Discover Davle through its nature trails and rafting history. The “Naučná stezka Střed Čech” nature trail begins in a park in Davle and leads through the town centre. An alternative return route offers a view of the geographical centre of the Czech Republic from the summit of Ďábel Hill. The Sekanka nature trail has a different focus: it links the Benedictine monastery on Ostrov with the abandoned medieval settlement of Sekanka. This gives you a choice between routes through the town and a route connecting places with historical ties.

Nature Trails and Local History

The Sekanka nature trail has ten information panels. Its final panel stands at St. Kilian’s Church in Davle. The stops lead to the Benedictine monastery on Ostrov and the abandoned settlement of Sekanka; these two places form the trail’s historical connection. The monastery was founded near the confluence of the Sázava and Vltava rivers around the turn of the 10th and 11th centuries. A Romanesque basilica was built on Ostrov by the end of the 12th century. The sequence of events helps distinguish the history of the monastery from the later construction of the basilica, without combining the two dates into a single event.

St. Kilian’s Church is also part of a larger protected ensemble. This includes the church, the Chapel of the Holy Sepulchre, the bell tower, the perimeter wall of the former cemetery, the rectory and the Chapel of St. John of Nepomuk. So if you reach the Sekanka nature trail’s information panel at the church, you will find a point of interest that extends beyond the church building: the protected ensemble comprises several named buildings and structural features.

Routes with Different Starting Points

Another option is the route through the valley of the Zahořanský Creek. It starts at Davle railway station and is also suitable for cyclists. Footbridges may be missing at some fords. Check the route conditions before setting out, as they may change. The starting point at the station, its stated suitability for cyclists and the note about fords are specific planning details; they do not indicate a walking time or the route’s level of difficulty.

The routes differ mainly in the experiences they offer: the route through the town centre has an alternative return option with a view from Ďábel Hill. Sekanka links the monastery and the medieval settlement and has ten information panels. By contrast, the valley route starts at the railway station and is specifically noted as suitable for cyclists as well. You can therefore decide in advance whether you would like to focus your visit on the town centre and the view, the historical stops or a valley route.

Rafting History in Davle

The Vltavan Museum in Davle commemorates the history of rafting on the Vltava. It is open to the public every Friday from 3 to 6 pm between May and September. As seasonal opening hours may change, check the times before travelling. The Vltavan association’s clubhouse and museum are located in the Vltavanka building, K Pivovaru 3, in Davle; check access details before visiting.

A raft built using traditional methods is on display in the park on Školní Street, below the football pitch. As the display location may change, check it before your visit. Together with the museum, the raft offers another connection to rafting: its history is the focus at the museum, while a traditionally built raft can be seen in the park.

Discover more destinations: Tachlovice, Ptice, Kameny Privoz, Chýnice, Stechovice, Lety, Chrášťany, Cernolice.

Back to the regional travel guide: Prague-West District.