Telčsko on foot – first day

Telč –Štamberk –Mrákotín – Telč

Follow the green marked hiking trail from Telč, through the alley „Lipky“, to the villages of Hostětice, Částkovice and Lhotka R (6,5 km) and then to the ruins of the castle of Štamberk (1 km). At Štamberk take the blue trail along the lakes Horní Mrzatec and Dolní Mrzatec to the small market town of Mrákotín R (4 km) and to Dobrá Voda R (2 km). From Dobrá Voda along the yellow trail to Krahulčí R (3 km). When you pass the restaurant „Na Kocandě“ in Krahulčí, turn to the right into the long street called „Na Rafandě“. At the end of the village this street changes into an unpaved road, which you should follow a few hundred metres until you cross another, somewhat larger, paved road. Turn here to the left to return to Telč in about 1,5 km

Interesting places along the route:

1. Lipky – Lipky is a monumental alley bordered with lime trees often used by the inhabitants of Telč for their weekend strolls.
2. The ruins of the castle of Štamberk – in 1423 this Gothic castle has been conquered and destroyed by one of the armies of the followers of Jan Hus led by Jan Hvězda z Vícemilic. From this time there are visible only parts of the moats the foundations of some buildings and one high wall on the edge of a steep slope presumebly the remains of a tower. The access to the ruins is free.
3. Nature reserve “Kamenné moře“ – this nature reserve concerns a stream of large boulders which originates from the last Ice Age when melting snow and mud caused the rocks to slide downhill from the area around Štamberk castle. At present most of the stream is covered by the forest. Between the boulders a lot of bilberries can be found.
4. Horní Mrzatec and Dolní Mrzatec – two forest lakes often used for swimming. Especially the lake Horní Mrzatec is known for its clear water. According to a legend the inhabitants of the former village at the location of the lower lake („Dolní Mrzatec“) all died during an epidemic of the plague.
5. Granite of Mrákotín – the small town of Mrákotín is known for its high quality granite. In 1925, the huge monolith at the third courtyard of the Prague Castle has been produced in one the local quarries.
6. Dobrá Voda – this hamlet used to be a well-known spa initiated in the 17th century by count Jáchym Slavata. In the past the spa was named after him: „Lázně Jáchymovy“. On the hilltop just outside the hamlet one finds the miners´ church of St. Jáchym. There used to be some silver mines in the surroundings of Dobrá Voda.
7. The church of St. Jan Nepomucký – all the way from Krahulčí to Telč you have this church at your left. Perched at a low yet prominent hilltop it dominates its surroundings. The church has a ground plan in the shape of a cross and is a typical archetype of a pure Baroque building. It is one of the oldest churches dedicated to St. Jan Nepomucký even before he was officially declared a saint.