*The unique hunting chateau of Kozel and its park area – a 4 km walk*

• As an example of late 18th century pure classicist architecture, chateau Kozel is unique in Bohemia. Located a short distance form Rokycany in western Bohemia, Kozel was built as a hunting lodge for Count Jan Vojtěch Czernin. The manor house was completed in 1789. The chateau estate passed to the Valdštejn-Vartenberg family in the 19th century, who held the estate until its confiscation in 1945 under the Beneš decrees. The chateau, which is State owned, is normally open for tours from April to October.
• The chateau gardens and attractive large (partly forested) park area, created in the second half of the 19th century by František Xaver Franz, are open throughout the year. In winter time during the week the park is virtually deserted – a perfect time for a visit on a sunny day. In May, there are some huge Rhodendron bushes which are magnificemt when in full bloom.
• The tour around the hilly park area and estate grounds is approximately 4 km with 100m of height to ascend/descend. The paths are easy and although a bit rough and occasionally muddy in places, are manageable with a stroller
• For refreshments, the chateau has its own café (only open when the chateau is open for tours) but there is a nice café/bistro – Bezejmenná čajovna – open year round at the main parking area just below the chateau.

Note: click ‘Show on Mapy.com’  to go to a full screen version of the route directly on the mapy.com site. This can be used for on line navigation, saved or exported as a GPX file.

Directions

• Start at the main parking area below the chateau. This is on a side road just outside the village of Šťáhlavy. There are bus connections to this spot from Plzeň and Šťáhlavy also has a regional train station. Note there are smaller parking areas just next to the chateau which can also be used
• Take the BLUE hiking trail from the car park towards the chateau, crossing the footbridge to reach the pond in 250m
• The tour around the park can be done either clockwise (visiting the chateau and gardens first) or anticlockwise (finishing at the chateau area). The map and following directions describes the anticlockwise version
• Turn right on reaching the pond (rybnik) still on the BLUE trail walk away from the chateau
• After 300m turn off the BLUE trail and follow the marked nature trail (green-white diagonal stripe markings) uphill
• This trail loops around the chateau in the mixed forest areas for 2.2 km, eventually reaching the parking areas on the north side of the chateau
• Explore the chateau gardens and grounds following one of the well maintained park tracks before returning back to the rybník
• Cross the footbridge again to return to the parking area/bus stop where the Bezejmenná čajovna (café) is located