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Stops Between Prague and Cesky Krumlov

I am booking a private shuttle to travel between Prague and Cesky Krumlov, so that we can make a couple of scenic stops on the way. (We will be spending the night in Cesky Krumlov.)

I have been looking at possible stops that might interest me, and have come up with the following list. I want to choose maybe one or, at most, two stops other than Cesky Budejovice. I am interested in castles. What I don't know is how practical my choices are. I don't want to ask (or pay a bunch extra) for a driver to wait while we do a two-hour hike to see a castle, for example. Here are my ideas:

Hluboká nad Vltavou Chateau - I'm leaning toward this, because it looks so very pretty in the photos.
Konopiste

I'd also love to see some beautiful ruins of a stone castle, such as:
Choustnik Ruins--this one really interests me, but I think it's a hike and not a quick stop
Borotin
Dobronice Ruins

Which of these, if any, would be reasonable stops along the way to Cesky Krumlov, without too much of a detour or hike?

Thanks!

Posted by
4637 posts

BB,
I can say you really did your homework. I think I can safely bet that none of us Ricknicks on this forum ever heard about Choustnik (read Khoustnik), Borotin or Dobronice. Choustnik and Dobronice are a little bit detour from your main road. Borotin is closer to the main road but it looks like that a little hike would be necessary. Choustnik would be a little bit more hike uphill. Dobronice is right in the village so I guess car could bring you right to it. Konopiste and Hluboka are two major tourists sights certainly worth stopping. However if you want to share your experience with fewer or no tourists, choose one of your three obscure picks. Be aware that depending on season their opening times are not every day. If you want to see some towns on the way back I would recommend two: Ceske Budejovice and Tabor. C.B. is the biggest town in South Bohemia (about hundred thousand inhabitants). It has a beautiful square and streets in the center and a beer hall Masne Kramy. If you are into beer you can take a brewery tour in C.B. It's where the original Budweiser is brewed. German name for Ceske Budejovice is Budweis. Tabor is a pretty historical town which was not founded by a king or nobility like most other towns but by religious rebels hussites.

Posted by
1611 posts

Thank you!

We won't be heading back, but will be travelling on to Salzburg after Cesky Krumlov. (So much to see; so little time.)
We will stop in Cesky Budejovice, I think, but I was trying to decide on a couple of other stops, as well.

Unfortunately, I do not like beer (or wine--I go for the hard stuff g). My husband does, so he will have to try it for the both of us.

Thanks for the feeback!

Posted by
111 posts

I enjoyed Konopiste Castle as a stop between these two cities, and found it very un-touristed in October. Of course, I did it the hard way by train and hiking to the castle, but your driver can take you right to the castle parking lot. You can only visit the interior with a one-hour guided tour (three interior route options depart at different times), so the driver still will have to wait. The town of Benesov was not memorable, but works if you need a lunch stop.

Ceske Budejovice has some lovely architecture on the main square, although somewhat marred by cars, and is an enjoyable place for a stroll. (For non-drivers, it's which is easy to find the square down the main street from the train station.)