In Chotilsko, the permanent exhibition “Z historie staré Vltavy” tells the story of the river. Observation towers, regional mining history, and protected landscapes offer other points of interest. You can tailor your stay to different interests: architecture and views, the history of the Vltava, or traces of gold mining.

Observation towers with different perspectives

The observation tower on Veselý vrch near Mokrsko is a 42-meter-high steel tower. Its platform is 25 meters above the ground and is reached by 137 steps. From there, the view extends across the Vltava landscape to the blue curves of the Slapy Reservoir. Its height, material, and number of steps give this viewpoint a distinct character.

Drtinova rozhledna offers a different comparison: it is a wooden structure with a covered observation platform 21 meters above the ground. Access is via 109 steps; the view from a height of 20 meters takes in the landscape of the middle Vltava region. The tower was rebuilt in 2014 on the foundations of its previously damaged predecessor. Including both towers in your selection lets you compare their construction, platform heights, and climbs without treating the viewpoints as interchangeable.

The Vltava as a landscape and exhibition theme

Near Chotilsko, the Vltava now forms the lake of the Slapy Reservoir. The reservoir created several recreation areas along the flooded Vltava Valley. The river therefore shapes not only the landscape but also the historical focus of the permanent exhibition “Z historie staré Vltavy” in Chotilsko.

The exhibition covers about 200 square meters and focuses on the stretch of river from Zvírotice to the former Svatojánské proudy rapids. It is also wheelchair accessible. The same building also houses a hot-air balloon museum; check the current museum layout before visiting.

Museums and the history of gold mining

The Špýchar Museum in Prostřední Lhota is housed in a four-story Baroque building dating from 1770. Its exhibition is devoted to the lives of rural residents in the middle Vltava region during the 19th and 20th centuries. The archaeological section explores the region’s early history in connection with gold mining and processing. The building, everyday life, and archaeology offer different ways to explore the past.

Another place to visit is the Museum of Rural Life in Prostřední Lhota. It can be reached from main road II/102, as well as via the Zlaté Psí hory educational trail and a blue-marked hiking trail; check access information before your trip. The Zlaté Psí hory educational trail offers insights into the regional history of gold mining through old and new mining facilities. In this way, it connects the subject of mining with visible traces of its development.

Protected nature and trails

The Vymyšlenská Pěšina Nature Reserve protects warm rocky slopes with dwarf oak woods and rocky steppe on the left bank of the Vltava between Smilovice and Kobylníky. The Vymyšlenská Pěšina educational trail runs along the edge of the nature reserve of the same name. The relationship is clear: the trail follows the edge of the protected area.

The Prof. PhDr. Františka Drtiny educational trail also has a historical focus. It was marked out in Chotilsko in memory of its namesake and provides information about František Drtina’s life and work. Alongside the history of the river and mining, it also highlights a person and their achievements.

Church and cycling route in Živohošť

The Church of St. Fabian and St. Sebastian in Živohošť is one of the region’s oldest religious monuments. It was originally Romanesque, was remodeled in the Gothic style in the 14th century, and was converted to the Neo-Romanesque style in 1860. It is also at the start or end of European cycle route No. 7, the Vltavská Route. Check the route designation before setting off; the information does not specify which end of the route is meant here.

TEPfactor notice

If you are planning to visit the TEPfactor location in Chotilsko: on August 25, 2026, the operator announced that the location would close permanently and relocate abroad; reservations would be accepted in Prague. Check the latest information before your trip.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Rozmital - Skuhrov, Horčápsko, Dublovice, Dobris, Lešetice, Sádek, Cetyně, Voznice.

Back to the main travel overview: Příbram District.