LENGTH AND ELEVATION: 265 KM / 3200 M
MAP
PROFILE
We hope that you will fill enough energy at RP2 and you are delighted to complete 3rd section, cca 255km long, with 3000m elevation. As there are no serious mountains in this area, we hope you will ride fast here.
10km ater RP2 waits Jindřichův Hradec – another district town with very nice city centre.
Chateux, pond Vajgar, old square, historical gate Nežárecká brána..,
and smooth cycling path. All this during just 5km through the city!
Behind start another nice – very lightly populated – area of Czech Canada. Except another dozens of ponds, here you can find spacious plains, meadows with lifestock, and almost mysterious forests with several rock formations.
We like mostly the section after village Kaproun, where landscape is changing every few kilometres, or even behind every turn.
You will be oscillating between 600-700m altitude and ride through deep forests or vast meadows, as for example near Klenovické samoty.
As a very special attraction serves Buffalo farm in Rožnov, where you should stop for a while and watch these monster animals ….
… take a picture with big wooden statue of buffalo …
… or take a soup from buffalo meat, right on the terrace with a views on a nearby game reserve.
After short break you will disappear again on marvelous gravel roads in forests of Czech Canada.
True dominant of this area is castle Landštejn, built in 12th century.
From here you will lose altitude a bit, by descent to Staré Město, which is not very interesting, but is a gate to other interesting area – valley of Pstruhovec creek.
Before you will cross its dry polder dam, we – rather accidentally – found for you really special place for you. Old Jewish cemetry, with even 400+ years old tombstones.
After easy cycling path through the valley you will pass local biathlon shooting area and will have to climb to Landštejn water dam.
Czech Canada is also full of superb asphalted forrest roads.
Of course, we chose the best ones.
10km further lies Český Rudolec, with its ruin of chateaux (and iconic Death with a sickle) and also small brewery Grassel.
After this interesting place, you will again disappear for 25km in nature and on „no-name“ minor and forrest roads.
That´s why arrival to another UNESCO heritage town will be the more striking. Welcome to Telč! Another top RACZ26 Highlight, ranks among most touristy places of Czechia and is most popular thanks to its extraordinary old square…
or due to cute views on town from pond Ulický, which you will cross through nice wooden footbridge Belpská lávka. It is definitely worth at least to slow down a bit here, better to take a lunch or icecream on colorful square.
In Telč area are you will maybe not notice, that you left Bohemia and entered region Moravia. This area is known for very hospitable and cheerful people. In terms of landscape rather flat and pretty agricultural.
50km section to Vranov is a bit boring. Without any attractions and big cities, mostly fields and tiny villages, with just a few place to buy food.
We didn´t want to add any extra curls to this section, and hurry to Vranov and Podyjí national park.
Here you should go fast – without a need for stop – and focus just a ride itself.
So castle Bítov comes as a first lightning bolt from the blue ..
… quickly followed by huge panoramas on water dam Vranov, built on river Dyje, which creates deep gorge in long section until Znojmo.
Except Bítov, also ruin of Cornštejn castle rises high above water. It is worth to stop for its quick exploration and nice photos.
After short climb and 8km on minor road, you will hit village Vranov, with a chateux at the top …
… and power station, beaches and hanging footbridge on water dam.
Then you need to go up through deep Swiss valley, on tiny asphalt road to Lesná,
which has a unique restaurant built inside fotogenic Holland-type wind mill from 16th century.
Also Čížov is an extra place. Not just because its name reminds a nick of our boss Číža,
but also thank to its remark of Iron Curtail – watchtower, barbed wire fence and roadblocks.
After 30km on a plateaus along Podyjí NP, you will fall back down to Dyje river, by incredibly steep descent around Šobes wineyards.
You will cross Dyje through Šobes footbridge and after short MTB section at the bottom of a gorge be prepard for steep climb to Havraníky.
Behind this village waits a bit slippery sandy road,
which is anyway just a neccessary hurdle on a way towards one of the most breath taking viewpoint of The Route.
Sealsfield´s stone viewpoint is a small rock on the edge of deep gorge.
Dyje is flowing over 250m deep below.
Well, we had forests, fields, ponds and many other types of landscape during first 750 km,
so as you are approaching to Znojmo area, we decided to enchant you by something new – wineyards. Behind village Konice, we chose green pedestrian trail, right through the endless plains of wine grapes.
Before a descent Znojmo we found for you another fast and luxury smooth gravel roads near Kraví hora.
And here you are – Znojmo is a biggest city along CZ/A borders, gate to Podyjí national park and a centre of whole winery area.
First metres in this city will be tough.
Lot of riders will be probably pushing their on a steep street from Dyje river to the old town.
St. Catherine´s rotunda from 11th century is a biggest architectonical jewell ..
… and also offers best views on Znojmo. It´s dominant building is St. Nicolas Church.
Those who has fear of heights will probably not appreciate long iron footbridge over Lesná river, which you can see through the holes in bridge´s grid.
Last 57km of 3rd Section (and of Short Route) leads again through tiny villages, mostly on minor roads.
We will stop for a while in town Jevišovice.
And to the colorful parade of RACZ26 water dam we will add small one,
but probably the fotogenic, dam Jevišovice.
South Moravia is full of fields of sunflowers, which should be blooming during middle July..
Behind Stropešín you will cross Dalešice dam over a bridge of a same name.
Make a loop to Hartvíkovice and after this village we chose really special place as a RACZ800 finish line – viewpoint above Wilson´s rock, with a photo love. This is an official finish of Short Route, so you can absorb emotions…
… and after it you can ride down to the beach, to campsite Wilsonka, which we arranged as a RestPoint 3.
