Zámek Zbiroh and the rocky viewpoints around Čertova skála – a 9 km tour

• The chateau of Zbiroh, which lies on the western edge of the large and picturesque Křivoklátsko nature area, attracts many visitors. Some come to stay in the luxury hotel, others for a tour of the exhibitions in the chateau or to eat in the medieval-styled restaurant. The chateau has a long history, probably back to the early 13th century, but today it has a neo-Renaissance form created by its 19th century owners. The chateau has welcomed many famous guests, including the artist Alfonse Mucha who lived in a wing of the chateau for several years.
• The chateau park area is not that extensive, so if wanting to combine a visit to the chateau with a moderately challenging local walk, consider a tour of the rocky viewpoints in the nearby forest area. The trails around the forest that pass the rocky areas are relatively easy, but the climb to the actual viewpoints involves short (not difficult) sections of scrambling on the rocks. This is a particularly attractive section of the Křivoklátsko nature area with its richly forested areas interspersed with dramatic rock formations.
• A circular route from the chateau first reaches the Čertova skála viewpoints, and then visits the Světovina rocks, before circling back to Zbiroh. In combination with a short exploration of the chateau and its park, this creates a 9 km circuit with around 300m of height gained-lost on the route. If the chateau is not open (or preferring just to skip the chateau area) the circuit can be started from Zbiroh village. Refreshments are available in the chateau and also in Zbiroh village.

Directions

• If first visiting the chateau, take a short tour of the garden area around the chateau before walking down the main drive way to exit through the main gate (note – there are no other open entrance or exit points to the park area)
• Join the RED trail at the trail signpost U zámecké brány and head in the direction of Čertova skála
• The first rocky viewpoint area is reached after 1.9 km. There is a short (marked) scramble up the rocks to the viewpoint
• Continue on the RED trail for 500m to reach the second Čertova skála rock area which also has a viewpoint
• At the bottom of this second set of rocks, join the YELLOW trail in the direction of Světovina
• The Světovina trail junction is reached after 600m. Here, turn onto the GREEN trail which climbs up to Světovina rocks
• From the top of the hill, continue on the GREEN trail which traverses the rocky ridge and then descend towards Zbiroh village, which is reached after 2.5 km
• Just before reaching the sv. Mikuláš church the GREEN trail meets the RED and BLUE trails. Turn off the GREEN trail onto the RED trail, which returns back to the chateau main gate after 500m