Písek Ridgeway (Písecká hřebenovka)

A 74 km long trek that runs approximately along the borders of the Písek municipality. This route passes through the most interesting cultural, natural, and historical sites in the surroundings of Písek, allowing you to get to know a part of our country, including the beautiful nature of the Písek region.

Route: Písek – Putim – Řežabinec – Ražice – Sudoměř – Kestřany – Malé Nepodřice – Písek – Purkratice – Sulanov – Vrcovické hradiště – Jarník – Velký Mehelník – Tálín – Selibov – Putim; marked on the map here; length 74 km; elevation gain 930 m; difficulty easy to moderate

This hike can be divided into three stages. In the first cultural-historical part, you will visit the statue of the famous soldier Švejk in Putim, the Řežabinec nature reserve, the museum in Ražice, the Sudoměř battle memorial, or the upper stronghold in Kestřany. The second stage will take you along the Otava River with a small detour to the Purkratice ponds. In the third, final stage, you will discover the charm of the Písek Hills with a view from the Jarník lookout tower.

Route Description

From the Stone Bridge in Písek, you will head upstream along the Otava River, past the U Smetáka restaurant, through Zátaví to Putim. From there, the route will take you around the Řežabinec pond to Ražice and further to the Markovec pond, above which stands the monumental statue of Jan Žižka. You will continue through Sudoměř to Lhota u Kestřan and in Kestřany around two preserved medieval strongholds. Then, you will pass by a golf course to Malé Nepodřice, where you will turn back towards the Otava River through Čertova strouhy and continue along its bank back to Písek. From Písek, you will head towards Purkratice and Topělec via Václavské předměstí, and after crossing the Otava River, you will enter the Písecké hory hills near Vrcovice. You will continue past Ptáčkovna na Provazce, chata Živec, and the Jarník lookout tower, and then on to Velký Mehelník and Tálín. You will walk along the dam of the Tálínský rybník pond and continue to Selibov, and from there to the final destination of your journey – Putim. The route ends at the train station, from where you can take a train back to Písek and collect your certificate for completing the entire Písek Ridgeway at the Písek information centre.