Džbán castle, the Devil’s rock and Mutějovice brewery – a 7 km walk

• The relatively large Džbán nature park, situated some 50 km northwest of Prague, comprises a varied landscape of forests, hills and valleys . It has more than its fair share of prehistoric sites, ruins and mysterious stones lying hidden in its forests. The area is not widely visited so is perfect for exploring the quiet trails and unusual landmarks.
• If travelling in the area north of Rakovník, stop for a moment in the village of Mutějovice to visit the microbrewery Poddžbánský pivovar and perhaps sample one of their excellent unfiltered beers. A short stroll from the village towards the forested ridge lies the Čertův kámen (Devil’s rock). This natural outcrop is associated with various local legends – the Džbán reserve and broader area around Louny has a number of unusual, possibly ancient, standing stones that are typically associated with the significant Celtic presence in the area.
• Continue a couple of kilometers further on and the trail leads to the castle ruin of Džbán, located at the top of a broad ridge. The crumbling walls are now largely hidden in the forest, but this was once a large early 13th century castle, almost certainly founded by a Přemyslid king. The site is remarkable for its massive ramparts and ditches that circle the site. This was also an important prehistoric site, probably first occupied in the Neolithic (Stone Age) period. The first fortifications may date from the Iron Age, when Celtic tribes first started appearing in the area.
• The trail is partly beside the public road – to Čertův kámen – and then an easy forest track to the the ruins. The total journey to the ruins and back to the village is 6.8 km, with 130m of height gained-lost. For refreshments try something at the brewery, which also has a terrace restaurant, and perhaps take away some of their bottled beers to try at home!

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Directions

• Start in the village of Mutějovice, which is reached by bus from Rakovník. For drivers, there should be parking spaces along the village street near the brewery
• From the brewery walk up the main street in a northwards direction (towards the forested ridge) for 300m to join the GREEN trail
• Turn right onto the GREEN trail in the direction of Pravda. After 900m reach the Čertův kámen (there is an information board discussing the legends associated with the rock)
• From the rock, continue on the GREEN trail for 1.9 km to reach the information board below the castle ruins – there is a tourist bench and table
• Turn right onto the diversion trail which leads up to the ruin in 300m
• Return back to Mutějovice on the outbound route