Road Scholar : Home
Walking the Czech Republic: A Cultural Journey

Program Number: 10546RJ
Start and End Dates:
5/8/2013 - 5/18/2013; 9/12/2013 - 9/22/2013; 5/15/2014 - 5/25/2014; 9/18/2014 - 9/28/2014;
Duration: 10 nights
Location: Czech Republic
Price starting at: $3,361.00 - Price may vary based on date, departure city
Program Type: Walking/Hiking Activity Level: t (see description)
Meals: 25; 9 Breakfasts, 7 Lunches, 9 Dinners    
Meal Options: Low Fat; Vegetarian    

Light from the castle windows glows on the dark surface of the Vltava River just as it did centuries ago when the grey stone fortress served as main residence for an elite Czech family. Cesky Krumlov is just one of four regions you encounter during walking excursions through the Czech Republic. In Telc, Hlohovec and Prague, walk through nine UNESCO World Heritage Sites, as well as national parks and remote villages where native experts introduce Czech history, culture and natural heritage.




Highlights

• Learn about monastic life at the 13th-century Cistercian monastery in Vyssi Brod.
• At a wine cellar in Mikulov, enjoy wine tasting and folklore music.
• Instructors lead walks on the trails of the Podvji and Sumaya national parks.



Activity Particulars

Walking 3-5 miles, approximately 2-4 hours per day on well-marked dirt and/or gravel trails and roads. Sturdy walking/hiking shoes are required (ankle-high shoes are not required, but highly recommended).



Itinerary Summary

Arrival Vienna (Austria), coach to Hlohovec (Czech Republic), 2 nights; coach to Telc, 3 nights; coach to Cesky Krumlov, 2 nights; coach to Prague, 2 nights; departure.



Overnight flight from the U.S.A.
1 night
Arrival Vienna (Austria)
Coach to Hlohovec (Czech Republic)
2 nights

Sample wines from the center of Morovia’s wine growing region, and visit the Lednice Chateau and Lednice Ponds for an expert-led nature excursion. Walk in the meadows of the White Carpathian mountains and to Valtice, a gorgeous town that was once the residence of the house of Liechtenstein.



Coach to Telc
3 nights

Walking excursions along the Bohemian-Moravian border include guided introductions to the Trebon Basin, a network of historic fishponds designated a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. Admire the Renaissance buildings of Telc and farm villages built in the "Peasant Baroque" style. Walk in the Slavonice area to see the castle of Landstejn.



Coach to Cesky Krumlov
2 nights

Rozmberk Castle dominates this medieval town situated above the Vltava River. After walking the city center, a World Heritage Site closed to automobiles, visit the Cistercian monastery and sample local beer at a brewery located in recently discovered 13th-century vaults. Explore the charming town of Trebon and attend a private concert of the Pipers of Trebon.



Coach to Prague
2 nights
Departure

Local experts introduce this 600-year-old Jewel of Central Europe, including its musical and royal history in walking excursions to medieval Prague Castle and the Old Town. Discover the market quarter and St. Nicolas Church as you walk Prague’s cobblestone streets.




Czech Republic

With more than 1,000 years of human history involving princes and tribes, oppressive regimes and an ongoing struggle for national definition, the Czech Republic was finally established in 1993. Liberated from Communism by the Velvet Revolution, the country today can boast freely about its sacred and secular architecture, pristine mountains, artistic and folk traditions, and since 2004, its membership in the European Union.
Accommodations
Hlohovec: Four-star hotel surrounded by beautiful parks. Telc: Historical manor-style hotel with mini-wellness center and two bowling lanes on-site. Cesky Krumlov: Four-star hotel on historic town square. Prague: Four-star hotel in historic town center, a few steps from the Wenceslas Square.

Road Scholar Instructors
These instructors are participating on at least one date of this program. Please note that changes may occur.
Tomas Havlicek
Tomas is a native of the Czech Republic, and holds master’s degrees in English and philosophy from the Palacky University in Olomouc. He has spent the last nine years as an instructor in the Czech Republic and Slovakia and as a ski instructor in the Giant Mountains. He is a passionate hiker and is equally enthusiastic about the cultural heritage found in the picturesque towns along our journeys. He is fluent in Czech, English, Slovak, and is passive in Polish.
 
Meals and Lodgings
   Hranicni Zamecek Hotel
  HLOHOVEC, Czech Republic 2 nights
   Hotel U Hrabenky
  Telc, Czech Republic 3 nights
   Hotel Dvorak
  Cesky Krumlov, Czech Republic 2 nights
   Clarion Hotel Prague Old Town
  Prague, Czech Republic 2 nights
 Hranicni Zamecek Hotel
Type: Four-Star Hotel
  Description: Hotel is surrounded by the Lednice-Valtice area of beautiful parks. The environs of the hotel are a paradise for ornithology, entomology, fishing, hunting and mushrooming.
  Contact info: Hlohovec
Hlohovec 16,  69143 Czech Republic
phone: +420 627-3542 93
  Room amenities: Radio, satellite television, telephone and mini-bar. Extra towels, soap and hairdryers available at the reception.
  Facility amenities: Social restaurant with excellent local cuisine, several lounges, coffee shop, and a summer terrace. Sauna, fitness center, bicycle and fishing equipment rental.
  Smoking allowed: Yes
  Elevators available: Yes
  Additional nights prior:  Please contact Road Scholar Travel Services if you would like assistance making hotel reservations for additional non-program nights. (800) 241-1404

 Hotel U Hrabenky
Type: Four-Star Hotel
  Description: The baroque house which was established as a hotel in the second half of the 18th century and then in the 19th century a completion of modifications for the hotel. Located in the South Moravian burg Telc, registered in the UNESCO World cultural heritage list.
  Contact info: Slavatovska 96
Telc,  58856 Czech Republic
phone: +420.567.578.551
web: www.hotel-uhrabenky.cz
  Room amenities: Private basth facilities with shower, hair-dryer, satellite TV, internet access, minibar, safe and telephone.
  Facility amenities: There is a theme restaurant called U Vevody, which is composed in the aristocratic banqueting hall spirit., laundry, mini-wellness center with whirlpool, sauna and massage service. Reception has a computer/internet area and there is no charge for usage.
  Smoking allowed: No

 Hotel Dvorak
Type: Four-Star Hotel
  Description: Located in the historical center under the Castle complex.
  Contact info: Radnicni - Town Hall 101
Cesky Krumlov,  38101 Czech Republic
phone: +420380711020
web: www.hoteldvorak.com
  Room amenities: Telephone, hair dryer, make-up mirror,safe, minibar, satellite television, ceiling fan and wireless internet access.
  Facility amenities: Restaurant, bar/lounge, sauna, multilingual staff, and coffee in the lobby - free wi-fi connection. Dry cleaning and laundry services.
  Smoking allowed: Yes
  Elevators available: Yes

 Clarion Hotel Prague Old Town
Type: Four-Star Hotel
  Description: Located in the historic center of Prague, and has the state of the art services and facilities. Within walking distances of the Old Town Square, Astronomical Clock, Old Jewish Cemetery, Municipal Hall, Masaryks' Railway Station, Wenceslas Square, and the Charles Bridge...just to name a few.
  Contact info: Hradebni Street 9
Prague 1,  CZ-11000 Czech Republic
phone: +420296398162
web: www.clarionhotelpragueoldtown.com
  Room amenities: AC, free Internet access, TV, telephone, minibar, trouser press or iron, safe, coffee/tea maker, hairdryer.
  Facility amenities: 24 hour reception and concierge services, room service, free Internet in the lobby and rooms, Wi-Fi access in public areas. Restaurant and bar with the restaurant serving specialities of modern domestic, and international cuisine and a fine selection of local and international wines.
  Smoking allowed: Yes
  Elevators available: Yes
  Additional nights after: N/A Please contact Road Scholar Travel Services if you would like assistance making hotel reservations for additional non-program nights. (800) 241-1404
  Check out time: 10:00 AM


Travel Details
  Start of Program:
Hlohovec, CZ - Hotel check-in at 02:00PM You will be staying at Hranicni Zamecek Hotel that night.
  End of Program:
Prague, Czech Republic. Hotel Check-out at 11:00AM You will be staying at Clarion Hotel Prague Old Town the night before.
  Required documents:
The Road Scholar Health & Safety Form is required. Passport valid for at least 6 months beyond the return date to the U.S.
Transportation (For Independent Travelers)
  Train or bus availability: Local transportation.
To Start of Program
  Location:  HLOHOVEC
  Nearest city or town:  Breclav
  Nearest airport:  Vienna
  Transportation to site: Airport to first site via private coach approximately 1.5 hours. The main group transfer time will not be known until approximately five (5) weeks prior to program commencement, and then the Program Coordinator will send the information in the final document packet
  From End of Program
  Location:  Prague
  Transportation from site: Private coach from the Prague hotel to airport.
Elevation Note: Highest elevation is 1800 feet.

Equipment Requirements: Ankle high walking boots highly recommended.
The prices listed for commercial services and facilities that are not included in the program cost, such as airport shuttles or extra nights lodging, are subject to change without notice. Since Road Scholar cannot guarantee the accuracy of these prices, we strongly suggest contacting the companies directly for the most up-to-date information.


Daily Schedule

Day 1: Overnight Flight to Vienna
(Wednesday, May 8)
   
 In Transit: Depart from the appropriate USA destination and fly overnight to Vienna.

Day 2: Arrive Vienna ? Transfer to Hlohovec (571 feet)
(Thursday, May 9)

Note: Private coach transfer of 1.5 hours from Vienna to Hlohovec Relaxing walk in the Lednice Chateau Park - one hour.
   
 Arrive To: Upon arrival at the Vienna Airport, you will be met by the group leader in the area indicated on your “Arrival Day Instructions” sheet (look for the Road Scholar sign). Transfer by private coach to your hotel in the village of Hlohovec (1.5 hours). Depending on time there will be a relaxing walk in the Lednice Chateau Park, one of the nicest castle parks in the country which is also an important bird reserve.
 Dinner: Dinner at the hotel immediately following the orientation.
 Evening: This evening there will be an orientation briefing and welcome drink.
   
Accommodations: Hranicni Zamecek Hotel
Meals Included: Dinner

Day 3: The Lednice-Valtice Area (UNESCO Protected)
(Friday, May 10)

Note: Lecture: “Folklore and Wine in Moravia”. Mode of transportation: coach/walking. Approximate walking time: 3.5 hours.



   
 Breakfast: Breakfast at the hotel.
 Morning: Walk in the beauties of the UNESCO protected area of Lednice-Valtice. Coach to the baroque Rajsna Watchtower to begin today?s walk overlooking the whole area, from Rajsna Hill walk down to Valtice (630 feet), a gorgeous little town which the house of Liechtenstein chose for their residence centuries ago. An excursion to the majestic Liechtenstein Castle dating back to the 17th century and at a lofty Baroque Church of the Assumption.
 Lunch: Picnic lunch in the forest area which is protected by UNESCO.
 Afternoon: the walk continues along wine yards to the old oak and pine forest, admiring along the walk the Randez Vous, resembling a triumphal arch, and Three Graces or a chapel dedicated to St. Hubert, the patron of hunters. The sights were built continuously in the period of 300 years by the Lichteinstein family and were designed by the most prominent architects of that time.
 Dinner: Dinner at a local establishment.
 Evening: Dinner, folklore music and wine tasting at a local wine cellar.
   
Accommodations: Hranicni Zamecek Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 4: The Podyji National Park (Transfer Day ? 2.5 hours) Altitudes of the part range from 662-1802 feet.
(Saturday, May 11)

Note: Lectures: ?Iron Curtain at Cizov; Life in the Time of Cummunism? and Castle Novy Hradek?. Mode of transportation: coach/walking. Approximate walking time: 3 hours.



   
 Breakfast: Breakfast at the hotel.
 Morning: Begin by coaching to south Moravia for a short excursion of the iron curtain in Cizov with the rest of the communist wire fence in the Podyji National Park established in 1991. The more south one drives along the Dyje River the more fertile the land becomes with orchards and vineyards continuing into Austria. The park is famous because of its biological and geological importance; an area of precious plants and animals, an island of forgotten peace among civilized countryside. Walk from the village of Lukov (1037 feet) for an excursion to the castle ruin, Novy Hradek,originally a hunting castle of 1358 which belonged to the brother of the famous Czech emperor Charles IV.
 Lunch: Picnic in the village of Podmoli (1319 feet).
 Afternoon: Continuing on through the national park, ending in Havraniky and continue by coach to Telc, a registered in heritage list of UNESCO.
 Dinner: Dinner will be served at a local establishment.
   
Accommodations: Hotel U Hrabenky
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 5: The Slavonice Area (2 hour transfer)
(Sunday, May 12)

Note: Lectures: "Czech Argiculture" with an excursion to a private farm owned by the Krejci family and "The Gothic Town of Slovovice". Mode of transportation: coach/walking. Approximate walking time: 4 hours.



   
 Breakfast: Breakfast at the hotel.
 Morning: Coach to the starting point of today's walking field trip, Stalkov village, through forests to the ruins of the 13th century Castle Landstejn. Continue through the woods passing an old Jewish cemetery and Stare Mesto (1765 feet) with their stone bridge established in the 14th century.
 Lunch: Picnic lunch on the banks of Lake Dedek.
 Afternoon: Continue walking in the area with an excursion to the charming village of Slavonice (1680 feet), with its unique collection of 16th century renaissance houses with figural sgraffitties, return to the hotel by coach.
 Dinner: Dinner at a local establishment in Telc.
   
Accommodations: Hotel U Hrabenky
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 6: The Telc Castle and the Michovska Rock (30 minute transfer)
(Monday, May 13)

Note: Lecture: ?The Renaissance Castle of Telc?. Mode of transportation: coach/walking. Approximate walking time: 3.5 hours.



   
 Breakfast: Breakfast at the hotel.
 Morning: This morning walking excursion to the Renaissance Castle of Telc, owned by the Lords of Hradec, a family with connections to the Cesky Krumlov Castle. Next, coach to the village of Svetla (1398 feet), where we begin the walking field trip, including the Michovska rock, a natural monument reaching 2404 feet high with a beautiful view of Telc and the region.
 Lunch: Picnic on the bank of the Velky pond, established in the 16th century.
 Afternoon: Walk back to Telc via the ruins of the castle Stamberk and Lhotka village, entering Telc through an alley of lime trees.
 Dinner: Dinner at a local establishment.
   
Accommodations: Hotel U Hrabenky
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 7: The Trebon Area (Transfer Day ? 2 hours). Altitudes range from 1504-4410 feet.
(Tuesday, May 14)

Note: Lecture: ?UNESCO Bioshere Reserve?. Mode of transportation: coach/walking. Approximate walking time: 2.5 hours.



   
 Breakfast: Breakfast at the hotel.
 Morning: Transfer via coach through the Trebon area with some of the region?s largest lakes and fishponds, acknowledged by its status as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. A superb landscape, which attained a secondary biological equilibrium centuries ago, resulting in its present beauty. Walk in this beautiful area and view the disintegrating oak trees, giants almost 500 years old. While walking view several old farm villages built in the ?Peasant Baroque? style
 Lunch: Picnic lunch during the walk.
 Afternoon: Walking excursion to the charming town of Trebon and enjoy a concert of the Pipers of Trebon at the auditorium of Peter Vok in the Castle of Trebon before continuing by coach to Cesky Krumlov (1614 feet).
 Dinner: Dinner will be at the hotel.
   
Accommodations: Hotel Dvorak
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 8: The Cistercian Monastery Vyssi Brod
(Wednesday, May 15)

Note: Lecture: "The Cistercian Monastery Vyssi Brod". Mode of transportation: walking. Approximate walking time: 2 hours.



   
 Breakfast: Breakfast at the hotel.
 Morning: Transfer south by coach to Vyssi Brod (2218 feet) for a walking field-trip on the “Maria Rast am Stein” (Way of the Cross). Continue on the trail for an excursion of the Cistercian Monastery Abbey founded in 1259 by Petr Vok of Rozmberk.
 Lunch: Lunch independent.
 Afternoon: Return to Cesky Krumlov where lunch and the remainder of the day is independent.
 Dinner: Dinner will be served at the hotel.
   
Accommodations: Hotel Dvorak
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 9: Cesky Krumlov Castle-Prague (Transfer Day ? 4 hours)
(Thursday, May 16)

Note: Lectures: “The Cesky Krumlov Castle and the Baroque Theater”kov Castle” and the “Orlik Reservior”. Mode of transportation: coach/walking. Approximate walking time: 1.5 hours.



   
 Breakfast: Breakfast at the hotel.
 Morning: Walk from the hotel to the castle (1810 feet) high above the town for an excursion of the castle and the Baroque Theater, the oldest and most completely preserved building in the world.
 Lunch: Lunch will be served at a local establishment brewery/restaurant called Eggenberg.
 Afternoon: Transfer by private coach north towards Prague for a stop to board a boat for a one hour sail on the very beautiful reservoir, Orlik.
 Dinner: Dinner will be served at the hotel.
   
Accommodations: Clarion Hotel Prague Old Town
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 10: Prague (686 feet)
(Friday, May 17)

Note: Lecture: ?Prague, Past and Present?. Mode of transportation: walking/cable car. Approximate walking time: 4 hours.



   
 Breakfast: Breakfast at the hotel.
 Morning: Walking field trip of the city viewing the many Renaissance, Baroque, Art Nouveau and Neo- Gothic monuments. The field trip includes the Baroc Loretta Basilica, 9th century Prague Castle and the center of the Czech statehood for almost 11 centuries. Within the castle complex the splendour of St. Vitus’ Cathedral and the spires, continue through the imposing Golden Lane lined with tiny little houses.
 Lunch: Lunch will be served in a historical restaurant located in the Little Quarter.
 Afternoon: Following lunch cross the Vltava River through the famous Charles Bridge, continue walking on the winding narrow streets of the Old Town ending at the Astronomical Clock with it’s twelve apostles showing every hour. Remainder of the afternoon is independent to continuing exploring this unique and historical city.
 Dinner: Special farewell dinner high above the city at Nebozizek restaurant.
   
Accommodations: Clarion Hotel Prague Old Town
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 11: Return to the USA.
(Saturday, May 18)
   
 Breakfast: Breakfast at the hotel.
 Morning: Transfer to the Prague airport for departure - program ends.
   
Meals Included: Breakfast
Important information about your itinerary: Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy and completeness of the information featured on this website. Itineraries are based on our best information at this time. Circumstances beyond our control may require us to adjust itineraries or other details. We regret any inconvenience this may cause and appreciate your understanding. Information will be sent to you from your Program Provider approximately three weeks prior to the program start date. The prices listed for commercial services and facilities that are not included in the program cost, such as airport shuttles or extra nights lodging, are subject to change without notice. Since Road Scholar cannot guarantee the accuracy of these prices, we strongly suggest contacting the companies directly for the most up-to-date information.

Suggested Reading List


A Traveller's Companion to Prague


Author: Jan Kaplan (Editor)


Description: A portrait of the city, its neighborhoods, architecture, society and culture as seen through the eyes of writers over the centuries, including Petrarch, Hans Christian Anderson, Graham Greene and Patrick Leigh Fermor.



All Along the Danube: Recipes from Germany, Austria, Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia, Hungary, Romania, & Bulgaria


Author: Marina Polvay


Description: A cookbook full of classic recipes from Central Europe, with some valuable morsels of culture.



Baroque and Rococo Art


Author: Germain Bazin


Description: An excellent illustrated survey of Baroque and Rococo art and architecture, this volume in the acclaimed "World of Art" series is a good companion to the golden age of Middle Europe.



Birds of Europe


Author: Lars Svensson


Description: Featuring 3,500 glorious paintings by Killian Mullarney and Dan Zetterstrom, the second revised edition of this exquisite guide has been brought up to date with revised text and maps.



Bury Me Standing


Author: Isabel Fonseca


Description: This marvelous portrait of the Roma, also known as the Gypsies, offers insight into their music, foods, religions and folk traditions, and also examines their influential but complex relationship with Eastern Europe.



Czech and Slovak Republics Map


Author: Freytag & Berndt


Description: This double-sided map at a scale of 1:400,000 shows the Danube between Regensburg and Budapest in detail.



Economic and Social History of Medieval Europe


Author: Henri Pirenne


Description: Pirenne, an important economic historian, traces the economic and social development of Western Europe from the end of the Roman Empire to the middle of the 15th century in this classic book, first published in 1936.



Lonely Planet Czech Phrasebook


Author: Lonely Planet


Description: A palm-sized guide to pronunciation, basic grammar and essential vocabulary.



Prague in Black and Gold, Scenes from Life in a European City


Author: Peter Demetz


Description: Both a history and accessible guide to the neighborhoods and architecture of the city.



Prague, A Traveler's Literary Companion


Author: Paul Wilson (Editor)


Description: This anthology of 24 vivid stories by Czech writers, contemporary and well-known, brings the city, history history, spirit and people to life and includes a helpful map for the traveler.



Summer Meditations


Author: Vaclav Havel, Paul Wilson (Translator)


Description: The first leader of the post-Soviet Czech Republic waxes philosophical.



The Coasts of Bohemia, A Czech History


Author: Derek Sayer


Description: A political and cultural history of the Czech people, this intriguing book places the historically important Bohemia and Moravia regions at the center of European events. The author draws on literature, the arts, culture and politics to evoke Czech history, society and identity.



The Complete Stories


Author: Franz Kafka


Description: All of Kafka's stories, including The Metamorphosis, A Hunger Artist, and In The Penal Colony.



The Czech Reader, History, Culture, Politics


Author: Jan Bazant (Editor)


Description: A fascinating survey of Czech history, culture and politics, part of the World Readers series, and composed of the writings and impressions of luminaries, leaders and ordinary Czechs. Among the highlights are Joan of Arc’s letter to the Hussites, the composer Antonin Dvorak’s letter from the New World and literary selections from Kafka, Kundera and Vaclav Havel.



The Good Soldier Svejk and His Fortunes in the World War


Author: Jaroslav Hasek, Cecil Parrott (Translator)


Description: The deeply funny story of a hapless Czech soldier in the Austro-Hungarian army, dismissed for incompetence only to be pressed into service by the Russians in World War I, then captured by his own troops.



The Habsburgs, Embodying Empire


Author: Andrew Wheatcroft


Description: The Habsburgs ruled over more diverse peoples and cultures than any other European dynasty since the Roman period. With skillful scholarship and engaging style, Wheatcroft reveals the history of this family of eccentric monarchs.



The Haunted Land, Facing Europe's Ghosts After Communism


Author: Tina Rosenberg


Description: In this groundbreaking book, a journalist reports on how the newly democratized people of East Germany, Poland and the Czech Republic have confronted the horrors of their former governments.



The Magic Lantern, The Revolution of '89 Witnessed in Warsaw, Budapest, Berlin, and Prague


Author: Timothy Garton Ash


Description: With a chapter each on Warsaw, Budapest, Berlin and Prague, this eyewitness account by an astute journalist and historian shows these vibrant cities during a time of great change.



The Unbearable Lightness of Being


Author: Milan Kundera


Description: Kundera's intriguing novel, praised for its meditations on the nature of men and women, and on the fearful emptiness of life in Prague under Communist rule. We also carry Kundera’s collection of short stories The Book of Laughter and Forgetting.



Time's Magpie, A Walk in Prague


Author: Myla Goldberg


Description: A delightful walking tour of Prague by the bestselling author of "Bee Season."



Travelers' Tales Prague and the Czech Republic, True Stories


Author: David Farley, Jessie Sholl


Description: A well-chosen selection of mostly modern tales of intrigue, adventure and fun. With contributions by Myla Goldberg, Helen Epstein, Jan Morris, and Francine Prose.





You can't find a better value than Road Scholar.


As a not-for-profit organization, we are dedicated to providing all-inclusive educational programs at great value. From lectures to gratuities to field trips to accommodations - the tuition you pay up front is all that you pay.



Specifically, this program includes:

Plus these special experiences...

View the Daily Schedule to see more

And included with all Road Scholar programs:


© Road Scholar 2013 | Call toll-free: 1-800-454-5768