NEW FEATURE FOR MONTHLY HAPPENINGS: “OFF THE BEATEN PATH”
IWAP Member Polly Story-Lebl and her husband, Michal, have been venturing outside of Prague on their e-bikes to many places “off the beaten path”. She summarizes what they’ve done AND rates the locations so that you can pick the activity level you prefer, from walking to hiking, mountain biking to e-biking. A link to Michal’s blog is also available.
Bledule flower blooms near the village of Písty
The small village of Písty is about a 45 min drive North of Prague and is the perfect place to see the endless fields of flowers in full bloom in the forest next to the village at this time of year. In this natural forest, bledule flowers are everywhere. The best way to illustrate the word “everywhere” is to watch the video. Bledule jarní (Spring snowflake) is a slightly endangered plant, and it can be found in Czechia in such numbers only in this location.
Of course, it is impossible not to step on any of these delicate flowers, but try to be gentle. A little later in April, at the same location the forest will be full of Česnek medvědí (Bear garlic), the leaves which really taste like garlic. At that time the forest will be full of people with baskets and bags collecting these green leaves for their kitchen uses.
The Water Castle Budyně nad Ohri (Vodní hrad Budyně nad Ohří) is not far from this location and is definitely worth a visit even if it didn’t make the top 88 castles. Budyně nad Ohří is a castle rebuilt into a chateau in the town of the same name in the Litoměřice district in the Ústí nad Labem region . It is protected as a cultural monument .
Activity Level: Walking in the forest loop is about 4.5k total and flat.
