*From Terezín fortress to Litoměřice, along the final section of the Ohře river: 6 km to 10 km*
- This easy trip combines a visit to the notorious (but still remarkable) 18th century fortress of Terezín with a short walk along the final stretch of the picturesque Ohře (the country’s 4th longest river) to reach the historic royal town of Litoměřice on the banks of the Labe.
- Terezín (Theresienstadt in German), which lies on the river Ohře some 60 km northwest of Prague, is today generally associated with the dark period of Nazi occupation of Bohemia, when the town was turned into a Jewish ghetto where over 30,000 people died, mostly due to malnutrition and disease. However, the fortress has a long history and is one of the greatest examples of 18th century bastion fortification. A 7 km educational trail circles the large and small forts – this walk is described separately here. The walk introduction includes a little of the history of this remarkable fortress.
- Litoměřice was one of the most important towns in medieval Bohemia. At the confluence of the trade routes along Labe and Ohře rivers, in the warmest and most fertile part of the country, settlements in this part of the country date back to Neolithic times. Litoměřice itself was founded in the early 13th century, but there was an earlier medieval castle on the site of the today’s Baroque cathedral of St Stephen. The town lost its importance during the 19th century industrialization , but it remains one of the most attractive towns in northern Bohemia, with a wealth of historical buildings, including the Gothic castle which is now houses an interesting cultural center and wine museum.
- There are frequent bus connections between the two towns, so this makes a ‘one way’ walk between the two towns -which are only 4 km apart – a good option. The walk length can be varied depending on how much time is spent exploring the fortifications of Terzín and the old town of Litoměřice. The basic walk is manageable with a stroller (and is essentially flat) but note that touring the Terezín fort walls requires ascending and descending a number of grassy slopes.
- The best options for good refreshments are in Litoměřice, including the stylish Italian café/bistro on the main square, Leonardo. For good ice cream, try Leonardo or the seasonal ice cream stall in the northeast corner of Mírové náměstí outside the PizzaXXL restaurant.
Directions
- The Terzín educational trail circles around the fortification walls. This can be followed either clockwise or anticlockwise. Finish at the river and head downstream to meet the GREEN hiking trail at the edge of the fortifications (map point 4)
- Continue on the GREEN trail beside the river and cross the road bridge to enter Litoměřice
- The old town is best explored using the mapy.com application as there are no trail markers in town. The GREEN trail leads directly to the bus station, on the edge of town
