Where to go on a trip Mrač

Romantic Hláska above the Sázava river in the Central Bohemian Region

The Zlenice castle ruins, also popularly known as Hláska, are situated on a rocky promontory above the Sázava river, at the point where the Mnichovický potok flows into it. The castle was likely founded at the beginning of the 14th century and is first mentioned in 1318. Among its most prominent owners was Ondřej IV. z Dubé a ze Zlenic, the Supreme Judge of the Kingdom of Bohemia during the reign of Karel IV. The castle was captured and destroyed, likely during the wars of Jiří z Poděbrad in the 15th century, and has remained abandoned ever since. The most significant preserved part is the remainder of the residential tower, which gave the ruins its nickname, Hláska.

Access

The ruins lie in the picturesque Posázaví region within the cadastral territory of the village of Senohraby. The best access is via the red tourist trail, approximately four kilometres from the Hvězdonice or Čtyřkoly railway stops (both on line 212). An undemanding walk leads to the ruins along a maintained path following the Sázava river. By car, it is possible to park in the village of Senohraby, from where a short walk leads to the ruins.

What is worth seeing

The Posázaví region is known for its beautiful nature and is ideal for hiking and canoeing on the Sázava river. In the nearby village of Hrusice, there is the Památník Josefa Lady, dedicated to the famous Czech painter who became renowned for his illustrations of this region, including Kocour Mikeš and Bubáci. Furthermore, visitors may explore Zámek Štiřín near the village of Kamenice, which serves as a conference centre and features extensive gardens.

A small ski resort near Prague for accessible winter sports

Ski areál Chotouň is located in the Středočeský kraj region in the village of Chotouň (part of Pohoří), near Prague, and offers simple yet well-equipped facilities for skiers, primarily beginners and families. Thanks to its proximity to the capital, it is frequently used by those seeking a quick trip for snow without the need to commute to the mountains.

The resort features several ski lifts and basic equipment for winter operations. There are four lifts available in the area: two parallel POMA-type lifts with telescopic hangers (lengths of approx. 300 m and 280 m, with a vertical drop of around 50 m), a small children's lift (approx. 70 m) with low-level cable routing, and a newly installed moving carpet (approx. 50 m) for the youngest skiers. All transport facilities have smooth speed control. The slopes are generally gentle and suitable for beginners and intermediate skiers. The altitude of the resort ranges approximately between 350 and 400 m. Due to the low elevation, the resort is equipped with a powerful snowmaking system, which utilises several snow cannons and allows for snow production at temperatures from approx. –3 °C. The slopes are groomed by a snowcat daily, and the resort also offers lighting for evening skiing. Furthermore, the area includes a ski and snowboard school, equipment rental and service, and refreshments located at the slope entrance.

How to get there

The resort is situated directly in the village of Chotouň / Pohoří, near Jílové u Prahy. For those arriving by car, free parking is provided in several areas in the immediate vicinity of the lifts. In the case of public transport, it is possible to use the PID suburban bus lines (e.g., line 444), which connect from Prague lines, for example, from metro station Smíchov ("B" line) or Budějovická ("C" line) (with a remaining short section of about 2 km).

What to discover in the surroundings

Several tourist trails and points of interest lead around the resort. From Chotouň or Pohoří, visitors may set off along the yellow tourist trail towards the educational trail Kněží hora – Halíře, which is approximately 8.5 km long. Furthermore, in the town of Jílové u Prahy, one may visit the Regionální muzeum or explore the štola Halíře (Halíře mine), which is accessible from local paths.

The resort thus offers simple yet well-operated conditions for skiing near Prague, suitable primarily for beginner skiers and families in combination with the possibility of trips in the surrounding area.

Are visitors planning a hiking trip along the Vltava River and would they like to view it from a bird's-eye perspective? In that case, visitors are gladly invited to the Máj viewpoint in Krňany-Netvořice, which is located in romantic nature above the former Svatojánské proudy. This part of the river was quite demanding for timber raftsmen who floated wood to Prague. However, tourists with good physical fitness do not need to mind the local terrain here. All the more so since the construction of the Štěchovice dam brought an end to the existence of these rapids. In the event that visitors decide to visit the Máj viewpoint, it is sufficient to follow the yellow tourist markings leading from the village of Teletín.

The viewpoint is very popular among travelers because it is said to provide the nicest view of the river. Therefore, it is not by chance that photographers who want to capture the local scenery in their nature photographs appear here quite frequently.

In the event that visitors decide to seek accommodation near the Máj viewpoint in local guesthouses, apartments, or one of the surrounding farms, other trips in the neighborhood should also be planned. Wandering along the Svatojánské proudy educational trail will be a good choice. Moreover, the Myšák and Mařenka viewpoints are also located in the immediate vicinity of Máj. Therefore, visitors should carefully consider whether they will also want to view the Vltava River from other angles.

A Neo-Gothic Residence Surrounded by a Landscape Park, Inseparably Connected with Baroness Sidonie Nádherná.

Zámek Vrchotovy Janovice, originally a water fortress, is located approximately 60 km south of Prague in the Central Bohemian Region. It acquired its current romantic Neo-Gothic appearance following extensive reconstruction in the mid-19th century. The chateau is inseparably connected with its last private owners, the Nádherný of Borutín family, particularly the famous Baroness Sidonie Nádherná, a patron of the arts and friend of Karl Kraus and Rainer Maria Rilke. For more than 50 years, the property has been part of the exhibitions of the Národní muzeum in Prague, which presents permanent exhibitions here in an authentic environment. The dominant feature of the entire complex is an extensive, over two-hundred-year-old landscape park with a pond and rare trees, which ranks among the most admired parks in Bohemia.

Access

The chateau is located in the village of Vrchotovy Janovice. Access by car from Prague is via road number E55 (the D1 motorway) with a turnoff onto road number 3. Parking is available near the chateau. Bus transport provides connections to Benešov and Votice, with the nearest stop located directly in the village. The chateau park is accessible year-round, while the chateau interior is open according to seasonal opening hours.

What to Explore

The Kraj blanických rytířů region attracts tourists to explore. Visitors can set out for Velký Blaník, a memorable mountain with a lookout tower, which is shrouded in the legend of the Blaník knights. Not far away is the town of Votice with the Gothic Church of Saint Francis of Assisi. For families with children, an interesting stop is the Modelářský domek and the traffic playground in nearby Štětkovice.