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Weekend trip tip: hike to Veveří castle, take a ferry boat back to Brno

Michal Kašpárek — Thu, 19 May 2011 09:53:42 +0000

A ferry boat approaching Veveří castle

The weather is too beautiful to spend Saturdays and Sundays at home. One of my favorite trips is to ride a tram #1 to stop Přístaviště (30 minutes from the main station), hike to Veveří castle along the banks of Brno dam lake (2 hours), and then to take a ferry boat back to Brno (1 hour for the castle, 1 hour for the cruise).

The hiking is quite easy, as there are almost no uphills and you can have a beer or a lemonade in several beer gardens along the way.

Veveří castle is surprisingly huge

Veveří castle is almost unknown to foreign visitors of the town, although it is one of the most popular “beauty-spots” for locals. A century ago, the situation was opposite. Until 1925, it had been owned by British nobleman Arnold De Forest-Bischofsheim – and it also had been visited by Winston Churchill for several times, including during his honeymoon. (Learn more about the history of the castle.)

The castle has been decaying for a very long time after the World War II. In recent years, thanks to castellan Petr Fedor, the situation is getting better – place after place, the huge complex is getting repaired.

Sadly, there are no tours with English-speaking guide. However, for only CZK 20, you can walk through all the courtyards and even to some ambits and towers.

Boat Brno

Ferry boats have been a popular tourist attraction for 65 years – which is being celebrated this month. However, prepare to pay CZK 110 for a cruise from Veveří castle back to Bystrc quarter. It is worth of the money anyway. Learn more about the ferry boats, prices and timetable.

If you want to do this trip, print out this tourist map. Přístaviště tram station is at its bottom, Veveří castle at its top. Follow the red trail all the way and you can not get lost.

Winter trip idea: game preserve Holedná and Hobrtenky

Michal Kašpárek — Fri, 10 Dec 2010 07:00:53 +0000

A part of a wild boar family

Thinking about a nice Sunday hike? Get a trolley bus to quarter Kohoutovice and enjoy a game preserve at hills Holedná and Hobrtenky.

Located only 15 minutes from Mendlovo sq. in the centre of the town, the preserve is a great place where to spot deers, moufflons and wild boars (safely locked in a large cattle-range).

Cute, isn't it?

It is allowed to feed the boars – just remember that although they like bread, it is bad for their health.

Your kids will be fascinated by the animals.

Holedná and Hobrtenky hills are a wonderful place for hiking, biking on running. It is easier to start in Kohoutovice quarter, because you’ll go downhill – but if you want to do something for your health, hike from Jundrov or Bystrc uphill.

Map

The green arrow shows the location of the wild boar range. Deers and moufflons live all over the forrest between Kohoutovice, Bystrc and Jundrov quarters.

Larger map

Choose the Christmas tree for the central square

Michal Kašpárek — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 07:00:56 +0000

I vote for tree #3.

Each year a tall Christmas tree is erected and lit at Náměstí svobody sq. Now you have the opportunity to choose which one out of four “candidates” will be chopped down and then transported to the central square.

The rules are “so 1990s” but simple: look at the four trees (1, 2, 3, 4) and then send an e-mail to strom@ticbrno.cz with the number of your favorite tree. I recommend using a Czech subject line “hlasuji pro vanocni strom cislo…”. The deadline is set to November 15.

Attention, hikers! The pages include GPS locations of the trees, so you can find them in forrests around Brno.