walking shoes and comfortable clothes. A torch or charged phone, box of matches or lighter and magnifying glass will become handy too. You m few sausages for roasting, bread and some drink. The trip starts at Smíchovské nádraží station. You will need to go by train to Řeporyje tr (train connection [ URL "http://pid.idos.cz/odjezdy/"] : Prague, Smíchovské nádraží statio Rudná). The journey takes about 13 minutes. Get off at the third stop. The train operates weekend and twice an hour on the weekdays. A one-way ticket is 30 crowns. If you have your card lítačka [ URL "https://pidlitacka.cz/home"] arranged, use it. You do not need a train While travelling by train, you may enjoy the views of the picturesque Prokop valley and th Prague. When you get off at the Řeporyje train station, walk down the hill to get to the square. I to roast sausages, you may have lunch or some snack at the cafe Kavárna Na náměstí. They s delicious cakes and coffee till 8.00 p.m. (except for Mondays). Walk across the square to Dalejská street, then go under the viaduct and take the first to K Holému vrchu street. Go past the service station (Autoservis) on your right until you al entrance to the Řeporyje stone quarry. Right before the main gate, take a small path to th see a bit old metal staircase which you will need to walk down (picture no. 1). Turn right walking straight the path overgrown with weeds for about 500 metres. When you see the entr former limestone quarry (picture no. 2), it is time to start your exploring. Get through a metres long corridor; follow the light until you reach the bottom of the quarry, where you admire local stratotypes and fossils. You may also continue to the other part of the quarr tunnel is only partially accessible. It is roughly cut, so if you want to explore this cor use your torch or some source of light. At the end of this trip, you may visit the local Řeporyje brewery (2 minutes walk from the taste local beer there. To return home, retake a train or go by bus no. 174, which termina centre of Prague. The more active tourists can take a nature path marked by green sings Úd potoka [ URL "https://www.prague-stay.com/lifestyle/review/60-gardens-and-parks-in-prague/ gardens/1215-prokopske-and-dalejske-valleys-nature-reserve"] and walk for about 7 kilometr údolí. It is possible to go on and walk all the way to Smíchov. However, this path is very the citizens of Prague, especially at the weekend or during holidays. *========================================================================================= * Heda´s Trip Tip No. 3 *========================================================================================= Smíchov – Dívčí hrady On foot Don’t have time for an all-day trip? No problem! Even a short distance from the vibrant ce you can find many green niches with untouched nature and very few visitors. One such place just 10 minutes by bus from the bustling streets of Smíchov. In addition to romantic walks forward to one of the most beautiful views of Prague. At the Na Knížecí stop, take bus no. 231, which will drive you up to the top of Dívčí hrad winding streets lined with villas. Then just turn left over a small railway bridge, and af minutes’ walk, turn right onto Nad Konvářkou Street. After about 60 metres, you will see a path in front of you (image 1), which looks a bit desolate, but you can continue on it wit On the righthand side, there is the wall of the Radlice cemetery. After another 10-minute come to the plain of the Ctirad nature reserve. On the righthand side, you will soon see an enclosed yard for rare Przewalski’s horses – t of wild horses still in existence today. Currently, four mares live in Dívčí hrady. You ca close from three vantagepoints, which offer a view not only of the animals themselves, but of Prague. From the enclosure, go across the meadow to the left towards the river. After about a 10-m will discover a beautiful view of the whole city – the river, Vyšehrad, Podolí, and the mo of Prague Manhattan. If you continue to the right, you will walk along the contour line to fortified settlement of Děvín, where, according to an old Czech legend, there was a fortre “Amazons” – women who resisted male supremacy. During the whole journey, you can enjoy the right bank of the Vltava on the left side. It’s up to you whether you would like to return the same way back to the Dívčí hrady bus s from Děvín to Hlubočepy and visit another Prague green oasis – the Prokopské údolí nature *========================================================================================= * Edita´s Trip Tip No. 4 *========================================================================================= Unětice [ URL "https://www.unetice.cz/"] A trip on foot or by bike, for young and old The picturesque village of Unětice is located a few kilometres north of Prague. In the 187 burial grounds from the Bronze Age were discovered here and the village gave a name to so culture” or Aunjetitz culture. The burial grounds are no longer exposed but you can still to Unětice in the local brewery, for example, or taste delicious cakes at “U Lasíků” pub. The journey starts on the outskirts of Prague in Suchdol, which already has the characteri village. You can get there by taking metro line A to the Dejvická station and then bus no. bus stop in Suchdol. From the final bus stop in Suchdol, return to the Suchdolská road and turn left. Go round T. G. Masaryk primary school, named after the first president of Czechoslovakia and walk p to the victims of the First World War. Continue going down and then steeply up Pod rybníčk will then see a short staircase on the right side. Go up the stairs until you reach the ol and the renovated bell tower. Continue towards the farm with a yellow-painted façade and a above the gate. Here, the road is already marked with yellow tourist signs. At the crossroads near the nature reserve, turn left down the U kapličky path and immediat onto a wide footpath. At the end of the path on the right, you will see a centuries-old, m tree. Cross the footbridge over the stream and then turn left. The tourist sign changes fr blue. At this point, you are very close to Unětice, but take your time and enjoy a lookout famous Czech painter Aleš. The climb up to the lookout point is for more venturous hikers. places is quite steep. However, the reward is an amazing view of Prague. In Unětice, first stop for cake at U Lasíků [ URL "http://ulasiku.cz/?lang=en"] . You can place by the number of people and the old red Ford car in front of the building. The Uněti "https://www.unetickypivovar.cz/en/"] is just a short walk away, and the way is signposted their specialities at the brewery, such as the special St Wenceslas 14-degree beer. They a food here. If you have enough energy, you can return to Prague on foot. Follow the blue sign to reach then take the train. It is an undemanding 3.5 km path through the Tiché údolí (Quiet valle take you all the way to the railway station in Roztoky. The train to Prague runs every 30 the journey takes 15 minutes. If you want to return from Unětice, you can take a bus direc or to Roztoky and then continue by train. You can plan your trip in advance at idos.cz [ U idos.idnes.cz/en/vlakyautobusymhdvse/spojeni/"] . *========================================================================================= * Simona´s Trip Tip No. 5 *========================================================================================= Old Hostivař – One of the oldest villages in Prague On foot and preferably on a warm spring or summer day To get to the starting point of today’s Prague journey, take tram No. 22 or 26 (to Obchodn Hostivař) or bus No. 177 (to Hostivařské náměstí). I personally enjoy taking this trip a l is not too frequented by city dwellers, and it leads through a piece of untouched wilderne of a busy city. The first mention of Hostivař dates back to 1068. In 1922, the village was annexed to Grea of the most notable Hostivař natives is Antonín Švehla, former Prime Minister of the Czech The former village square, now called Hostivař Square, used to bustle with life. Several f mills stood there, housing numerous large families. Of the original large estates, only Ko called Selský dvůr, the Černý farm, the Švehla and Dvořák farms and the Dolejší mill still the remaining buildings can be found near the K Horkám street, where the bus stop is locat From Hostivař Square, walk up a slight hill to the first stop along the way, the picturesq Beheading of St. John the Baptist. The church dates back to mid-13th century. Get refreshments opposite the church at the Na Kačabce pub, an original inn run from a hou which offers a fantastic beer garden and excellent cooking. Afterwards, walk up the Selská streets. After about 3 minutes, you should reach a roundabout, next to which you will find for barefoot walking – that is why I prefer to take this trip in the warmer months of the walking the path, follow the adjacent Botič brook, which flows through Hostivař in winding presents a very peaceful part of the whole trip. Once you get to the edge of the little forest, you will pass a horse corral – continue on After about 10 minutes, you will reach a vast wild meadow where you can stop to have a pic going straight, you will soon find yourself back in civilization, particularly on the U Zá street. Make a sharp right and continue along a narrow stream until you reach the Hamerský will find the Hamr sports center, a restaurant, and a wine cellar. This place has a liveli it is a popular destination for locals. You can have good lunch at the very reasonably pri buffet and then either take the same way back to where you started today's journey or go t stop and take bus 188 (from V Korytech) back to the city center. *========================================================================================= * Petra´s Trip Tip No. 6 Rock *========================================================================================= Beroun, Svatý Jan pod Skalou, Hostim, Srbsko - a hike in the woods and rocks My spring tip for a trip will take you to the surroundings of Prague, to the region of roc Beroun, to the top of the rock Skála near Svatý Jan pod Skalou. Although the track (img.1) long, it goes through the hilly countryside in a bit challenging terrain (once you will ev up the rock) and therefore it takes about 5 hours. If you consider the train journey and s the rest, the trip will take a whole day. However, more experienced hikers can make it wit in an afternoon. First, you will spend about 40 minutes on the train. Trains [ URL "https://idos.idnes.cz/e changeShield=true"] leave from the Prague Smichov station every hour and end in Beroun. Fo signpost from the local train station and go past the Beroun hospital over the Herinky hil is known as the oldest marked hiking trail in the Czech Republic. You can take your first picturesque gazebo at the U Dubu (At the Oak) site and then descend to Svatý Jan pod Skalo You can finally have a snack or a drink at a local stall or restaurant in the charming Cen village of Svatý Jan pod Skalou (imgs.2,), which has grown up around a former Benedictine miss the Cave of St. Ivan and the spring. The spring water comes out from the depths of th and is used as a source of water not only for the locals but also for all visitors. The tr to the Křížek viewpoint on the rock; just follow the red signpost (img.4) and hike around St. Cross. A steep uphill climb and steep steps (img.5) will take you to a breathtaking vi Křížek (the Cross) on the rock (imgs.6,7). Here you can enjoy the fantastic views of the m the village of Svatý Jan (imgs.8,9). Please be cautious in rainy and windy weather as the slippery. To return from the viewpoint Křížek, you can use the same route back to Svatý Jan on the r follow the yellow trail and walkdown the road to Hostim or take the green trail through th (quarries) museum (imgs.11,12), where you can admire the old mining equipment and architec the green trail through the landscape reminding the Wild West along the forest path past t through the Propadlé Vody (Sunken Waters) to Hostim (img.13). When you get to Hostim, you can enjoy a delicious meal at the U Krobiána inn (img.14). For section of the route, you can choose from two options. You may continue along the more cha path (4km) through the hills, fields and old quarry to the village of Srbsko to catch the to Prague. The other alternative is to follow the yellow path (3.5km) through the woods al stream, past Ice Age rock formations and along the Berounka River until you reach the trai Srbsko. The train back to Prague runs every hour. This trip is more strenuous than the usual walks in Prague, but you will get to know the b countryside of the Bohemian Karst and experience an adventure you will not regret. Enjoy the trip and have a nice walk!