Farmers' trails from Hrotovice to Jaroměřice

We can set out on the Vysočina farmers' trails from the parking lot in the center of Hrotovice. In the early 90s, the youngest town to achieve this status, it is governed by the town hall from the local castle and serves as the center of a small region between the Jihlava and Rokytná rivers. Coming from the nearby Dukovany nuclear power plant, it is the gateway to Vysočina, and after a few kilometers we realize that we are not really on the flat south of Moravia. Our nearest destination, the Kurtin bee farm in the neighboring Račice, is reached by a detour because the main road no. 152 is hostile to cyclists due to heavy traffic. We leave the town on cycle path no. 401 and after 2 km turn left onto a field road to Račice. The quaint-looking village has the mentioned farm on the outskirts, which we reach carefully along the sidewalk by the main road. From the small honey kingdom, we head across the region towards farmers in Jaroměřice. And not by just any path. Through Odunec and Zárubice, we reach the forest complex Na Skalný. The highest hill nearby surprisingly offers a contrasting world of forest silence and tranquility, which is an interesting change compared to the open fields. At the edges of the forest lie forester’s lodges, and the whole massif can be circled by a pleasant forest asphalt road until we reach the mysteriously appearing villa Ostrý dvůr. This, like the nearby Horní dvůr across the stream, was part of the former noble game reserve of the nearby Myslibořice castle, which included the entire Skalný hill. From Horní dvůr, a field road leads to Příložany. At house no. 8, a private Agricultural Museum awaits us with a collection of old farming tools. Opposite, across the village pond, we have access to a farmers' shop and a pub at the farm. By the old sunken field road, we reach Boňov. The inconspicuous village surprises with its picturesque character and preserved rural architecture, making it a village monument zone. The gables of buildings, courtyards, driveways, and enclosure walls create an almost South Bohemian countryside atmosphere. On the road, we reach the equally picturesque Ratibořice. The village seems only to serve as a background to huge farmsteads, former noble agricultural centers in the region. The outermost Dvůr Ratibořice 1 is a famous goat farm producing milk and dairy products, as well as offering agro-tourism services. At the other end of the village, we also find a rabbit farm. And so, the picturesque village square completes the picture almost historically true to how life has functioned here for centuries. From Ratibořice, we take a field road again towards the Skalný transmitter, ending our farmers' exploration. We turn onto the road at the forest edge to head for history. Already on the way through Boňov, we encountered references on houses to the cooperation of residents helping paratroopers. Through Lipník, we reach Dolní Vilémovice, the birthplace of Jan Kubiš, the paratrooper and assassin of Heydrich. His birth house is now a museum and a testimony to a dark time. Beyond Vilémovice, we return to the present – a long comfortable asphalt road leads us to Valče, where a dilapidated castle once experienced its resurrection, now turned into a luxury hotel resort. Want to be pampered? Just beyond the gate… For those who prefer the poetry of an authentic Austro-Hungarian brewery, continue on the new cycle path directly to Dalešice to the famous beer temple. Besides the brewery pub, don't forget the museum. And there are 2 km of road left back to Hrotovice. When the cycle path is completed, it will be even more comfortable. Hopefully very soon…