WITH CHILDREN THROUGH A LANDSCAPE OF FORESTS, WATERS AND HILLSIDES AROUND RADOSTÍN

The easy cycling route will take you to Račín, where you will discover a pond full of water lilies in the middle of the village and a large crayfish statue by Michal Olšiak on its shore.

Route description or Where to go

From the village pond in Radostín, where a statue of a water-sprite catches the eye of children, take cycle route No. 16 towards Vepřová. Just past the big right-hand bend, dismount your bike for a moment and take a look at the source of the Doubrava River, which begins its 88-kilometre-long pilgrimage here, before finally flowing into the Labe at Kolín.

After another 1.5 km, leave the cycle path and turn left following the green marked hiking trail that will take you to the Vepřovské rybníky (Vepřov Ponds) and after crossing the road, follow the green marked trail to the Račínský les crossroads. Here take the left turn and follow the yellow marked trail to Račín. A large concrete sculpture of a crayfish by Michal Olšiak awaits you on the shore of the Jordan Pond in the village. Dads are sure to appreciate the nearby Hotel Leopold with its own microbrewery.

After taking some refreshment, follow the yellow trail into the woods again, and after crossing the forest path you will reach a beautiful paved forest road, from which you will stay on and keep going straight to the EV4 cycle path.

Once you get on this European long-distance cycle path you won't leave it and you will keep going all the way to Velké Dářko. Your path will turn left by the pond, but nothing will stop you from looking along the dam to the Dařbucha statue.

The EV4 cycle path will take you to the surroundings of the best preserved part of the Žďárský vrchy Hills and you will pass by the national natural monument of the Dářská rašeliniště Peat Bogs (it is forbidden both to ride a bike on the footpath and to walk with a bike).

The last part of the path leads through an avenue of birches back to Radostín, where you can refresh yourself at the famous restaurant U Šimáka.

Are you planning on taking children with you? Any little cyclist from 7 years old who doesn't mind riding on a road with an unpaved surface can definitely handle the journey.

An easier version of the route for smaller children

For younger children with smaller bikes, a lighter version is suitable, avoiding the hilly terrain around Račín. If you want to take this route, just climb the small hill above Radostin and then cycle on almost totally flat terrain. Take a look at the whole map of easier options for bike rides.

TIP: Did you like the crayfish statue in Račín? Go on another trip in the footsteps of the local sculptor Michal Olšiak.