Cycling Along the Historic Railways

Embark on a cycling adventure along one of the oldest horse-drawn railways in Europe, offering a thrilling experience for train enthusiasts. Discover the remnants of the abandoned forest railway and the tracks once traveled by steam locomotives, and visit our country’s largest railway museum.

Kladno Station was once a key railway hub for the mining and metallurgy industries. Names like the Buštěhrad Railway and the Kladno-Nučice Railway have faded from memory, as has the fact that this area hosted the second oldest railway in continental Europe—the Prague-Lány horse-drawn railway. Today, however, it serves as the starting point for a journey into the past.

Set off from Kladno Station, passing through the Sletiště sports complex onto cycling route 0017, which runs alongside the current railway line. From Kamenné Žehrovice Station, follow the asphalt bike path that traces the route of an abandoned railway siding leading to the former Tuchlovice mine.

• Interesting fact: The Tuchlovice coal mine has left behind just a mound of excavated earth, which you can climb for a great view of the surroundings. Time has transformed the landscape, as seen in the nearby highway and fields of solar panels.

From Tuchlovice, you’ll walk past the chateau park and arrive in Lány. Don’t miss the Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk Museum, where the president would travel from the local castle to the nearby Lány Station (now named after Stochov). From there, he set off on business trips by steam train in his private car. You’ll also find a section of track from the former horse-drawn railway that came before it.

• Tip for you: Before you embark on the horse-drawn railway trail, be sure to refuel with some local cuisine at Bechnerův statek restaurant.

Continue along Lesní Street to the preserved building of the former horse-drawn railway station. The route follows the old railway line to the Lány game preserve, where you can take a detour to a viewing area for forest wildlife. Next, you’ll reach the mill at Píny, home to the old wooden horse-drawn depot. The railway once wound its way to Pilský Pond, and while the embankment is still visible, the poor surface makes it accessible only on foot. Consider taking nearby bike-friendly routes instead.

• Interesting fact: Nearly 200 years ago, timber was extracted from this area and transported to Prague. It’s hard to believe that the original plan was to connect Prague to Plzeň with this railway, but those plans ultimately fell through.

At the Pařeziny location, you’ll head toward Lužná, where the highlight of your trip awaits—the Czech Railways Muzeum Lužná u Rakovníka. Explore a vast exhibition of steam and diesel locomotives from the golden age of Czech railways, including T. G. Masaryk’s presidential salon car in the depot. You can end your trip at the local station and take the train home.

If you continue cycling to nearby Rakovník, treat yourself to original burgers at Ella’s Burger or enjoy classic Czech cuisine at U Zlatého Hroznu.