From Prague to Vienna in 13 days via UNESCO sites

PRAGUE

Arrive on your own to Prague. Nicknamed the city of a thousand towers and a thousand spires, take the time to visit after you’ve settled in. Welcome to your new cycling adventure!

From PRAGUE to NYMBURK 63km

Leaving Prague, you ride northeast towards the fertile Polabí region. Take time along the way to stop in the old towns of Čelákovice and then Přerov nad Labem, home to Europe’s oldest museum of village culture. In case of hot weather, you can swim in a local lake before arriving in the former royal town of Nymburk, whose ancient walls line the Elbe. You can commemorate Czech writer Bohumil Hrabal, who grew up in the local brewery, by tasting Postřižiny beer!

From NYMBURK to KUTNA HORA 42km

Starting from Nymburk, on a pleasant, easy cycle path, you cycle along the river to the spa town of Poděbrady and on to the royal town of Kolín with its ornate Renaissance synagogue. From Kolin, you leave the Elbe to cycle to one of UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites: the former silver mining capital of Kutná Hora. In the Middle Ages, it was one of the most important towns in Europe, extremely wealthy thanks to its mines, its mint and its location on the trade routes. Afterwards, take time to relax in the pleasant old town, with its fascinating medieval and baroque structures. All of this is crowned by the astonishing St. Barbara’s Church, a true gem of Gothic architecture!

From KUTNA HORA to PARDUBICE 56km 449m

Before leaving Kutná Hora, take the time to visit an extraordinary place: the Sedlec ossuary. The decorations were created from the bones of over 30,000 people, making for a curious and macabre display.

Just before returning to the Elbe, you can visit a charming castle in classical style, Kačina. Rejoining the river, you pedal to the Kladruby National Stud, which has produced exceptional horses for the Habsburgs since the 16th century. In the afternoon, you pedal along Lake Buňkov, in case of high temperatures, take time for a cool break and even a swim!

The last stop of the day is the medieval town of Pardubice. A charming, tranquil old town with a beautiful castle and old streets. Pardubice is also the Czech capital of traditional gingerbread.

From PARDUBICE to LITOMYSL 62km 578m

Leaving the Elbe, you come across the first gentle hills and the mighty castle of Kunětická Hora. A short detour and climb up the majestic hill is definitely worth a try! After a break, you reach the Loučná River, which you follow to the village of Vraclav and its memorial to the noble Vršovec family. Next stop is the town of Vysoké Mýto, today a hub of bus manufacturing. Its much longer history is displayed by the beautiful town square and its beautifully preserved gates.

You finish the stage in the UNESCO-protected town of Litomyšl, home to a fantastic Renaissance castle and superb gardens. Litomyšl is also the birthplace of the famous composer Bedřich Smetana, celebrated each year with a classical music festival: a highlight in the Czech cultural calendar!

From LITOMYSL to MORAVSKA TREBOVA 44km

Say goodbye to Bohemia, crossing the historic border with Moravia and spanning the divide between the Bohemian-Moravian highlands to the south and the Eagle Mountains to the north. You can admire the Renaissance town of Svitavy with its beautiful square and explore the history of its most famous inhabitant, the little-appreciated Oskar Schindler.

From here, you climb above the Hřebeč range, then your route descends quietly to your accommodation in the town of Moravská Třebová. This small town boasts a fantastic Renaissance castle, one of the finest examples of its type in the whole of Moravia.

From MORAVSKA TREBOVA to OLOMOUC 68km

The day starts easily on the Třebůvka River, which continues along the former border between Bohemia and Moravia, where there is a high density of castle ruins. As you leave the river, you come across the largest of today’s castles: Bouzouv, one of the most romantic places in the Czech Republic.

Shortly afterwards, you leave the high plateaus behind and descend to the Morava River, which guides you for the rest of your day. At times, you can take advantage of the bike path that meanders along the river.

Former capital of the Moravian Empire, Olomouc offers visitors fascinating sculptures, spectacular churches and an astronomical clock dating from the Communist era.

From OLOMOUC to KROMERIZ 45km

On this stopover, enjoy the surrounding beauty and towns of Olomouc and Kroměříž, both of which are well worth a visit. In Olomouc, there’s the Collum Plaque, the archiepiscopal palace, numerous museums and much more!

After a beautiful morning in this charming town, you head south by bike. Along the way, you can stop off at the beautiful church of Dub, the renowned castles of Tovačov and Chropyně, and finally arrive at the charming town of Kroměříž. Another UNESCO heritage site, this town once served as a summer residence for archbishops. It boasts a fantastic castle and romantic gardens!

From KROMERIZ to SKALICA 63km

You take the new bike path along the Baťa Canal and ride along the Morava River to Uherské Hradiště, where you can admire the lighthouse, probably the only one on the continent. A short detour brings you to one of the country’s most sacred sites, Velehrad. You arrive in the town of Strážnice, famous for its museum of rural architecture and above all for its folk festivals. You then cross the border into Slovakia to visit two historic towns – Skalica and Holič.

From SKALICA to LEDNICE 65km

You cycle through one of the most culturally interesting regions on the Czech-Slovak border. The Slovak region is known for both its distinctive culture and its fine wines. So it’s only natural that a visit to the village of Petrov is a must! The village boasts a remarkably well-preserved complex of wine cellars dating back to the 19th century.

You return to the Czech Republic at Hodonín and continue through the enormous archaeological site of Mikulčice. Alongside Pohansko Castle and the town of Břeclav, you arrive in the Lednice – Valtice cultural landscape region.

This former Lichenstein estate, now a UNESCO heritage site, is packed with charming spots such as man-made castle ruins and small sanctuaries in the forest, making for a fairytale ending to the Czech part of the tour.

From LEDNICE to MISTELBACH 51km

You follow the Lichtenstein Heritage Cycle Route towards Austria. On the way, you pass through the village of Herrnbaumgarten, famous for its poetic museum of nonsense, to the Poysdorf Wine Museum, where you have the opportunity to learn all about wine that was a mystery to you until now! Then on to Wilfersdorf and its castle, which was the prince’s main residence between the 17th and 18th centuries. The tour ends in the town of Mistelbach.

FROM MISTELBACH TO VIENNA 67km

You pedal through an undulating landscape with numerous wind farms on the horizon. You follow the EuroVelo 6 cycle path, partly built on former steam railroad tracks. Your day ends in Vienna, former capital of the Habsburg monarchy, city of waltzes and opera.

VIENNA

Make the most of your last moments in the country’s wonderful capital. Take time to visit the iconic monuments of this magnificent city and soak up the rich Austrian culture one last time. Seize every moment to soak up Vienna’s unique atmosphere and take home unforgettable memories of this trip.