Upstream from the Skalice River – Čimelice

When our ancestors wanted to get a higher education than just primary school or to receive an apprenticeship, they often did not have any other option than spending several kilometres on the walking road every day. Those from Varvažov usually went to Čimelice or Mirotice. (The most talented also went to Písek, but they usually did not walk this distance.) Both these municipalities (the later with the status of town) are currently accessible for walking trips by means of the blue-marked tourist paths, one of them going upstream of the Skalice River and the other one upstream of the Lomnice River. The track to Čimelice goes across the slightly hilly landscape along cattle paddocks (properly fenced) and in the vicinity of river meanders along store ponds all the way to the village square.

Here you can see (just from outside) the local castle owned by the Schwarzenberg family and visit the castle garden. (It is worth mentioning that at the border of Čimelice and nearby Rakovice the capitulation of German army was signed – so, allegedly, this is the place of the final end of World War II in Europe – on 12th May 1945.) You can return to Varvažov along the blue-marked path again. This time go across ponds, and as soon as you reach the village of Vrábsko look for the correct forest paths in a bit of an adventurous way or set out along the little road to Smetanova Lhota and partially along the already familiar path back.