Bike route From Macha`s Lake to Bezdez

The route starts in Doksy and it goes around the north border of Kokorin sand-stone valleys to the landscape view point, the royal castle Bezdez. After this heavy rising up the hill then on the flat grounds through large piny woods, around the reservation Brehynsky pond we go back to the sand beaches of the Macha`s Lake.

The course of route.

The cycling lane we have chosen belongs to the middle-level ones and it beginns in Doksy. We go around the Macha`s Lake and we can admire the romantic views of neighbourhood. We turn left according to the yellow tourist mark and then turn to the left again according to the green tourist mark. We go through villages Nova Skalka ans Stara Skalka, we pass by the village Zbyny and go on the road nr. 270. On this road we could reach the ruin of the castle Stary Bernstejn where are the rests of the outer fortification with the re-established tower and enclosure wall and very nice view. We turn to the left and we continue via Horky and join the marked cycling lane nr. 25 and we go along this lane to the village Korce. Now we turn right to the green marked path around Korecky hill via the village Zdirec.On the right side is the border of the Protected landscape area Kokorinsko where are many interesting rock formations and there are many canyon valleys. We join the red marked path and go in the direction to the castle Bezdez. The castle is situated on one of the two hill of the natural treasure Velky and Maly Bezdez (Big and Small Bezdez). There is a beautiful view of Ceske Stredohori (Middle High Bohemia). Then we go through the village Bezdez and turn left to the marked cycling lane nr. 3045. We can see Brehynsky pond on our right side which is situated in the national nature reserve Brehyne-Pecopala. We turn left to the road nr. 270 and finish our trip in Doksy.

Natural and cultural places of interest

Bezdez

The village of the same name and the castle above the village on the highest one of the two phonolite hills.The age and the importance of the village form the 12th century (originaly Podbezdezi) situated on the famous trading path from Zitau to Prague, which was a small town in the 13th century, proves the originaly Romanesque church of St. Giles, which was rebuilt in the Barouque style. The timbered vicarage was built also in the same Baroque style. The castle (the national cultural place) was built in the year 1260 by the king Premysl Otakar II. to protect his royal property. In the same time the build is finished, the kind died in the Battle on Marchfeld and the castle became the prison for crown prince Wenceslas II. He was kept there by his guardian Ota from Branibory. At the end of the 16th century the castle was left. Since the year 1662 till the last quarter of the 18th century was the castle changed to the prosperous cloister for Benedictines. It was cancelled by Josef II. Since that time the castle wore out and became the destination of the artists – romantic poet Karel Hynek Macha – Evening on Bezdez, painters like Josef Manes, Alois Bubak, Hugo Ulliga. In music the castle was know thanks to Bedrich Smetana and his opera Tajemstvi (the Secret). In the present times is the castle attractive for its history, building and one of the most important view points in the Czech Republic that you can have from the new big tower (634 m above the sea level).

Doksy

The town was founded by Premysl Otakar II., it was later called Hirschberg. The Renaissance castle from the 16th century, it was rebuilt in the early Baroque style in the 17th century, today it is used purposely. The church of St. Bartholomew and the church of Assumption of Virgin Mary from the year 1638. The historical centre of the town, the rest of the wooden buildings. The monument of Karel Hynek Macha.

Macha`s Lake

The lake was established as the water reservoir in the year 1366. Today it belongs to the most favourite recreation areas in the North Bohemia. There are large sand beaches and good equipment for water sports. The islands Mouse castle and Duck island are the ornithological reservations and the entrance is forbidden. The Mouse castle – the ruins of fortified settlement from the 14th century, the walls were filled in the romantic style in the 19th century.

Velky and Maly Bezdez (Big and Small Bezdez)

The natural reservation. The landscape dominant of 29 hectare with thermofilic plants and old beechwoods.