To the Mysterious Tales of the Voticko Region

The starting point of the nine-kilometre circular nature trail can be found near the tourist information centre on Votice square. From the train station, you can get here by taking a short walk around the pond and around the Pilař Votice swimming biotope, which offers welcome refreshment on hot days. If you are going on a trip with children, don’t forget to pick up a playing card at the information centre. They will receive a small reward at the end for filling it out.

At the information centre, you can also decide where to go. You can choose from two options to start your journey. Either you will follow the nature trail from Votice (yellow tourist sign), which initially leads along the road.

Or you can choose a quieter route through nature with beautiful views of Votice and the countryside. If you choose the nature route, you will miss the nature trail stop at the Votice maple on the hill, where the gallows used to stand. Instead, the path will take you to a small outdoor geological exhibition, the Kamenná vyhlídka Na hůrkách (Stone Lookout on the Hills), with rock samples and interactive elements.

• Interesting fact: The nature trail will introduce you to the legends and stories that have been told in the Votice Region for generations. At each of the ten stops, there is a question or a small task for children. At the end of the route in Votice, in the monastery of St. Francis of Assisi, they will receive a small reward for solving the word puzzle. The educational trail includes a mobile guide, where you can find historical photos of places and audio versions of individual legends.

If you are going with children, stop at the beginning of the trail, on the edge of Votice, at Motýlarium (Butterfly House). In addition to wild butterflies, you will also find various animals from the local rescue station there. From the Butterfly Garden, continue along the street through Starý sad, where you will connect to the green tourist trail, which will take you to Kamenná vyhlídka (the Stone Lookout) Na hůrkách. Here, after the hike, you will definitely want to rest in the gazebo with a beautiful view. From the lookout, you will still have a short climb to the motocross track. After it, you will then join the yellow tourist trail on the road, which you will continue to follow along the nature trail.

What interesting things await you next? After Mysletice, you will reach the highest point of your journey, the Větrov Hill. From here, from the chapel of St. Adalbert, you will enjoy further views. On the way down the hill, you will pass a gazebo that hides the Svatovojtěšský pramen (St. Adalbert Spring). Take a sip from the spring; it is said to have healing powers. And there is also a new self-service Forest Refreshment Shop.

• Tip for you: On the way back to Votice, in the part called America, you can restore your energy at the Starý svět Inn (Old World). In the city centre, let yourself be tempted by something sweet at Cake&Cafe Lucie. If you want something more substantial, you can satisfy your hunger at the U Modré kočky (Blue Cat) restaurant.

If you still haven’t had enough of the views, you can climb the 35-metre-high Václavka Tower in Votice. Then hurry to the Votice Monastery to collect the children’s reward for solving the word puzzle on the playing card. You can get back to the train station from here in 45 minutes.