A 5 km gastronomic walk from Okoř to Číčovice along the Zákolanský stream

• Many people take a day trip from Prague to view the dramatic Gothic ruins of Okoř castle, located just a few minutes drive to the north of Prague airport. If on a trip to Okoř, it is definitely worth worth exploring the footpaths around the village. There are two super short walks from Okoř that follow the picturesque Zákolanský stream in opposite directions. The first, which is 11 km long, heads north past several old mills, towards the old Slavic site of Budeč, on which the oldest rotunda chapel in Bohemia is situated. This walk is described here.
• The second route, which is described below, is shorter – just 5 km there and back – and heads southwest to visit the old villages of Číčovice. Perched on a small hill above Malé Čičovice is an unusual and picturesque octagonal Baroque chapel, Nalezení sv. Kříže which was constructed in 1714.
• Remarkably, there are three fine county restaurants on this short route. Any of the three would make a great lunch destination. Even better, stay the night, as all three are highly recommended pension-hotels. Of the three recommended restaurants, the first is located directly in Okoř, the restaurace Okoř (which is also a small family hotel) and is located at the eastern edge of the village. There are signposts from the village center. The second restaurant is V Polích (a Lukáš Hejlík recommendation), located in Malé Čičovice village, a 1.7 km flat walk along the stream from Okoř. The third is the Dvůr Hoffmeister (a Lukáš Hejlík recommendation) located in Velké Čičovice village, just 850m walk from V Polích. All three have outside seating areas. It is advisable to book a table if visiting at a weekend or during a holiday period.
• Okoř might be most famous today for its summer music festival, but its spectacular ruined walls and tower have attracted visitors for centuries. Originally a 13th century wooden fortress, constructed on a rocky outcrop immediately next to the Zákolanský stream, Okoř was reconstructed in a Gothic style in the 14th century, and then remodeled several times from the 15th to 17th centuries. The castle was finally abandoned by the last owners, the Jesuit order, when they left Bohemia in the 18th century, and it slowly fell into its current ruined state, no doubt with the assistance of local housebuilders looking for quality stone.
• There is a large (paid) parking area in Okoř, and regular buses from Dejvická, Prague. The same bus route stops in Čičovice, so it is possible to walk one way, and return to Okoř (or Prague) by bus. This is an almost completely flat walk, and is navigable with a baby stroller. In the nearby village of Zájest there is also a well regarded mini zoo, with a collection of more than 100 animals including the popular lemurs and chameleons.

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 the walk in Okoř (if driving, there is a large paid parking area close to the castle). There are also regular buses from Dejvická, Prague
• From the car park, start on the RED trail in the direction of Malé Čičovice, passing the 16th century mill Štulcův mlýn shortly after leaving the car park
• The village of Malé Čičovice is reached after 1.5km on the flat path which follows the Zákolanský stream. There is a trail junction in the middle. If wanting to visit the Baroque chapel, Nalezení sv. Kříže, continue on the RED trail for 200m
• Otherwise join the YELLOW trail. After 200m there is a cycle route trail junction and a side turning towards the V Polích pension and restaurant, which is reached after 100m
• Continue on the YELLOW trail for 750m to reach Čičovice village, where the Dvůr Hoffmeister hotel/restaurant is located
• Return back along the same route to Okoř, or catch the bus from the village square