An attractive short walk from Zdice; the Lesopark Knihov – 4 km

• Zdice is a pleasant small town located just off the Prague – Plzen highway, midway between Beroun and Žebrák. It has a recorded history dating back to the 12th century, but the area was settled long before that. On the low hill of Knihov, situated next to today’s town, traces of late Stone Age occupation were discovered, but the main prehistoric settlement on the hill dates from around 500 BC, a time when Bohemia was becoming an important location for Celtic tribes in Central Europe. Vast numbers of hillforts were constructed at the time, for a variety of purposes – general population defense, as ritual sites and settlement locations for the elite. Knihov commands wide views of the valley below and across to the Brdy range of hills where several other important prehistoric forts were positioned.
• A short but interesting educational trail leads through the town and onto the hill, explaining the history, and natural environment of the Zdice area. The hillfort site at the top of the hill is an unusually open clearing, but with few signs of the old fortifications. In the forest below, a well put together children’s adventure playground has been constructed along the nature trail path. The full trail, including sections in the town, is 3.8 km long with 110m of height gained-lost. The paths are not difficult, but the top sections include some steeper step sections and meadow paths, which would be a struggle with a stroller.
• Zdice can be reached by bus from the Prague metro station in Zličín. There are a few small parking areas in town, usually without restrictions at weekends. There are various refreshment options in town, including the Elce Pelce Café, next to a well regarded pizza restaurant, opposite the Baroque church. The café serves excellent coffee and home made cakes. The ice cream is good too.

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Directions

• Start at the Zdice – kostel train junction. This is the beginning of the Lesopark trail
• The trail is best followed anticlockwise and is marked with a GREEN hiking trail marks
• The part in the village can be shortened slightly by taking the YELLOW trail in the direction of Černín and rejoining the GREEN trail after 300m. The YELLOW trail passes in front of the café.
• After linking up with the GREEN trail head northeast in an anticlockwise direction on the circular Lesopark trail
• The forest area is entered after 800m, and the adventure area follows for the next 200m
• There are steps to the top of the hill where there is an open clearing and the site of the former hillfort
• Rather than take the marked Lesopark trak to the right after reaching the clear, cross the full length of the clearing and take the footpath at the far end to the right. This rejoins the Lesopark (GREEN) trail half way down the hill
• Continue on the GREEN trail back into Zdice. The village center is reached in 1.7 km