An 11 km tour around the legendary hills of Velký and Malý Blaník
- Blaník is the smallest of the country’s Protected Landscape Areas, but within it 40 km2 territory lies one of the most famous hills in the Czech Republic. Legend has it that in a cavern deep within Velký Blaník, St. Wenceslas and the Knights of Blanice lie sleeping, awaiting the call which will wake them to ride once more in defence of the realm.
- Velký Blaník and its neighboring hill Malý Blaník became pilgrimage sites from the 16th century onward, and ruins of the Baroque chapel of Mary Magdalene on Malý Blaník are a visible reminder of the iconic status of these hills, which attract many visitors throughout the year.
- Velký Blaník today has a wooden lookout tower (which has an entrance fee) but is worth ascending as both hills are fully forested and ascending the tower is the only way to enjoy a panoramic view of the countryside. The hilltop was fortified in the Iron Age around 400BC, probably by a Celtic tribe as a military lookout post, as the hilltop was unlikely to have been forested at the time. The broken rocks of the rampart walls are still visible near the summit.
- The quickest way to climb Velký Blaník is to park in the (paid) parking just below the hill, on the Louňovice side of the nature reserve, and walk directly up the RED hiking trail. The summit is reached in little more than 1 km. However, a more rewarding (although longer) approach is to start from the opposite side of the hill near the village of Kondrac. A well prepared educational trail starts at the Dům přírody Blaníku (which has a small museum) and traverses the hill. There is a (free) parking area next to the Dům and a bus stop (connections to Vašim).
- Starting at Dům přírody Blaníku, the circuit of both Velký and Malý Blaník can be completed in between 10km and 11km depending which connecting paths are chosen, with around 500m of height to ascend-descend. None of the paths are difficult or particularly steep. Most of the route is on forest footpaths, through attractive mixed forests – beech at the top of the hills. There are refreshments available at the Dům přírody Blaníku and at the lookout tower on Velký Blaník.
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
- Starting at the Dům přírody Blaníku follow the RED trail all the way to the summit of Velkký Blaník, which is reached in 2.4 km
- At the summit, take the indirect route (gentler and more attractive path than the direct route) down the opposite side of the hill, by turning off the RED trail to follow the wide footpath to the right which passes a large rock formation and descends the hill gently to meet the GREEN trail after 600m. Turn left onto the GREEN trail
- After 800m on the GREEN terrace path through the woods, rejoin the RED trail and continue down to the main car park, where there is a nice view towards Louňovice village
- Take the unmarked footpath immediately on the left of the car park which takes a curving route across a field. This short cut path (which has a yellow-white diagonal trail markers in places) meets up with the RED trail at the Mezi Blaníky junction after 400m
- At Mezi Blaníky turn left onto the RED trail in the direction of Malý Blaník. The ruins of the Baroque chapel near the summit are reached after 900m
- From the chapel ruins continue down the hill on the RED trail, which is a wide forest track, for 500m. At this point the RED trail leaves the main track. Stay on the track which runs straight and reaches a small car park in 300m
- At the car park, take the unmarked footpath on the right side of the tourist shelter and follow this path for 800m through the woods to join up with the GREEN trail
- Turn left onto the GREEN trail and climb back towards Velký Blaník
- After 1.1 km reach the trail junction of Velký Blaník (which was passed on the outbound journey). Here, turn right onto the RED trail which leads back to the Dům přírody Blaníku in 2 km
