Cycling from Sušice to Rabí Castle
The cycle trip from Sušice to Rabí Castle is one of the most beautiful routes in the Pošumaví region. It winds through peaceful countryside, passes through villages of historical interest and heads towards the largest castle ruins in Bohemia. You can look forward not only to the castle itself, but also to views of the open countryside and the final stretch overlooking the Otava Valley.
The most convenient way to set off on your trip is from the OREA Resort Horizont Šumava or the OREA Hotel Špičák, from where you can reach Sušice by car in around 45 minutes. You can park in several public car parks right in Sušice. Good options include the car park on Svobody Square, the Na Tržišti car park and the T. G. Masaryk car park. Before you set off on your bike, don’t forget to pack a snack with your breakfast. At the OREA, you can put one together to your liking and pack it into the bags provided.
Route details
Length: 23.9 km
Bike type: trekking, gravel, mountain and e-bikes
Difficulty: easy to moderate
Elevation gain: 225 m
Surfaces: mainly tarmac and side roads, with quieter sections away from main traffic in places
Where does the route go?
From Sušice, head towards Dobršín. The first part of the route gradually takes you out of the town and into the more open countryside of the Šumava foothills. The route is quiet, with no significant climbs, and you’ll soon be treated to views of the fields and surrounding hills.
After Dobršín comes Budětice, followed by the main destination of the trip: Rabí Castle. The ruins are visible from a distance and lie high above the River Otava. It’s worth leaving your bike behind for a while and exploring the grounds on foot. It’s a good idea to check the current opening hours before your visit, as the castle’s opening times vary during the season.
From Rabí, the route continues to Žichovice, where the landscape follows the course of the River Otava. The village is steeped in history, linked to gold panning, log rafting and lime production. The final section leads through Velká Chmelná, where the route rises briefly above the river valley, offering views back over the countryside you have just cycled through. This is the gentlest climb on the entire route and can be managed comfortably even by less experienced cyclists.
Hotels nearby
OREA Events
Walking with llamas
Meeting at the reception of OREA Resort Horizont every Wednesday from 15:00 and Saturday from 13:00.
10 % discount in Ski Resort Špičák
Get an exclusive guest discount at the reception for the cable car, tower and electric bike rental.
Games and sports equipment rental
Enjoy unforgettable moments with your family thanks to the games and sports equipment rental.
Sušice is a royal town founded in the second half of the 13th century. The town square, the town hall and the Šumava Museum – which focuses on the history of the Sušice region, glassmaking in the Šumava and the tradition of match production – are all well worth a visit
Dobršín is a small village with an exceptionally well-preserved rural character. As a village conservation area, it protects a collection of folk architecture with a village green layout dating back to the Middle Ages. Typical features here include wooden and brick single-storey buildings from the 18th and 19th centuries.
Budětice offers two interesting places to visit. In the centre of the village stands the Church of St Peter and St Paul, with a Romanesque-Gothic core, the existence of which is documented as far back as the 14th century. Above the village, on the wooded hill of Džbán, lie the ruins of Budětice Castle. Only sections of the walls and some remains on the ground have survived from the castle.
Rabí Castle is the most striking monument on the entire route and one of the largest castle ruins in Bohemia. The extensive complex overlooking the River Otava serves as a reminder of the significance of Gothic architecture and the sophisticated defensive system of a medieval castle. The dominant feature is the massive residential tower, which offers views of the landscape around the Šumava Mountains.
The castle in Žichovice was created by the conversion of an older fortress and has retained its Renaissance character to this day. It is a two-winged building with an adjoining park and outbuildings, which serves as a reminder of the village’s aristocratic history.
