An educational 9 km tour around Hradištko, the township evicted by the Nazi regime in 1942

• Hradištko is a small town located on the peninsular created by the Vltava and Sázava rivers which meet at Davle, 20 km to the south of Prague. At the far end of the peninsular – 2 km from Hradištko town center – lies the unique archaeological site of Sekanka, a vanished 13th century medieval village.
• However, Hradištko is mostly known today as the site of an infamous World War II prisoner of war camp and an SS training camp. The whole town was evicted in 1942 to accommodate the Nazi facilities. An educational trail with detailed information boards (in Czech) circuits the village and surrounding forests, highlighting the somber history and locations involved from 1942 until shortly after the war ended. There is a particularly intriguing section devoted to the so-called Štěchov treasure, believed by some to be still hidden near Hradištko.
• The walk is not just worthwhile as a way to discover some important recent history, but also features attractive sections in the mixed forests as well as a segment along the Vltava. The official trail starts in the town center, and if followed in order of the information boards (anticlockwise), finishes below the town beside the Vltava river after 9 km. The walk back up to the town center is a further 2km. The walk can be shortened slightly by skipping a section in the town – see the directions below.
• Hradištko can be reached by bus from Smíchov railway station in Prague, and there is parking area close to the Baroque chateau complex in the center of town. Opposite the chateau is a small café serving excellent cakes in the same building as the post office.
• An alternative starting point is the town of Štěchovice – beside the road bridge used to access the peninsular. Štěchovice has good bus connections with Prague and a couple of paid parking areas.
• The educational trail is on good paths, mostly asphalt roads or farm tracks, but there are a couple of forest sections that would be a challenge with a stroller. The total height gained-lost on the full 11 km circuit is 190m. For refreshments, in addition to the recommended café, there is a restaurant by the parking area in Hradištko and also where the trail finishes at the riverside there is the well regarded Rozmarná Róza restaurant.
• To create a longer trip, the 5 km walk to the archaeological site of Sekanka may be undertaken before or after the WWII educational trail. This walk is detailed separately, but has the same starting point.

Directions

• From Hradištko town center – the chateau/post office area – take the YELLOW trail. There is an introduction information board near the chateau
• If wanting to reduce the walk by 1.5 km the first section in the residential area of town can be skipped by staying on Pikovická street for 100m after passing the post office and joining the main trail on Belgická street
• Follow the YELLOW trail markings for the entire length of the educational trail, which leaves the residential area and traverses two forest areas before dropping down the the Vltava river bank for the final section
• The educational trail finishes at the road bridge across the Vltava, near the Rozmarná Róza restaurant
• From the bridge, to return back to Hradištko town center, follow the GREEN hiking trail markers in the direction of Pikovice. The parking area and Chateau in Hradištko is reached after 2.5 km