This biketrip use several international long-distance bikeroutes. It goes from the border on Paneuropa Radweg (short distance) together with Iron Curtain Greenway up to Rybnik village where join on Czech-Bavarian Friedship bikeroute from Naaburg to Horšovský Týn. So you can go through former border area full of forrests and also through forest free area farther of the border, where during downhill running you can enjoy views into inland. This biketrip is intended to the cyclists who are able to go longer trips in ondulating landscape.

Trip length: 30km
Start & destination: Železná/Tillyschanz (CZ/DE) - Poběžovice


Author: cykloRADKA

Updated: 23.01.2010

Region full of empty villages, landscape several years not changed by building works of man - this is the Český les region on of the border mountains former Iron Curtain. Wide-spread forest full of good forest roads and small asphalt roads connecting foothills villagesad small towns, this is paradise for tourists, especially on the bike. Marked biketrails including two international ones attract mainly cyclists. Česky les offers nice biketrips to everyone especially from Pilsen city wchi is connected by bikebus via Stod city, Nýřany city  to the cities in Česky les: Poběžovice, Hostouň and bělá nad Radbuzou and to the end station Železná/Tillischanz on the Czech-German border. From this place you can start one of the three bike trips and to look over three cities in the end of each of them.

Biketrip C (red line)

This bike trip is going through the core of the border area of Český les partly on former paved border patrol roads markd as Iron Curtain  (Iron Curtain Greenway) and also on Friendship bikeroute (Naaburg- Schonsee - Horšovský Týn). You can stop in the places where villages Pleš, Rabov and Václav was situated tens years ago. There is cemetary only on the Pleš; the pub between Pleš and Rabov  is usually open. There is many very nice views on this biketrip between Pleš and Václav, uphill Šidlákov and behind Drahotín. Short detour goes to view point Zvon which is usually closed to the public (it is military area). Before turning to Rybník village dont´t forget look to very old bridge over Radbuza river. It was part of so called Ostrovská path (Ostrovská stezka). First part of this biketrip is undulating in border mountains, the second one (from the top of Mošna hill above Rybník) goes downhill only.

Poběžovice - red biketrip destination

The first mention about Poběžovice city is from 1359. Old Gothic castle and city church were build in the 15th century. Poběžovice was promoted to the city in the beginning of 16th century. It was embattled by walls with three gates. In the end of 17th century new chateaux was buildt in the place where castle was. Famous Czech composer Bedřich Smetana worked here as teacher of music in his young age. Poběžovice and close manor Pivoň was owned by Coudenhove-Kalergi clan from 1846 till 1945. Philosophy doctor earl Richard Nicholas Coudenhove-Kalergi was the first president and guru of Paneuropean Union. Micuko Aojama, Japan wife of austrian diplomat and manor owner Henry Coudenhove-Kalergi, also enter to the history of this region. Long time German, Czech and Jewish people lived together in Poběžovice. Poběžovice is pilgrimate place for Jewish sect Chasidists well known all around Europe. In the city you can see the statue of St. Johanes Nepomucký by Jan Brokoff, Marian column, church of Our Lady and clergyman´s house. There is Jewish cemetery behind the city above the road to Drahotín. Skulptor Jan Brokoff made here linden wood model for the famost statue of St. Johanes Nepomucký situated on Chrles bridge in Prague. Municipal preserved area was announced in 1995. The reconstruction of the chateaux is being. Poběžovice and Bavarian city Schonsee has partnership. Both cities are connected by crossborder bikeroute Friendship from Horšovský Týn to Naaburg - it is marked as 2141 bikeroute on the Czech area.

Where to sleep

Bělá nad Radbuzou town

pension u Zubaře  with the certificate  Cyclists welcome

restaurant Radbuza
pension Dvořákův mlýn

Poběžovice town
hotel Hubertus

Rybník village
Rekreační středisko Rybník with the certificate  Cyclists welcome

family farm Uher

Where to eat and drink

Bělá nad Radbuzou town
restaurant Radbuza - warm meals
Klub P+P - snack

Poběžovice city
hotel Hubertus - warm meals
U Dušana - warm meals
pizzerie Valtíř - warm meals

Rybník village
Restaurant of Rekreační středisko Rybník with certificate Cyclists welcome - warm meals

family farm Uher - warm meals

Železná village
Bistro U Bendů - warm meals
restaurace Praha - warm meals
Travel Free Shop

Bikerepairs

There is no bikerepairs in this area and around.

In a case of necessity you can use tools and base replacement parts in Cyclists welcome certificated places in pension U zubaře in Bělá and in Rekreační středisko Rybník.

Bikeguide

If you want to use bikeguide service and to get some local information during the trip, please, order bikeguide.

Transport to starting point by bike-bus

You can use bike-bus from Pilsen operating from 1st May to 19th September 2010. Information are here.

Recommended maps

Český les/Oberfälzer Wald, tourist & bike map No9,  1:75 000, for Pilsen Region Authority published by Kletr
Český les - jih, tourist map 1:50 000, published by KČT
Český les - Tachovsko, tourist & bike map 1:60 000, published by SHOCART
Český les - Domažlicko, tourist & bike map 1:60 000, published by SHOCART
Český les - Tachovsko, tourist & bike map 1:70 000, published by Kartografie Praha
Český les - jih, Chodsko, tourist & bike map 1:70 000, published by Kartografie Praha
Český les, Chodsko, tourist map 1:100 000, published by Kartografie Praha

Beware your phones!

There is many places in this area, where mobile phones have no signal in this region. There is only German mobile phone signal in some places. If you phone, please check which the signal you use. If you will go as a group and lost some person, there is only little chance to call your lost friend. There is possible to use coin telephone station in the rekreační středisko Rybník.

Package of 3 biketrips "By bike-bus to Český les" is consisted of

biketrip A - By Paneuropean bikeroute to Bělá nad Radbuzou (16 nebo 40 km)

biketrip B - From Radbuza river springs to Hostoun (40 km)

biketrip C - By Czech-German bike trails to Poběžovice (30 km)

Printed & www work of these 3 biketrips By bike-bus to Česky les is supported by Pilsen Region Regional Authority in 2009, operator of tourist website www.turisturaj.cz.

Printed work is at disposal in bikebus & infocentres in Pilsen, Bělá, Poběžovice and Hostouň.

Photo gallery

We are starting from bus stop near bikeroute crossing in Železná

At nearest crossingroads we are continue stright (upstream view)

...to the Železná huť, where we are going to the right...

...and again to the left (upstream view)

Here we must go straight.

On the crossingroads near deer-stand we turned to the left (upstream view)

...and on the crossingroads Pod Pleší we joined to bikeroute 36

We looked at St Johanes of Nepomuk statue on the turning to the cemetary...

...and of course the cemetary.

We made a picnic on Nature square (Náměstí přírody)

From the crossingroads near rest place and infotable we continued to the left

From the terrace of Na Pleši pub

...we looked observatory tower on the German side

Then we continued to the right on bikeroute 36 (don´t let you confused by the the work of signage goblin!)

...along former village Rabov.

There is a nice view to Zvon on the left side

We continued on bikeroute 36 roud small memorial to former village Václav

On the next crossingroads we went about 1km uphill to nature area malý Zvon (upstream view)

Then we continued on bikeroute 36, who turned to the left (the cyclist on the picture is going upstream)

On the next crossingroads near infotable turn to the right on bikeroute 36

During downhill run is recommended to stop and look to the Zvon on the left side

There is infotable and below the old stone bridge on the crossing with the street to Rybník Village

During the way to Rybnik village there is very nice view on the second edge of Radbuza river valley

Rekreační středisko Rybník has a Cyclists welcome certificate, so we stayed here for a lunch

Then we returned about 300m to the crossingroads, where bikeroute 2141 turning to Poběžovice

And went round former village Kněžská...

...and the peace cross on the right side of the road...

...view in front of Šidlákov village

We looked at works of local artist near the exit from Šidlákov village on bikeroute 2141

...and another nice view point above Šidlákov village

Enter Šibanov village strightly (upstream view)

Overlooked chateau with a park in Poběžovice

...and square in Poběžovice

If you have a free time to bikebus departure, you can stop at snack

...or to Hubertus hotel