*From Chodov to Průhonice (and back): a fine 26 km circular walk in southeast Prague*

• This is a fine and varied walk, a good choice for anyone wanting a long hike on the southern outskirts of Prague. The route passes Hostivař reservoir, follows the picturesque meanders of Botič stream to Průhonice, and returns to Chodov via the meadows of Vestec and historic Kunratice forest.
• Hostivař reservoir is the largest lake in Prague. It is allowed to swim in the lake, and the beach/sports area on the south side of the lake is a popular summer destination. The trail around the northern side of the lake is equally popular with walkers and joggers. Looking down on today’s reservoir is an early Iron Age (Bylany culture) hillfort, unique in the Prague area. There is an option to climb up and visit this 7ha fortified site, dating from around 700 BC.
• Botič is the longest (and most famous) stream flowing through Prague. It even features in the Czech national anthem! The stream was used creatively in the late 19th century by Count Arnošt Emanuel Silva-Tarouca when developing the extraordinary, landscaped park behind his neo-Renaissance chateau at Průhonice.
• The return journey uses a new cycle track and attractive footpath to cross the meadows from Průhonice to the village of Vestec, where there is a nicely done children’s adventure area and education trail. The final section of the route passes through Kunratice village and the nearby medieval hunting forests where the ruins of Václav IV’s 15th century castle are located.
• The suggested route starts and finishes at Chodov metro station (where there is a large shopping centre). The first landmark reached is Chodovská tvrz , an unusual Renaissance/Baroque chateau built on the foundations of a rare 13th century circular ‘water’ fortress. The deep moat that once protected the Gothic fortress is still prominent. Today the building, which underwent major modifications in the 16th, 17th and 19th centuries, houses a cultural center.
• The total route just over 26 km (but may be shortened to 25 km by skipping the castle ruin in Kuntratice forest) with just over 200m of height to ascend/descend. None of the paths are difficult, but the sections along the Botič stream are not suitable for strollers.
• There are several good refreshment options on the walk. At the halfway point, try one of several excellent restaurants and cafés in Průhonice. There are several choices on the main square (map point 6) including Pizzerie Grosetto or the stylish cukrána-café attached to the Paloma restaurant. On the route out of Průhonice, try the Hliněná bašta restaurant (map point 8), which specializes in sea fish. Probably the nicest all round choice in Průhonice, is the Babiččina zahrada, a Hejlík recommendation, which is on a residential street a few hundred meters from the chateau entrance (map point 7). In Kunratice, there is the pleasant Café Charme in the courtyard of the old fortress and opposite the fortress courtyard there is a branch of the excellent ice cream chain Šabatovo zmrzlinářství.

Note: click ‘Show on map’ above to go to a full screen version directly on the mapy.cz site. This can be used for online navigation, saved or exported as a GPX file

Directions

• Starting at Chodov metro, take the exit marked Chodovská tvrz and follow the cycle route on the footbridge over the highway
• The route is occasionally marked with signposts to the tvrz (fortress) but essentially follows the K Dubu street until reaching an underpass – on the right side is the food stall
• Take the underpass and then immediately on the left is the park area with the chateau
• Continue from the chateau past the park area to join the Mirového hnuti main
• Turn right onto Mirového hnuti and walk along the pavement for 1.2 km until reaching the entrance to the Hostivař forest park area (the cycle path entrance). Use the underpass to enter the park
• Follow the main trail in the park slightly downhill for 900m to reach K Jezeru street. Here, turn right for 100m and then branch left on a side road that leads through the forest, downhill to reach the junction Keltské hradiště after 300m
• At the junction there is the option to detour to visit the Iron Age hillfort area (now an attractive park area) by taking the RED trail uphill for 400m. Return back to the Keltské hradiště signpost after the detour
• From the Keltské hradiště signpost walk towards the lake – the dam is reached in 100m (note in Spring 2023 there were renovations to the path requiring a detour towards the hillfort in order to access the lakeside path)
• Once at the lakeside continue on the RED trail following the north side of the lake in the direction of Průhonice
• The lakeside trail is 2.2 km long and leaves the reservoir area on reaching the Petrovice signpost
• From Petrovice, continue on the RED trail which soon tracks alongside the Botič stream
• The route passes through the village of Křeslice (2.4 km from Petrovice) and then past the western edge of the dendrological gardens
• The trail passes under the D1 highway and reaches the Průhonice hiking signpost (3.6 km from Křeslice) at the main road
• The (YELLOW-RED) hiking trails turn right at this point, but to reach the main square, bus stops and entrance to the chateau-park, turn left and walk 300m up the main street
• After visiting Průhonice square return back down the road to the trail junction and join the YELLOW trail in the direction of Kunratice
• Stay on the YELLOW trail for 5 km to reach Vestecký pond (and children’s adventure area)
• From Vestec, stay on the YELLOW trail to reach Kunratice in a further 4.5 km
• From Kunratice, stay on the YELLOW trail for a further 1 km to enter Kunratice forest and reach the K Hrádku trail junction
• At K Hrádku, turn onto the BLUE trail in the direction of Nový Hrádek
• After 400m reach the castle ruins. Continue on the BLUE trail for 1.9 km to reach the U dubu junction. This is opposite the Chodov shopping complex. Cross the street and make for the metro entrance either along the cycle trail or through the shopping center