Schmiedgraben can be explored through specific sights in Chotýčany: a forest nature trail brings together nature topics, while the village square, chapels, and former inn tell the story of the area's architecture. There is also a marked cycle route through the village and another route in the direction of Lhotice. When planning your visit, it is worth distinguishing between these highlights: the circular trail focuses on nature, the buildings on historical details of the village, and the cycle routes on different route connections.
Forest Nature Trail and Landscape
The Chotýčany nature trail is a forest trail with information boards about local nature. The boards cover animals, birds, insects, and butterflies, as well as fungi, flowers, and trees of the local forest. Additional information boards extended the trail into a circular route. This means that the same route focuses on different groups of forest wildlife rather than just one nature topic. For practical planning, note that the Chotýčany nature trail is not suitable for pushchairs.
There are also notable landscape features beyond the nature trail. Registered significant landscape features include Roklina Strouhy and an oak tree on the western edge of the village. The village square is considered an urban planning asset; its use is subject to requirements for the design of a historic public space. In favorable weather, the view from the village square extends to the Šumava region, including the summit of Boubín. The view can therefore be an additional feature of a stay whose main focus is otherwise forest nature or architectural history.
Chapels, Inn, and Village History
The protected Chapel of Saint John of Nepomuk stands on the village square beside Building No. 17. It has a statue on a tall Baroque pedestal dating from the second half of the 18th century. Building No. 17 was an inn; the former inn, together with its gate, barn, and stable, is protected as a monument. It is probably the oldest surviving building in Chotýčany.
Another historical milestone is the Chapel of Saint Wenceslas, which was consecrated on September 28, 1882. The two chapels offer different points of reference: the statue on the Baroque pedestal at the Chapel of Saint John of Nepomuk is dated, while the year of consecration is known for the Chapel of Saint Wenceslas. These individual protected buildings stand alongside the village square's own urban planning significance.
A recurring tradition is also part of village life: Chotýčany regularly holds a Masopustní průvod, a carnival procession with a masked event for adults. If you would like to include this event in your stay, check the dates in advance.
Cycle Routes and Getting Around
Marked cycle route 1058 runs through Chotýčany on the Hluboká–Dobřejovice–Chotýčany–Vitín route. Cycle route 1054 leads from Chotýčany along the road in the direction of Lhotice. Their different route connections can help you choose: route 1058 makes Chotýčany part of a named route through several places, while route 1054 is described by its direction towards Lhotice.
Chotýčany railway station is another point of reference, about 1.5 kilometers north of the village. A single-track, electrified railway line between Prague and České Budějovice also runs through Chotýčany. Chotýčany is a partner municipality in the Budějovicko tourism area.
Discover more destinations: Drahotieschitz, Libín, Lišov, Slavče, Holasovice, Adamstadt, Habří and Ostrolovský Újezd.
Return to the main travel overview: Okres České Budějovice.
