Set off by bike to discover the beauty of Český les (the Bohemian Forest) and neighbouring Bavaria. Easy family loops, full-day tours and famous European cycle routes are all waiting for you. Every route comes with a QR code linking to a map, so you always know where you are and can find the most interesting spots around Resort Český les.
THE BOCKL CYCLE TRAIL
Bavaria's longest cycle route, rated by connoisseurs as the finest trail ever created from a former railway line, is called the Bockl-Radweg.
The advantages of a ride like this are obvious. Where local trains and freight wagons loaded with timber were still rattling along twenty-five years ago, there are no serious climbs. The gradient never exceeds three per cent, so you do not need a mountain bike, an ordinary one will do. Roughly half the trail has a compacted gravel surface, the rest is very high-quality asphalt that is also good for inline skating. The vast majority of the route runs away from car traffic, which also makes the trail ideal for family outings with children. It is perfectly signposted along its entire length, so there is no chance of losing your way.
THE EUROVELO CYCLE ROUTE
You can also take the EuroVelo 13 / Iron Curtain Trail, which links up the Český les region.
The northern section of this route runs all the way to the Arctic Circle in Finland, while its southern section ends at the Black Sea in Bulgaria.
EuroVelo is a network of European cycle routes run by the European Cyclists' Federation as a project of 17 long-distance trails spanning the entire continent. And by pure chance, one of them passes right by us!
THE PAN-EUROPEAN CYCLE ROUTE
And if you really back yourself, there is one of the great international routes on offer as well: the Pan-European Cycle Route, linking European capitals such as Paris, Nuremberg and Prague. After breakfast you can simply get on your bike and set off right across Europe – the route starts right on the village square in Železná.
THE DIANA ROUTE
14 km
ŽELEZNÁ, THE FORMER DIANA BORDER GUARD POST, DIANA CHÂTEAU AND BACK
A pleasant, flat route for walkers and cyclists through the beautiful woods of Český les, gentle enough for younger riders too. Along the way you will pass several covered rest areas. The destination of the route is the small village of Diana, home to a hunting lodge by the celebrated architect Jan Blažej Santini-Aichel.
THE ROZVADOV ROUTE
34 km
ŽELEZNÁ, ROZVADOV, WAIDHAUS, ESLARN, ŽELEZNÁ
An easy route for walkers and cyclists alike, leading through the gently rolling countryside of Český les and returning to Resort Český les along the German side of the border via the towns of Waidhaus and Eslarn. Suitable for leisure cyclists and families with older children.
THE BYSTŘICE ROUTE
43 km
ŽELEZNÁ HUŤ, PLEŠ, VÁCLAV, MOSTEK, RYBNÍK, BYSTŘICE, SMOLOV, KARLOVA HUŤ, ŽELEZNÁ
A beautiful ride through the deep forests of Český les and past mysterious abandoned villages.
THE STARÝ HERŠTEJN ROUTE
60 km
PLEŠ, MOSTEK, ZÁVIST, STARÝ HERŠTEJN, VRANOV, PIVOŇ, MNICHOV, SMOLOV, KARLOVA HUŤ, ŽELEZNÁ
A more demanding ride across the hilly countryside and forests of Český les, up to the ruins of Starý Herštejn Castle and on to the monastery in Pivoň.
THE EUROVELO LINE – NOVÉ DOMKY
60 km
ŽELEZNÁ, ROZVADOV, NOVÉ DOMKY, GEORGENBERG, PLEYSTEIN, ESLARN, ŽELEZNÁ
A full-day ride through the beautiful countryside of Český les as far as the village of Nové Domky and back through small German towns to Resort Český les. Along the way you will find plenty of places to stop for a rest and something to eat.
THE DER BOCKL RAILWAY ROUTE
110 km
ŽELEZNÁ, ESLARN, WAIDHAUS, LOHMA, PLEYSTEIN, VOHENSTRAUSS, WLADTHURM, FLOS, NEUSTADT AND BACK
This cycle trail starts in Eslarn at the former railway station, easily reached by joining the route that leads directly from Resort Český les. The days when trains still ran here are recalled by a section of a steam locomotive on display, a rewarding subject for a photo before you push off on the pedals.
The whole route runs through lovely countryside with striking views of the Oberpfälzer Wald mountains, through forests and past a string of glittering ponds. It also takes you into towns and villages, where you can pull in at the old stations just as the trains once did, or visit the local sights. In Waidhaus, for example, a restored railway carriage standing on a siding houses a small exhibition recalling the history of the line. There is also plenty of promotional material available, with maps and tips on restaurants and places to stay along the route.
In the small town of Floss, the synagogue near the marketplace is well worth a visit. Vohenstrauss is dominated by Friedrichsburg Castle, and as you approach Pleystein, the baroque pilgrimage church on the Rosenquarz rock catches your eye from far away.
THE ČERCHOV ROUTE
91 km
ŽELEZNÁ, ŽELEZNÁ HUŤ, PLEŠ, THE FORMER VILLAGE OF VÁCLAV, MOSTEK, RYBNÍK, ZÁVIST, THE RUINS OF STARÝ HERŠTEJN CASTLE, NEMANICE, ČERCHOV, KLENČÍ POD ČERCHOVEM, VRANOV, PIVOŇ, MNICHOV, ŠIDLÁKOV, BYSTŘICE, SMOLOV, KARLOVA HUŤ, ŽELEZNÁ
Our most demanding route, made for experienced cyclists: hilly, picturesque countryside, the forests of Český les and its abandoned villages, a climb to Čerchov, the highest peak in the region, and a return through the Chodsko town of Klenčí and past the former monastery in Pivoň.
