Bike trip from Bučovice to the top of the Ždánice Forest

By train to the Renaissance castle in Bučovice

From the main train station in Brno, lines R56 and S6 run to Bučovice quite often even on weekends. Get there early, however, as there are plenty of attractions awaiting you on this route. The very first pedalling will take you to a castle with rabbits running on the ceiling. You won't find a similar gem north of the Alps. Unlike most of our Renaissance castles, this castle is an original project and not a rebuilding. Every year they commemorate unusual victories here - You will find out what they are on the tour. And you'll also see a curiosity called the Rabbit Room. We recommend not to look for details in advance and to be surprised during the interpretation of the guide.

But the attractions don't end there. In the castle you will be amazed by the arcaded courtyard with columns decorated with over 540 reliefs depicting war motifs, coats of arms, plants or animals. And if you are not impressed by these wonders, give the castle park a chance. Still perfectly maintained as in the time of Maximilian of Lichtenstein, the vegetation creates geometric patterns with fountains gurgling in the middle. You don't have to go to Paris to see the Gardens of Versailles!

Set out to see the greenery and shade of the Ždánice Forest

From the castle you will return to the railway station and from there you will follow the bike route 5097 to the part of the village called Rybníčky. Keep an eye on the signs as you meander through the gardens. After the last houses, you will find a narrow asphalt road upstream of the Kloboučky river towards the Ždánice Forest. The dense undergrowth will gradually swallow you up and after a series of gentle curves you will eventually find yourself at the water reservoir and the Jitřenka recreational area. It is an ideal place to settle down in the grass and gather your strength before the climb that will follow.

Pedal. Uphill... and uphill some more, until you reach the peak of U Slepice

The asphalt round winds up the valley from Jitřenka, still upstream, and that means uphill. The Ždánice Forest forms the westernmost spur of the Carpathian Mountains arch. This fact will not make the uphill work any easier, but you will certainly gain a proper pride in your performance. It sounds good despite the virtually insignificant altitude of the ridge and its highest peak.

After a steep climb, you reach the crossroads U kříže (At the Cross). That puts the worst of it behind you. Don't be shy to lean your bike against the nearest tree and give your calves a rest in the tourist shelter. You will then join the red trail and more or less along the "flat" road you will reach the crossroads U Slepice (At the Hen).

Oil in the Hodonín region? Take a look at the wells from the highest peak U Slepice

Hooray, the ridge at last, you have conquered the highest peak of the whole Ždánice Forest - U Slepice (At the hen). Right behind it you will pass the area of Moravian oil mines. A vast basin with deposits stretches from here as far as Hodonín. As a rarity in the whole Czech Republic, oil is extracted here. It's not quite Kuwait, but even so, it's enough for some percentage of the Czech Republic's consumption.

And if, like us, you were intrigued by the curious name of the highest peak, for clarification it is not related to the domestic hen, but to the grouse. There may have been chicks perched in a hollow tree here once. In the 17th and 18th centuries there was a gamekeeper's lodge named in honour of the mother grouse.

Těšanka forest path, a phenomenon

There is a short descent from Prostřední hill to the Červený kříž (Red Cross) crossroads, where you cross the road and continue along the Těšanka forest path. You will go up to the crossroads U Zlatého jelena (At the Golden Deer). In the place of the stone monument there was an inn during the war and in 1944 there was an armed clash between the partisans of the Olga unit and German soldiers. The monument commemorates this event. A comfortable shelter with a seating area next to it invites you to rest for a longer period of time. You can also sit in the grass in the forest clearing.

After a few kilometres, you will reach the car park and the Těšanka bus stop, decorated with another large wooden cross. The state road from Slavkov to Kyjov is notorious for its blind curves, so please be careful. After about 200 metres you will turn back onto a safe forest road - the Těšanka will lead you to Bošovice.

The more or less straight sections are varied by several crossroads, always head towards Rajhradice or Svata. If you are attentive, you will see a jubilee stone from 1898 in the grass by the roadside to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the reign of Prince John II of Liechtenstein, and you will also pass several crosses and resting places.

You will leave the forest at the Svatá gamekeeper's lodge. On the last kilometres of the ridge you will enjoy some views of the distant horizons. The last chance to enjoy the panoramas is at the wayside shrine above Bošovice.

Talk to the African grey parrot at the Parrot Zoo

When you turn up the asphalt road into the village, you will see the Bošovice fortress on your right. It has belonged to the Liechtenstein family since 1627. Now it is locked and closed, so you don't have to brake for it. However, the beautifully landscaped rectory house is worth a stop - You will find it in close proximity to the Church of St. Stanislaus, which you will find directly opposite the fortress. It is protected as a cultural monument of the Czech Republic and is definitely worth a visit.

And now for the next highlight of the trip - The Parrot Zoo. You can admire 200 parrots from three continents in a hundred aviaries. You will learn interesting facts about the life of exotic birds in their original homeland and in the wild. The area is wheelchair accessible, with lots of greenery and especially a café with refreshments. Younger children love the enclosure with rabbits, guinea pigs and other pets.

Follow in the footsteps of the soldiers from the Battle of Austerlitz

The open farmland behind Bošovice is in stark contrast to the shady Ždánice Forest. You will pass Otnice and turn off to Šaratice (bike route 5114). The famous mineral water of the same name has a spring here, but public access to it is forbidden.

Ahead of you you will have the stretching horizon of Pratecký Hill with the Cairn of Peace Memorial. The memorial commemorates the famous Battle of Austerlitz and it is here that you pass through the places where the decisive tactical manoeuvres of the fighting armies took place.

Which way back to Brno? As fast as possible or can you manage a few extra kilometres?

You will reach Šaratice, then Zbýšov and finally Křenovice - A village at the crossroads of two railway lines. Congratulations, you are at the finish line, so now you just need to get on the nearest train to Brno.

Do you want to shorten or extend your trip?

If you have enough of pedalling in Bošovice, you can get on the train in Hostěrádky or Zbýšov. On the other hand, a worthwhile extension goes over the top of Pratecký Hill with the Cairn of Peace Memorial and from there Brno is not so far away. Alternatively, you can still follow the Napoleonic theme and take the road from Křenovice to Slavkov. You will see the castle with the balcony Napoleon gave his victory speech from and take the train to Brno here.