Bohemian-Moravian cycle route

The Bohemian-Moravian cycle route no. 16 does start in Hlinsko, but since we visit that place as part of a trip on EV4, we begin our grand ride across Vysočina from the eastern border to the southern Bohemian border in a town historically divided by the Czech-Moravian border – Svratka. In the town on the northern side of the Žďárské vrchy, they still distinguish between Moravian and Czech Svratka, Moravian and Czech Cikánka, and just as in neighboring Herálec, the dividing line is the stream of the same-named Svratka River. We leave the town on a road along cycle route 4180, but if one prefers more peaceful asphalt roads between pastures and forests, we recommend cycle routes no. 4120 (and 4122), which lead through deep forests north of Herálec, thus bypassing it. Both options meet at the Na Svobodě crossroads, now also the regional border, and then we follow a forest asphalt road to meet routes 16a and EV4. We leave the shared route through Vojnův Městec in Radostín u Dářka and continue along a forest road via Vepřová out of the Žďárské forests into the fields of Přibyslavsko. In the town, we cross the Sázava River and the Posázavská cycle route and travel the Jablonský valley on road sections crossing Česká Jablonná, Brzkov, and Hrbov until the hilly basin opens to the town of Polná. The town, with its magnificent castle-chateau, deanery church, and a large Jewish quarter, definitely deserves a thorough visit and stop. Incidentally, we are still on the Czech side of the land border, which lies further east. But we soon encounter it again directly in Jihlava. From Polná, we ascend toward Březina hill and in nearby Věžnička meet a colony of cellar storages, as if we were somewhere in South Moravia. These pantries are unique. In Ždírec, we again find ourselves on a plateau, and after crossing a motorway bridge near Měšín, we see the regional center Jihlava in sight. In the dense traffic and intricate streets of the city, we follow signs and cycle lanes that lead past the zoo and close to the walls of the historic center, where we shouldn’t miss attractions like the Jihlava catacombs or the Museum of Vysočina. Beyond Jihlava, we enter the third part of our route, the forests of the Javořice highlands, crisscrossing the valley of Jihlava and Moravian Dyje throughout the Renaissance Region. Gradually ascending from the town via Pístov and Popice, we reach the wooded ridge of Špičák. Route no. 16 descends immediately again into the valley to the railway in Třešť, but we may use forest asphalt roads, turn left, and follow route 5090 over the forested ridge through the saddle between Malý and Velký Špičák. Upon reaching a stone milestone or the Třešť gamekeeper’s lodge, we descend into the town. Třešť is famous for its nativity scenes, but also hosts other cultural sights such as a chateau, the Tesla radiotechnology museum, an ossuary, and Jewish monuments. The next milestone on the route is the Roštejn Castle in the northeastern edge of the Jihlava hills forests. The dominant Gothic-Renaissance castle will satisfy visitors demanding ancient residences. After inhaling the atmosphere of bygone days and forest air, we head through the villages of Doupě and Vanůvek to the UNESCO town of Telč, a Renaissance jewel of Vysočina surrounded by fishponds with a castle, arcade-lined square, and the lookout tower of the Church of St. James. We enter the center passing the entertainment center Panský dvůr through the Lower Gate and leave the square of Zachariáš of Hradec again through the Upper Gate. Beyond Telč, we avoid the valley of Moravian Dyje and instead ascend toward the heights of Czech Canada. The open landscape offers broad views, such as Nágl's lookout above Kostelní Myslová, which features an exhibition Genius loci about the history of the village located in the parsonage. Finally, beyond Zadní Vydří, we leave the Vysočina Region borders as we reach the Dačice area and the spiritual center of the region – Kostelní Vydří. Above the village stands a solitary pilgrimage church of the Virgin Mary of Carmel with an active Carmelite monastery, a poetic place for soul refreshment. Dačice, a Moravian town in southern Bohemia, is another town full of Renaissance monuments. Alongside the chateau, church lookout tower, or old fortress, one cannot fail to mention the world invention here – the sugar cube, which even has its monument in Dačice. After Dačice, we will not leave the Moravian Dyje valley but visit Staré Hobzí via Hradišťko and Vnorovice. Until recently a forgotten corner near the "iron curtain," it is now adorned with a renovated grand Baroque chateau. A border line has stretched here since the First Republic to the south of Hobzí. We must still cross the deep Dyje valley, pass on our right the forested ridge of Montserrat with the chapel of the Virgin Mary, and reach the forgotten Renaissance gem at the end of our journey – Slavonice. A quaint town full of sgraffito houses, alleys, gates, walls, and with unique underground passages, it is the gateway to Czech Canada and the Austrian Waldviertel and a beautiful final point to our journey across Vysočina.