Bellow you will find several tips and suggestion about places to visit from Nove Hrady. From the local hiking trips through the forests and mountains to the suggestions, where to go for a beach, swimming and the spa. Finally also the tips to visits of the interesting towns and places to go if it will be rainy weather.
We do not organize excursion common for all symposium participants. There will be free time on Monday afternoon, that you can use for suggested excursions and activities and you can also visit different places. You can travel on your own or you can join the other symposium participants on the one (or several) of the trips or activities. We organizers will go to some of the trips with participants, so you can join us. We can take limited number of participants by our cars.
Walking and hiking
If the weather permit we would suggest walking through the local forests with rock formations, where you can pick some blueberries, raspberries and woodland strawberries. The trip to local mountains would be rewarded by beautiful views. Here are several tips for local walks or hikes.
Trips walking distance from Nove Hrady
1. Trip to Thersa valley (Tercino udoli) of Nove Hrady
Walking from the conference center: 4-8km, you can visit waterfall, Cuknstejn fortress, Laznicky (restaurant), Hamr (restaurant). More info you can find on the local web.
The suggested trip on the map is here.
2. Trip to Zevluv mlyn and Austrian border
Walking from the conference center: 8km, you can visit the border crossing to Austria with Museum of iron curtain, then visit Asutrian village Pyhrabruck with natural border stone, Lake Zevluv rybnik and Zevluv mlyn – local brewery, museum of milling and farm equipment. You can stay the rest of afternoon at brewery restaurant Zevluv mlyn. The uggested trip on map have two parts, part1 (Nove Hrady – border crossing – Pyhrabruck – natural stone), part2 (natural stone – Zevluv rybnik – Zevluv Mlyn – Nove Hrady).
Trips to the neighborhood of Nove Hrady
3. Červená blata – nature reserve
Nature trail through the peat bog. It is located 8km north of Nove Hrady. You can easily reach it by car or bicycle. The nature trail itself is 4.3km long (see map). The trail mostly leads through the elevated wooden footpath. The Červena Blata peat bog is home to 200 years old bog pine (Pinus rotundata), white birch (Betula pendula) and alder buckthorn (Frangula alnus). The marsh Labrador tea (Ledum palustre), cranberry plants, blueberries (Vaccinium myrtillus), bog bilberry (Vaccinium uliginosum) and bog-rosemary (Andromeda polifolia) can be also seen in Červena Blata peat bog. Additionally also tussock cottongrass (Eriophorum vaginatum), bog cranberry (Oxycoccus palustris) and carnivorous plant roundleaf sundew (Drosera rotundifolia) can be seen. More info can be found in this Czech article.
4. Nature park Blockhaide
Nature park Blockhaide is located in the vicinity of the town Gmünd in Lower Austria about 17km from Nove Hrady by car. It is famous for its far-flung giant granite blocks. The most exciting are the well-known wobbly stones (Wackelstein). There are also beautiful rocky lakes and approximately 30 meter high observation tower, which also houses the museum “The Birth of the Wackelsteine”. Next to the tower, the Blockheide hut invites you to a cozy snack in the middle of nature. There is also a newly designed natural playground for young and old. Several marked trials ranging from 2 to 10km can be taken. The Blockhaide is a beautiful natural paradise. The wobbly stones invite you to climb and hide. The path is easy and therefore suitable for the whole family. A climb up the lookout tower is worth the effort and reveals the full beauty of the landscape.
5.Mountain Mandelstein and Nebelstein + town Weitra
Mandelstein is the mountain (874m above sea) located on the Austrian side just 160m from the border. There is viewing platform on the top of the mountain with beautiful view on the Czech side. It is possible to walk to the Mandelstein (9.5km from Nove Hrady), however the total hike is around 18km. Alternatively you can travel just 10km by car to parking lot (48.7306386N, 14.8154886E) below the Mandelstein and then just walk 800m (17min) to the top of the mountain. With car you can also reach the other mountain Nebelstein (1017m above sea). You can drive by car to the parking just bellow (48.6707886N, 14.7749625E) the Nebelstein and then just walk 500m (14min) to the top of the mountain. There is the mountain hut at the top of the Nebelstein. There is also viewing platform at the top of the rock (at the top of Nebelstein) with amazing 360 view. The suggested 50km long scenic round trip by car to the both mountains can be extended by the visit of the beautiful town Weitra.
Swimming and spa
1. Swimming in the Gmünder Strandbad
Gmünder Strandbad is a natural bathing pond, with around 7 hectares, with a sandy beach, kiosk, showers, toilets, changing rooms, dog area, ball playground, rental of parasols, loungers, volleyballs and badminton sets. It is free of charge (there is no admission fee) and it is open between 6 a.m. and 9 p.m. Sufficient parking spaces are available in front of the entrance area of the Gmünder Strandbad. There are sandy beaches and water is crystal clear with the large carp fish swimming around the beach. Gmünder Strandbad is located 500m from the border on the Austrian side, and it is about 17km from Nové Hrady by car or bicycle.
2. Outdoor swimming pool in the Horní Stropnice
The outdoor swimming pool in Horní Stropnice is 55m long and 25m wide. The total capacity is 300 people. There are restaurants, bathrooms and showers located in the pool area. It is free of charge (there is no admission fee), but swimming is at your own risk, there is no lifeguard. and it is open between 6 a.m. and 9 p.m. There are some parking spaces in front of the entrance area. The outdoor swimming pool is located 500m south of the center of Horní Stropnice and it is about 7.5km from Nové Hrady by car or bicycle.
3. Sole-Felsen-Bad Gmünd
Sole-Felsen-Bad Gmünd is the aqua-park and the spa complex. This is the option in the case of the cold and rainy weather, since the most of the pools are indoors and water is heated. It is a real oasis of rest and relaxation. The area is divided into 2 zones: the swimming zone (with the pools) and the sauna zone. The complex has a total of 930 square meters of water area with lots of hot tubs and water massage chairs, as well as a children’s or sports pool. The relaxing salt lagoon is divided into indoor and outdoor parts – both parts are connected, so you can swim freely from the covered part under the open sky. Everything with salty warm water. Other attractions include a 65 m long water slide, which will be appreciated especially by children. If you want to go swimming, there is a 25 m swimming pool. In the sauna zone are many kinds of saunas with different temperature with outdoor cabins (with the large windows and breathtaking views) including the steam room. The tickets can be bought for the entry to the swimming zone only, or the ticket that includes also sauna zone. The prices start at 14.5EUR (2hour in swimming zone only) to 29.5EUR (a day in both zones). The spa is located 1.3km south of the Gmünd railway station and it is about 20km from Nové Hrady by car.