A short walk around Rabí castle, the largest medieval fortress in Bohemia: 2 km

• Curiously, Rabí rarely gets mentioned as one of the top medieval castles to visit when touring the Czech Republic, despite it being the largest medieval fortress in Bohemia. Its size is somewhat disguised by its hilltop position, but its formidable walls and keeps are surely a match for any European castle dating from the 14th century.
• The attractive small town of Rabí is located in the Šumava foothills, 60 km to the south of Plzeň and the castle was probably built to protect the trade route and gold prospecting that occurred along the nearby Otava river. If touring the region or travelling to-from Šumava, take a moment to stop by for a short walk around this impressive castle.
• Rabí is a short bus ride from the larger town of Sušice, considered a gateway to the Šumava region. If driving to Rabí , there is a large car park in a field a little out of town, which drivers will be directed to during the summer months. From there, it is a short (600m) walk into town. Apart from exploring the vast interior of the castle area, take a moment to walk around the narrow footpath that circles the outside wall. This is the best way to get a sense of strength of the walls.
• Rabí also has a number of refreshment spots that are worth investigating. Try the quaint inn on the main street, Hostinec Vystřelený Vočko, or the Hotel Restaurace Atawa on the main square for good Czech food.

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Directions

• Follow the signs from the parking area to reach the main square and the castle
• For the footpath around the castle, follow the side road that runs along the north side of the castle. The footpath branches off this road and circles directly below the wall, returning to the front entrance