THE HAUGWITZ TRAIL AROUND NÁMĚŠŤ NAD OSLAVOU: ROMANCE BY BIKE

Even a century of insensitive state administration did not erase from the landscape the trace of the unique urban planning and landscape composition with which the owners of the Náměst’ estate were able to transform even the wild relief of the deep valley of the Oslava River into romantic corners connected by trails similar to the famous Liechtenstein estate in South Moravia. Today's Landscape Monument Zone Náměšťsko captures only a slice of the buildings and game reserves around the château.

The broader administration of the manor also left us the extensive Jindřichovská game reserve from Jinošov to Velka Bíteš connecting the château in Náměst’ with the château in Osov. And on the south side of the estate the wildest section of the Oslava valley  is surrounded with viewing gazebos, an observation tower and a hunting lodge, skilfully connected by a carriage road through the deepest parts of the valley.

Take a trip in the footsteps of these Count’s trails. Unfortunately, the busy roads along with state interests that have closed the Náměst area will be an obstacle for you. Even so, you can enjoy a piece of the romance that has accompanied the Oslava River for centuries to this day.

Because Náměšť is located in the very rugged terrain of the Oslava River valley, and in addition, it is crossed by the unpleasantly busy road to Brno, Třebíč and Velká Bíteš, there are many factors making the routes for cycling somewhat complicated. However, it is hard to imagine a trip around the Náměšt‘ region without the town of Náměšť itself.

Route description or Where to go

To start, use the car park next to the château, which overlooks the town from above. Although comprehensive tours of the château are still hampered by reconstruction works, it is possible to start with a ride through the picturesque park and get around the château to the town by off-road routes.

Here, the so-called "Moravian Charles Bridge", a Baroque jewel with 20 statues, welcomes you across the river and leads to the square. Just after the bridge you can now take the new cycle path around the river, avoiding the busy town centre and its roads. The trail and then the road leads you under the railway viaduct and from the river along the street to the railway station. Here you will meet the 5106-cycle path, which takes you on a route between the allotments and out of town. Another continuation of the alternative to the busy road is the paved road through the avenue of trees, which you can stick to even if the cycle path’s route turns left into the valley towards Vícenice.

This section is quite rough, so the paved road around the quarry is more comfortable. At the junction with the main road, stay at the left edge of the widened carriageway and cross straight onto the road along the pond embankment towards Vícenice. Follow the road through the village to the military air base, which closes the horizon above the village of Sedlec. The more boring part of the route ends here and you take the dirt road to the edge of the Divoká Oslava valley. A direct path from the Count's time leads you to the rocky viewpoint Holý kopec Hill.

Right at your feet, the most beautiful meanders of the river are around Lamberk Castle. A few hundred metres further on, the Gloriet gazebo, the first of the cycle circuit buildings, rises above the valley. From Glorietto, you will return to the Kaštanka forest road and follow the network of Count’s trails through the forest. You will pass the airport guidance lights and arrive at Sedlecká myslivně Hunting lodge. In a straight direction, follow the comfortable forest paths up to the Zelený kopec Hill with the old stone observation tower Babylon. The almost two-hundred-year-old jewel still provides a view of the region today.

From the tower there is a nice path, "as straight as if shot", to the hunting lodge Vlčí kopec. It is true that the terrain is so rugged that you will have to make several significant ascents and descents before you reach the road near Kladeruby. Then perhaps even more beautiful is the ancient avenue of beech trees that leads you to the château grounds. The park is now an e.on training centre, but it is possible to walk through the park and enjoy the restored architecture and views of the river valley. This is also the beginning of the unique Annina cesta Way - the access route of the estate from Náměst’ Château to Vlčí kopec Hill, leading through the deep river valley.

Although even pedestrians have forgotten about this technically unique feature (a better pedestrian route descends more steeply into the valley), you can comfortably ride down the body of the road along the embankments to the level of the river. Here you will cover 110 vertical metres in 1.5 km. On the site of the former bridge (and for many years a ford), a new footbridge has been open since autumn 2017, giving the original Count's Trail its significance back. The left bank of the river is not so steep, so there is a forest track and cycle path 5106, through which you ascend the old track around the Pastýřka hill again with views into the valley to the crossroads of comfortable paved roads.

Leave the turn to Březník aside and enjoy the smooth ride over the upper edge of the river valley towards Náměšt' with the accompaniment of old wooded avenues. These lead up to Velkopolský dvůr, a former farmstead, although it has lost much of its beauty. The obstacle to returning to Náměšt' is now the steep terrain again (don't take route 5106!) and the busy road, so take the dirt roads of route 5182 to Kralice.

By jumping into another past of the region, when the printing house of the Unity of Brethren was in operation here and the Kralická Bible was born, you can look into the local Museum of printing and the ruins of a fortress. And in the direction of Otradice you will bypass the now defunct Náměšťská obora Game Reserve so that you will eventually reach the Náměšt' Château heading away from Bíteš.