Vysočina, Czech Republic: 15 Most Beautiful Places (Great with Kids) in 2026

The Vysočina region in the Czech Republic is probably the most peaceful part of the whole country, a place where you won’t be squeezed into crowds of tourists and can finally take a deep breath. It’s an absolute paradise for mushroom pickers, and on top of that it hides not one but two amazing UNESCO sites, so lovers of deep forests and admirers of stunning historic architecture will both get their money’s worth. The magical town of Telč and its surroundings are only the beginning — this vast region offers a huge number of fascinating spots, and today I’ll tell you more about them.

You’ll find everything here, from deep river canyons through mysterious castles to adorable historic little towns that you’ll fall in love with instantly. Travellers praise this corner of the country above all for its unspoilt nature and the fact that even in August you’ll find trails where you meet more mushrooms than people.

TL;DR

• Two UNESCO sites: Fairytale Renaissance Telč and the breathtaking town of Třebíč, with its Jewish quarter and basilica, are guaranteed to wow every single visitor.
• Tips for families with kids: The region is absolutely ideal for little travellers, with the Wild West Šikland, the mysterious Jihlava underground and a charming zoo all waiting for them.
• When to come: You’ll experience the most beautiful colours and the greatest calm in May, June and September, while autumn tempts you with fantastic mushroom hauls.
• Important swimming warning: The popular Sykovec pond is drained for the entire 2026 season due to extensive de-silting, so you’ll need to pick another spot for water fun.
• Where to swim: The cleanest water in the region this year is reported at Koněšín beach on the Dalešice reservoir, and the vast Velké Dářko near Žďár nad Sázavou is also hugely popular.
• Ideal length of stay: The region is much bigger than it looks on the map, so I recommend setting aside at least four to five days and always planning trips within specific sub-areas.

When to Visit Vysočina

Experienced travellers will confirm that you can visit Vysočina practically all year round, because every season here has its own completely specific and unmistakable charm. If you want to enjoy the most beautiful nature trips without the crowds, set off in May or June, when everything blooms beautifully and the landscape dresses in fresh green. September is another great choice, offering stable weather and wonderfully pleasant temperatures for full days of exploring monuments. Late summer is also when the most interesting cultural events take place, such as the popular Swing pod Zelenou horou festival.

July and August are logically the main tourist season, which brings slightly more people but also the absolute certainty that all attractions are running at full capacity. It’s only during the summer holidays that the sightseeing boats sail on the Dalešice reservoir every day, and all the children’s fun centres and historic undergrounds come fully alive. Vysočina is, by the way, a famous mushroom-picking powerhouse, so from August to October you’ll fill whole baskets with the finest porcini in the deep spruce forests.

Winter in this region mainly attracts lovers of active pursuits in the fresh, snowy air. Nové Město na Moravě, with its famous Vysočina Arena, offers hundreds of kilometres of perfectly groomed cross-country ski trails that wind through the most beautiful hills. And believe me, the sight of the snow-covered pilgrimage church on Zelená hora is one of the most romantic scenes in the whole country.

When planning your itinerary, always keep in mind that this picturesque region is truly vast and driving between the individual sights can take a lot of time. From the Pelhřimov area to the Žďár area it can easily be a hundred kilometres. It’s definitely worth planning trips within smaller sub-areas so you don’t spend half of your longed-for holiday just sitting in the car. The ideal approach is to pick one base in the south around Telč or Třebíč, and a second one in the north in the Žďárské vrchy hills.

Where to Stay in Vysočina

Choosing the right accommodation can lift a whole holiday to a completely different level, and Vysočina offers a truly varied range of amazing options in this respect. There are luxury boutique hotels in historic town centres, comfortable family resorts in the middle of deep forests, and very unusual places you’ll remember for years. Below I bring you a selection of the best-rated spots according to genuine traveller reviews.

Telč and surroundings (an ideal base for the south of the region):

• Hotel Telč: A beautiful boutique hotel set in the very heart of the town, right at the entrance to the square. Guests praise above all the luxurious breakfasts and incredible attention to detail, though parking has to be sorted at a nearby, slightly more distant car park for a small fee.
• Hospodářský dvůr Bohuslavice: A perfect choice for families with children, because this large farm offers a spacious mini-zoo full of adorable animals you can watch right from the restaurant. The accommodation is a bit simpler, but the ever-present cleanliness and the chance to sleep on a heated stove bed more than make up for it.
• Penzion Mlýn Třeštice: A beautifully restored historic mill near Telč, surrounded by meadows and little ponds. Visitors love the perfect peace and quiet for morning walks, the lovely spacious apartments and the very pleasant sauna.

The Třebíč area, Jihlava and Dalešice:

• Hotel Joseph 1699: An intimate little hotel set right into the amazing atmosphere of Třebíč’s Jewish quarter. From around €115 per night for two you get a lovely room with breakfast, a sauna, and apparently a warm welcome from the owners with a glass of excellent homemade walnut liqueur.
• Hotel Tři Knížata: A renovated historic house sitting right on the main square in Jihlava, renowned for its great restaurant. Travellers especially love the generous breakfasts and free parking safely tucked away in the courtyard behind the hotel.
• Poetický hotel: Unique accommodation in the Dalešice brewery, where the legendary film Cutting It Short was shot. A two-night relaxation package for two costs €210, and the chance to sit with a drink in the historic cobbled courtyard is simply priceless.
• Glamping Tři oříšky: A luxury caravan for two hidden in a private orchard near Horní Lažany. A weekend stay with a generous breakfast basket comes to €250, and guests can’t get enough of the heated hot tub barrel and panoramic sauna.

The Žďárské vrchy hills and the Sázava valley (ideal for the north of the region):

• OREA Resort Devět Skal: A huge and hugely popular mountain resort in the village of Milovy, made for family holidays. You’ll find a heated indoor pool and a great kids’ playroom, though some older parts of the building could, according to reviews, use a little modernisation.
• Hotel Sněžné: A gorgeous modern wellness hotel in the picturesque village of Sněžné, offering relaxation packages from €165. Guests highlight the excellent Finnish sauna, hot tub and professional massages, which really hit the spot after a full day’s hike.
• Ubytování na Zámku Žďár: If you’re after something truly unique, you can stay right in the Baroque estate of the Kinský family near Zelená hora. There’s even a three-storey Baroque tower with a spiral staircase, which guarantees a truly unforgettable experience.
• Penzion U České koruny: Accommodation with an enormous backstory in Lipnice nad Sázavou. This place is run by the great-grandson of the famous writer Jaroslav Hašek, who lived in this house and finished his legendary novel The Good Soldier Švejk here.

Vysočina, Czech Republic: 15 Most Beautiful Places

Here are the places in Vysočina that really are worth it. I’ll advise you where to head for the most beautiful Renaissance architecture, where to find the deepest forests for perfect relaxation, and which historic sights are worth travelling right across the country for.

1. Telč

Telč is the absolute flagship of the whole region and the first place that comes to most people’s minds at the mere mention of Vysočina. Its magical Renaissance square with arcades and incredibly colourful gables of the townhouses is probably the most photogenic in the entire country, especially if you get up early and enjoy it in the morning quiet. You can wander here for hours and still keep discovering fascinating new details on the historic facades. If you’d like to explore the town with kids too, be sure to take the pleasant walk to the nearby Oslednice lookout tower — along the way you’ll pass three lovely playgrounds.

Straight from the square you can stroll to the stunning château, which recently underwent extensive restoration and now offers six interesting tour routes. The biggest draw is the lavish Renaissance halls for €10, but if you’re after something a bit more mysterious and cheaper, you’ll be thrilled by the château’s underground, where you’ll pay just a pleasant €4. The château is also surrounded by picturesque ponds, and a lovely, quiet, romantic walk along their banks offers the best views of the town’s towers.

💡 Tip: If you’re planning a trip right at the end of summer, be sure to mark Sunday 30 August and 27 September 2026 in your calendar, when entry to selected château routes is completely free. Children under five never pay entry anyway, so your family budget won’t suffer needlessly.

2. Třebíč

Třebíč is an absolute world-class rarity, being the only town in the country to hold a UNESCO site listed for both its Jewish and Christian history at once. Locals hold the beautiful and majestic Basilica of St Procopius in enormous esteem — it towers proudly above the river and forms the truly unmistakable panorama of the whole town. Right below it, along the riverbank, spreads the completely preserved Jewish quarter with its 123 historic houses and narrow, winding lanes where you’ll feel like you’re in a completely different century.

While walking through the Jewish quarter, don’t miss a visit to the Rear Synagogue and especially the adjacent Seligmann Bauer house. It shows the real appearance of a Jewish household of the time, complete with a little shop on the ground floor, which many travellers find an even stronger experience than the basilica itself. If bad weather catches you out on your trip, a great rescue is the modern science centre Alternátor for €8, where kids and adults alike can try out plenty of physics experiments. Just watch the opening hours carefully, because Alternátor closes at 3 p.m. on both weekdays and weekends.

3. Žďár nad Sázavou and Zelená hora

Say the name Žďár nad Sázavou and any lover of architecture will immediately think of the genius builder Jan Blažej Santini-Aichel. His crowning work, the pilgrimage Church of St John of Nepomuk on Zelená hora, is on the UNESCO list, and its mystical geometry in the shape of a five-pointed star fascinates architects from all over the world. The basic tour of this Baroque-Gothic gem costs an adult visitor €6 and is worth every cent, because you won’t easily see such a play of light in an interior anywhere else.

Right at the foot of the hill lies the sprawling grounds of the Žďár château, which houses the highly modern and interactive Museum of the New Generation for €11. For families with children there’s a special audio guide narrated by a little girl and a monk, so history entertains even the youngest explorers. You can also download the fun mobile game Hidden Stories completely free, which leads you along a four-kilometre loop in Santini’s footsteps. And if you’re after a truly romantic experience, book the special evening tour of Zelená hora, held from May to September every Saturday after the evening mass.

4. Pernštejn Castle

Pernštejn Castle ranks among the very best-preserved and most impressive Gothic castles in all of Europe and prides itself on never having been conquered in its history. This so-called marble castle rises on a high cliff amid deep forests, and although administratively it sits right on the border and already falls under the South Moravian region, for tourism purposes it’s an absolutely integral part of the “Crown of Vysočina”. The basic route mapping its history from the Gothic era to the twentieth century costs €10, and the tour takes a little over an hour. Just be prepared for about a fifteen-minute uphill hike from the car park.

Even the youngest visitors will get their fun here, with a special acted-out route called “The White Lady Has Vanished” prepared just for them. This lovely children’s tour costs €9 for an adult, and children under five again enter completely free. If you don’t feel like walking through interiors and listening to long commentaries, I recommend at least paying for the discounted courtyard entry at €2.50. From there you’ll pass into the beautifully restored manorial garden, which is incredibly photogenic and offers plenty of quiet spots to rest.

5. The Žďárské vrchy Hills and Velké Dářko

The Žďárské vrchy are the gentlest hills in the country, where instead of sharp peaks you’ll find mild, forested rises and fascinating gneiss rock formations. By far the most popular trip is the easy walk up to the rocky summit of Devět skal, which at 836 metres above sea level is the second-highest point of the whole Bohemian-Moravian Highlands. No paid lookout tower awaits you here — you’ll enjoy the beautiful view over the landscape right from the summit rocks, completely free. Another enormous natural highlight is Čtyři palice, where you can admire mighty rock blocks rising high above the surrounding trees.

After a pleasant walk through the forest, most trippers move on to Velké Dářko, nicknamed the “Sea of Vysočina” for its respectable area of over two hundred hectares. You’ll find sandy beaches with a very gradual entry into the water, a working pedal-boat and paddleboard rental, and a pleasant campsite. The health authority reports that the water is suitable for swimming, but due to the peaty bed it tends to have a browner colour and visibility of only around thirty centimetres. Families with children should also watch out for the south-eastern shore, where there’s a very popular and well-known naturist beach.

💡 Tip: Many older guidebooks claim that the popular steel lookout tower Pípalka stands in the Žďárské vrchy near Devět skal. That’s not true — this tall steel tower actually lies on Křemešník near Pelhřimov, so definitely don’t head to the north of the region looking for it.

6. The Dalešice Reservoir

This deep reservoir, which flooded the narrow river valley of the Jihlava, is often and very aptly nicknamed the “Moravian fjord”. Its steep, forested banks and clean water invite you to relax, and this year the Regional Health Authority confirmed that Koněšín beach offers the very cleanest water in the whole region with superb visibility. The best view of the entire reservoir is from the deck of the Horácko sightseeing boat, which offers a grand scenic loop for €16. These popular boat cruises run daily during the summer holidays from 4 July 2026, but don’t forget to bring cash, because you can’t pay by card on board.

During the cruise you certainly won’t miss the imposing Wilson Rock, a forty-five-metre stone wall rising vertically above the water. Right after disembarking, it would be a sin not to visit the famous Dalešice brewery, where director Menzel shot his legendary film Cutting It Short. Today there’s a lovely museum of Austro-Hungarian brewing here, and you can enjoy an excellent lunch in the on-site restaurant. Travellers highly praise the crispy potato pancakes and fried cheese, perfectly complemented by a tasting of fresh unpasteurised lager.

7. Jihlava

The regional capital, Jihlava, boasts not only the second-largest historic square in the country, but above all a completely unique system of underground passages. At twenty-five kilometres long, it’s the second-largest underground in the country, and its main draw is the famous glowing passage, whose walls are coated with a special phosphorescent paint that magically glows green once the lights go out. The basic route costs an adult €5 and children €3.50. Just don’t forget to pack hoodies for the whole family, because down there it’s fairly chilly and uncomfortable all year round.

Right after exploring the mysterious underground, families most often head to the picturesque zoo, set in a beautiful forested valley of the little Jihlávka river. It’s, by the way, the highest-altitude zoo in the Czech Republic, and a full-day ticket this year costs €8 for an adult and €6 for a child. The grounds are wonderfully compact and free of any exhausting hills, so you can easily get around even with smaller children. There’s currently a major reconstruction of the snow leopard pavilion under way, but you’ll see all the other big cats the zoo specialises in in full glory.

8. Lipnice nad Sázavou

Lipnice nad Sázavou is a small, unassuming town with an enormous history, dominated by a majestic Gothic castle visible from afar. A tour of the castle interiors and mysterious cellars costs €7.50, and literature lovers will surely be pleased that this is where the writer Jaroslav Hašek lived and died. Below the castle, the pub U České koruny still operates, run today by the writer’s great-grandson, and it’s where the famous author finished his Good Soldier Švejk. Stopping here for lunch is an absolute must for fans of Czech classics.

A real gem, however, hides just outside town in the deep flooded granite quarries, reached via a very pleasant forest walk. The local sculptor Radomír Dvořák carved a giant land-art work called the National Wiretapping Memorial directly into the rock walls, which you can view along a six-kilometre loop completely free. Part of it is the enormous “Bretschneider’s Ear”, an incredibly witty reference to the character of the famous, ever-present informer from Hašek’s legendary novel. Kids are usually absolutely thrilled by these giant sculptures in the rocks.

9. Pelhřimov: the Town of Records

Most Czechs associate picturesque Pelhřimov above all with the famous Museum of Records and Curiosities, housed right in the historic Jihlava Gate. You’ll find hundreds of incredible exhibits here, from miniature objects to giant sculptures, and the single ticket of around €14 also covers the nearby exhibition “Golden Czech Hands”. That one boasts a unique collection of more than ninety enormous objects made exclusively from ordinary kitchen matches. For all visitors it definitely pays to buy tickets online in advance, because entering the special code VSTUPENKA20 gets you a nice twenty-percent discount.

💡 Tip: If you visit Pelhřimov exactly on your birthday, you get entry to the whole museum completely free on presenting ID, which is a really lovely gesture from the operators.

From Pelhřimov, be sure to head to the nearby forested hill of Křemešník, home to a pilgrimage church and a rope park for kids. This is the very hill where you’ll find the fifty-two-metre-tall steel lookout tower Pípalka we mentioned earlier. For the climb up two hundred steps you’ll pay a symbolic €1, and in good weather your reward will be an absolutely breathtaking panoramic view over a large part of picturesque Vysočina.

10. Stvořidla and the Sázava Valley

For all incurable romantics and lovers of Czech “tramping” history, the wildest stretch of the Sázava River is an absolute must. Here the river forces its way through a narrow, boulder-strewn bed full of rapids, and right nearby lies the legendary Sunny Cove, where the writer Jaroslav Foglar used to camp with his scouts. Don’t expect any modern tourist infrastructure or refreshment stalls here — it’s simply an ordinary quiet meadow with a scouts’ cairn, but it has an incredibly strong and nostalgic atmosphere.

Foglar’s legacy also comes alive at the nearby mighty castle of Ledeč nad Sázavou, home to a lovely museum dedicated to this famous author and his life-size “Fast Arrows” characters. Great news for this 2026 season: Ledeč Castle is open every day over the summer, including Mondays, so you can head here really any time without worrying about closed doors. To reach the rapids themselves, I recommend taking the romantic little train known as the Posázaví Pacific, whose track follows the exact bends of the river, with a stop just a few steps from the water.

11. Jaroměřice nad Rokytnou

If you love lavish Baroque splendour, one of the largest château complexes in Europe will absolutely captivate you. The château in Jaroměřice nad Rokytnou is quite rightly nicknamed the “Moravian Versailles”, and you can view its opulent count’s apartment full of period furniture for €9. The building itself is surrounded by an amazing French garden that seamlessly transitions into a vast English park. It practically begs for long romantic walks, and its flat paths will be appreciated even by families with prams.

In the first half of August, the whole château garden turns into one huge and immensely elegant cultural centre full of beautiful music. This is when the famous Peter Dvorský International Music Festival takes place, running this year from 1 to 8 August 2026. The opening opera gala concert in the nearby Church of St Margaret is probably the most beautiful and moving evening experience in the whole region for couples in love. Tickets to the best concerts vanish from pre-sale at truly enormous speed, though.

12. The Doubrava Valley

This amazing nature reserve near Chotěboř is often, with great exaggeration, called the “Czech Grand Canyon”, although it’s noticeably greener and far friendlier. The wild little Doubrava river has cut its way through hard rock and created a magical forested gorge full of small waterfalls and roaring rapids. Luckily, no paid gate leads here — you can walk the whole five-kilometre nature trail completely free as part of a beautiful, lightly adventurous afternoon trip.

The route leads from Horní Mlýn to the hamlet of Bílek, and along the way you’ll encounter fascinating spots like the narrow “Twisting Whirlpool” or the steep Sokolohrad viewpoint. I definitely recommend setting off downstream from Horní Mlýn, because the most dramatic rocky section with helper chains will then wait for you as a fantastic finale. With small children, be very careful after rain, because wet stones and tree roots can be unpleasantly slippery — and don’t bring a pram here at all, better reach for a good carrier.

13. Roštejn Castle

The little hunting castle of Roštejn, hidden in the forests near Telč, is, according to enthusiastic parent reviews, probably the most rewarding castle destination in the whole region. For families with children it’s likely the best and most interactive castle in the wider area, because it offers a fantastic self-guided Route B for a flat €4. You’ll walk this entire natural-history exhibition without a guide at your own pace, kids can touch lots of the exhibits, and no one rushes you into the next room.

The castle management goes to real lengths to make sure little visitors don’t get bored, constantly preparing new and fun seasonal activities like a treasure hunt with Terka the squirrel. From summer 2026 there’s also a brand-new detective game for brave sleuths called “The Case of the Missing Key”, which even takes you up into the tall castle tower.

💡 Tip: When planning your journey, pay close attention to the roads, because the road near the nearby village of Růžená is closed for the current season and you can only reach the castle via the marked detour through neighbouring Třeštice.

14. Šiklův mlýn and Draxmoor

For families with children aged four to twelve, the Šikland grounds near Zvole nad Pernštejnem are an absolute guarantee of a full day of enthusiastic fun — although it is, of course, a purely commercial and fairly busy park. It’s the largest Wild West town in the country, where a full-day ticket in peak summer season costs €20. A huge advantage, though, is that all children shorter than 100 centimetres enter completely free, and if you arrive on a Monday, when there’s no accompanying programme, you’ll pay just €6 for the visit.

Part of the whole complex is also the nearby haunted château Draxmoor in Dolní Rožínka, which tests the courage of all little visitors across three floors. It contains a huge number of interactive ghouls and a 3D retro cinema, but for the very youngest it can sometimes be a bit too scary. Parents therefore greatly appreciate that Friday tours are deliberately toned down as less scary, so even the more timid children — who might otherwise start crying in the dark cellar — needn’t be afraid.

15. Náměšť nad Oslavou

We’ll end our journey in Náměšť nad Oslavou, dominated by a gorgeous Renaissance château with a unique and immensely valuable collection of historic tapestries. Besides the lavish state rooms, the château also offers a special Royal and Children’s Apartment for €8 for an adult and €2.50 for a child, tailor-made for curious families. Just below the château you also cross the Oslava River on a beautiful Baroque bridge adorned with statues, lovingly nicknamed by locals the “Little Charles Bridge”.

While you’re in this corner of the region, be sure not to miss the nearby national nature reserve of Mohelno Serpentine Steppe. This fascinating miniature desert, incredibly scorching in the summer sun, offers absolutely breathtaking views over the deep meander of the Jihlava River and reveals a completely different, much wilder face of beautiful Vysočina.

💡 Secret tip: If you’re interested in more modern and slightly darker history, take a trip to nearby Polná. Its Jewish museum in the synagogue covers in detail the famous Hilsner Affair and the trial in which even T. G. Masaryk himself intervened. It’s a hugely powerful experience you won’t read much about in ordinary guidebooks.

Vysočina with Kids: the Best Family Tips

If you’re thinking of heading to Vysočina with the whole family, I can reassure you with a clear conscience that it’s one of the most family-friendly regions in the country. Nobody here will frown at you when the kids shout a bit in the forest, and the local attractions are perfectly set up for family trips. Let’s take a look at the best fun, sorted by the most common family needs.

Swimming with kids: Velké Dářko and Pilák

On hot summer days everyone looks for a pleasant cool-down, easily provided by the Pilák recreation area near Žďár, with its giant playground and working pedal-boat rental. Parents also highly praise the nearby vast Velké Dářko, where you’ll find lovely sandy beaches and a truly gradual entry into the water that’s absolutely ideal for toddlers. According to the health authorities the water here is safe, just count on a browner colour and poorer visibility due to the peat.

Conversely, definitely avoid the Trnávka reservoir and the Kachlička pond this year, where swimming is strictly banned due to dangerous toxins from blue-green algae. And remember the absolutely crucial info for this season: the popular Sykovec pond is drained for the entire summer of 2026, with a multi-million de-silting of the dam under way, so definitely don’t head there with your swimsuits this year. On the other hand, the cleanest water in the whole region is reported at Koněšín beach on the Dalešice reservoir, which is well worth the drive.

For animals and the Wild West: the zoo, Šikland and Draxmoor

When the kids grow tired of castles and châteaux, it’s time to bring out the big guns in the form of animals and some proper action-packed fun. The compact and superbly laid-out Jihlava zoo for €8 is an absolute safe bet for families, because it has no exhausting hills and the children get to see plenty of interesting big cats.

If you have little cowboys at home, you can’t miss the Šikland mentioned above, where every summer day features packed Wild West and Native American shows in a giant amphitheatre, with the main one always starting at 1:30 p.m. And for the older, braver ones there’s the haunted château Draxmoor. As we’ve already mentioned, if you have rather timid children at home, plan your Draxmoor visit for a Friday, when the tours are specially toned down and much less scary.

When it rains: Alternátor, undergrounds and play centres

Unfortunately it sometimes rains in Vysočina too, but luckily you’ll find plenty of great wet-weather options where you can easily spend half a day indoors with the kids. Třebíč’s Alternátor is a fantastic and playful science centre full of physics experiments that will especially thrill curious schoolchildren — just remember it closes as early as 3 p.m.

Another great hideaway from the rain is the enormous historic underground in Jihlava, where kids are completely mesmerised by the magically glowing passage. And when you just need to let the kids run around and burn off excess energy, the huge Robinson entertainment centre in Jihlava serves the purpose brilliantly — it’s considered the largest indoor play centre in the whole region, and a full-day ticket costs €11. Parents also highly praise the smaller multi-storey Hopík play centre in Žďár nad Sázavou, where you can calmly sip your coffee while the kids romp about safely.

With a pram around Vysočina

Travelling with a pram in nature can sometimes be a bit of a challenge, but Vysočina offers plenty of surprisingly smooth and easy terrain. An absolute classic is the fully wheelchair-accessible nature trail around Zelená hora and the Convent Pond in Žďár nad Sázavou, which is just under three kilometres long and offers amazing views. If you’re after a longer route for inline skates or kids’ balance bikes, be sure to try the great, nearly six-kilometre asphalt Pilák loop right by the nearby reservoir.

With a slightly more off-road pram you can easily handle the ten-kilometre forest loop around Velké Dářko too, where you’ll only hit a few annoying roots. A beautiful, relaxed walk is also promised by the park-like Libušino údolí in Třebíč, officially recommended even by the local information centre. And in Telč you can set off from the Na Korábě car park along a very comfortable path all the way to the wooden Oslednice lookout tower, passing three different playgrounds along the way — so boredom is definitely not a risk.

Where to Eat in Vysočina

Vysočina is famous for its utterly honest and fairly hearty home cooking, which reliably banishes hunger after any demanding trip. Lukáš and I swear by proper, perfectly crispy potato pancakes, often called cmunda here and made truly fantastically in just about every decent pub. If you hit the right mushroom season, I definitely recommend trying fresh scrambled eggs with porcini, because the local version smells of the whole forest and is simply irresistible.

A sweet ending you simply have to try in Vysočina is giant yeast blueberry dumplings, which most of the better guesthouses generously sprinkle with grated tvaroh curd cheese and drizzle with a good dose of melted butter. Great local beer inseparably belongs with good food here too, whether you reach for the famous Dalešice from the film Cutting It Short or savour an excellent Pelhřimov “Poutník” in the evenings. With your beer, be sure to order pickled Camembert or the local ripened syrečky cheese, which they season superbly here.

The region is of course historically tied to deep forests and hunting, so on the menus you’ll very often come across roast venison or rich pig-slaughter feasts. The pub U České koruny in Lipnice nad Sázavou even tempts guests with traditional Švejk-style roast pork and giant portions of meatloaf that would apparently please even the famous Good Soldier himself. If you want to be sure of honest local quality on your travels, look for the yellow regional mark “VYSOČINA regionální produkt” on foods and in restaurants, which guarantees the origin of the ingredients.

Practical Tips: Transport and Planning

The busy D1 motorway cuts right across the whole region, so transport logistics are actually quite simple and straightforward. The best exits for exploring the region are at Humpolec, Jihlava and Velké Meziříčí, from where you can reach practically any major sight within thirty to forty-five minutes. A car is an absolute necessity here for freely exploring the countryside, although larger towns like Žďár nad Sázavou or Havlíčkův Brod have very decent rail connections. Bear in mind that the Czech Republic uses a motorway vignette (a toll sticker, as in Austria or Switzerland), so if you’re driving here from abroad, buy one before you hit the D1.

If you love slow travel by train and romance on the rails, be sure to ride the legendary Posázaví Pacific, which will take you right to the amazing rapids at Stvořidla. But once again I warmly recommend that you carefully plan your trips within individual smaller sub-areas. From the Jihlava area to the Pelhřimov area is quite a haul, and from Třebíč to Devět skal you’ll easily drive an hour and a half, so it would be a huge shame to spend a relaxed holiday nervously shuffling around behind the wheel. Before swimming in nature, always check the current water quality on the official website of the Regional Health Authority, because the situation can change quickly from week to week.

Where to Go Next

If the beauty of the Czech Republic keeps captivating you and you’re looking for more inspiration for your weekend trips, be sure to check out these tried-and-tested articles:

• Telč: 8 Tips on What to See in the Renaissance Pearl of Vysočina
• 20 Tips on Where to Holiday in the Czech Republic
• What to See in Litomyšl
• Brno: What to See and Top Attractions

Frequently Asked Questions

To finish, I’ve gathered the most common questions that circulate around holidays in Vysočina and added quick answers. I believe these speedy tips will make your planning easier and help you enjoy your holiday to the fullest.