Where to go on a trip Budětice

The most extensive ruin in Bohemia is hrad Rabí in the Klatovy district in the Plzeňský kraj region. This castle complex was built sometime in the late Middle Ages as a combination of residential and representative spaces with an unfinished defensive system. The dominant feature of hrad Rabí was and still is the residential tower called the donjon, which also serves as a viewpoint overlooking the foothills of the Šumava.

The history of hrad Rabí appears somewhat mysterious, as almost nothing is known with certainty about its beginnings. Documented mentions date only from the 14th century regarding the lords of Rýzmberk. They stood on the side against the Hussites, and therefore in the years 1420 and 1421 Jan Žižka besieged and conquered the castle. During the second conquest, however, he himself lost his second eye. Although the castle was considerably damaged, the owners received funds for its restoration for their loyalty to King Zikmund. The most prominent personality among the castle owners was Půta Švihovský, but after his death in 1504, disputes arose over the property and the inheritance was gradually sold off. The final blow to the glory of this extensive castle was dealt by the Thirty Years' War, after which the castle was never successfully fully restored.

In the 18th century, the castle was less comfortable for the owners than the residence in nearby Žichovice, which is why Rabí was left abandoned, later burned down, and its walls were used by local residents as a source of building material. An attempt to save the castle involved minor repairs in the mid-19th century when a viewing platform was created on the donjon, but major changes did not come until the 20th century. Now, hrad Rabí has been under state administration since 1954 and has been on the list of national cultural monuments since 1978.

When visiting the ruin of hrad Rabí, visitors can choose from two basic circuits. The first circuit is simply named Věž. It passes through the large courtyard, the small courtyard with the well, the economic facilities, climbs to the top of the residential tower, and concludes the circuit in the castle cellar, where natural dripstone decoration can be seen. The Palác circuit will introduce visitors to the history of the castle and its architectural development. It will guide visitors through rooms where models of the castle in various historical periods, stove tiles, and archaeological finds are exhibited. After descending from the viewing tower to the cellar, an audiovisual projection about the conquest of the castle by the Hussites is prepared for visitors, and the dungeon is viewed last. These two basic tour circuits standardly take place with a guide in Czech, but it is also possible to book a guide in English or German in advance, or to borrow a text translation in Dutch, Russian, and French. In addition to guided tours, visitors can walk unlimitedly and free of charge through the castle courtyard with artillery fortifications, look into the former castle stable, and view the exhibition in the underground part of the church.

Since this is a medieval castle, barrier-free access is not available here, but with assistance, wheelchair users can at least reach the large courtyard. Parking is provided off-season on the square of the town of Rabí, and in the summer months, parking areas are designated on the edge of the town, from where visitors can walk to the castle in approximately 15 minutes. Good news for dog lovers is that a dog can accompany visitors on a leash or in a carrier to all parts of the castle. Photography is also permitted in all parts of the castle, provided that the privacy of other visitors and staff is not interfered with. Souvenirs can be purchased at house no. 50 on the way to the square, where toilets are also located. On the square and in the suburb, visitors can also refresh themselves in a pub or utilise two fast-food establishments.

From hrad Rabí, visitors can set out along the Krajem Půty Švihovského trail. A pleasant, undemanding walk from the square to Žichovice awaits, from there to Horažďovice, above which towers the freely accessible ruin of hrad Prácheň. The zámek Horažďovice château, which houses a museum, is also worth a visit. And once monument exploration becomes tiring, visitors can relax in the local aquapark.

After all that strenuous journeying through the Pošumaví region, good accommodation near hrad Rabí will certainly come in handy. In addition to the village of Rabí itself, visitors can also lay their heads in nearby Kašperské Hory or in Sušice. Guesthouses in Nezdice na Šumavě will also provide their services. And should accommodation be needed alongside a larger group of friends, cabins and cottages in Strašín will welcome visitors.

Are teenagers staring at their mobile phones from morning till evening? Do visitors feel somewhat tired of all online activities? Then Offpark, entertainment in Šumava for the whole family, is intended precisely for them. It is a complex full of offline activities for the whole family, which can be found distributed in Sušice, Prášily, and Modrava. And what exactly awaits visitors? Let us take a look together.

Offpark is actually an outdoor center that offers sports and adrenaline experiences for both children and adults. On the bank of the Otava, in beautiful nature, the lanový park Sušice has been created with a total of 35 obstacles at a height of 4 to 8 meters. Thanks to professional climbing equipment and expert supervision, visitors do not need to worry about anything, and after conquering the rope route, three zip lines await visitors at the end. Visitors can choose from several difficulty options, and the time required is between one and two hours. The condition is a climber's height of at least 140 cm and a weight of less than 120 kg. Children from approximately six years of age who can reach a height of 145 cm with their hand will then enjoy fun in the dětský lanový park Sušice. Similar and equally entertaining is also the lanový park Prášily, which is on the bank of the Prášilský potok, across which the final zip line leads. The obstacles here are at a height of up to 15 meters, and a total of 18 await visitors. Here too, children from five years of age are catered for in the dětský lanový park Prášily. To make matters worse, visitors can also try a third rope park in Modrava. It is the most demanding park with 21 obstacles, three of which are super difficult. When visitors manage them, they will enjoy a descent down a 30-meter zip line. The dětský lanový park v Modravě is again an essential part.

However, Offpark Šumava is not only rope parks, but also other adrenaline experiences. If visitors have not tried it yet, riding all-terrain scooters is recommended. A minibus will transport visitors to Svatobor to an altitude of 845 meters above sea level, and visitors will descend from there on scooters with two disc brakes down a five-kilometer forest path to Sušice. Visitors will overcome an elevation gain of 370 meters and have an experience of a lifetime. Visitors will also actively relax through in-line skating, for which a new asphalt surface along the Otava River is suitable. Visitors do not need to carry equipment with them; it can be rented in the complex where the route begins.

Are visitors a larger group and want to have fun together? Then they can play paintball in the Šumava forests in a former military area. Visitors will enjoy an adventure and test not only their own physical abilities, but also the level of teamwork. One paint-ball battle takes place for 2 to 3 hours, and a minimum of 10 people must participate. Offpark is a great place for school trips as well as corporate events in the sense of team building. The program will be gladly and willingly tailored directly to visitors' requirements, group parameters, and individual fitness.

Accommodation near Offpark is not difficult to find at all. It depends on where visitors want to head first. Sušice will accommodate visitors primarily in apartments. In the surroundings of Modrava, mountain cottages and chalets are attractive accommodations that visitors will use primarily together with a larger group of friends or colleagues. If visitors have individual transport, then they will not have any problem with accommodation in Kašperské Hory or in Petrovice u Sušice, where they can rent a chalet.

Are visitors already pleasantly tired from the idea of time spent in Offpark? Would they need some relaxation? Strained muscles can be stretched at the swimming pool in Sušice or in Kolinec. If visitors' minds would rather switch off somewhere in the silence of nature, the přírodní park Kochánov or Buděticko will serve them wonderfully. But those who are interested in history will also find something for themselves, because the Jihočeský kraj is full of castles and ruins that tell the local history. It is believed that visitors will find the right accommodation and enjoy fun not only in Offpark.

Refreshment in the heart of Pootaví that will not disappoint

As all roads supposedly lead to Rome, for all pilgrims and travellers exhausted by the summer heat, they should rather lead to Horažďovice. It is precisely in this unassuming yet picturesque small town between Strakonice and Klatovy that the fully equipped Aquapark Horažďovice awaits visitors, reliably refreshing every lover of water fun. The dawn of the new millennium brought various expectations to people, but for Horažďovice, the year 2000 was memorable primarily because the local aquapark opened its doors then. To enable the complex to keep pace with the times, it underwent a thorough renovation twelve years later, bringing not only new water attractions but also a modern wellness centre.

Water Fun and Relaxation All Year Round

A great advantage of the Horažďovice aquapark is the fact that it is completely indoor, meaning it can be fully enjoyed 365 days a year regardless of the whims of the weather. The heart of the entire facility is a spacious swimming pool surrounded by large windows that let in pleasant daylight. Anyone seeking a proper dose of adrenaline will be reliably lured by the 62-metre-long water slide. Even the youngest visitors will find something to their liking. Two slides, a water toadstool, and even special children's massage jets await them in the children's pool, allowing even little ones to try out what adults do. The offer of water fun is complemented by a whirlpool bath, a wild river, a globular water fountain, a counter-current, air grates, water spouts, a water mushroom, and air beds with massage jets.

More Than Just Swimming: Wellness, Fitness and Swimming Courses

The range of services by far does not end there, however. Thanks to the wellness zone, after frolicking in the water, visitors are treated to a classic Finnish sauna procedure, a steam bath, an infra-sauna, a solarium, selected massages, or a well-deserved rest in the relaxation zone. For those for whom water activities are not enough, a fully equipped fitness centre with dumbbells, machines, exercise bikes, elliptical trainers, and a functional zone with tatami mats, suspension systems, expanders, or medicine balls is prepared. Effective water exercise can also be utilised. In addition, a swimming school for all age and weight categories operates here, where basics are learned or technique is perfected, and the popular baby swimming with the assistance of parents and kind instructors is also not missing.

Discover the Magic of Horažďovice and Šumava

Is a holiday being planned and a place to rest one's head being considered? Horažďovice can be chosen as a base for trips. In the town itself, a choice of hotels, guesthouses, or apartments can be made, or cottages and chalets in the surroundings will be encountered. Should the capacity be full, great facilities can also be found in nearby Strakonice, Kašperské Hory, Sušice, Srní, or Kvilda. Furthermore, the local stay can be easily combined with discovering natural beauties. Národní park Šumava is less than an hour's drive away from here. There is no need to travel far across borders, because an interesting and relaxing holiday full of water and fun can be fully enjoyed even in western Bohemia.