Kaproun – Railway Stop
A romantic railway stop hidden in the forests of Czech Canada with traces of the legendary Czech figure Jára Cimrman.
The Kaproun railway stop is nestled deep in the forests of Czech Canada and is considered one of the most romantic stops in the country. It can be reached via the Jindřichův Hradec narrow-gauge railway on the route between Jindřichův Hradec and Nová Bystřice. Today, it serves as a pilgrimage site for fans of the fictional genius and inventor Jára Cimrman, who was allegedly thrown off the train here.
The railway administration is said to have considered establishing the Kaproun stop before 1930, but only with the introduction of motor cars of the M 11.0 series was this idea finally realized that year. Since then, passenger trains have regularly stopped at Kaproun (known as Kaltenbrunn between 1939 and 1945).
What is the connection to Jára Cimrman? It is said that in the year 1900, the Czech legend was traveling from Vienna to Prague for the premiere of his play Němý Bobeš (The Mute Bobby). Due to various events, he first got stranded in the Lower Austrian town of Gmünd. Later, he boarded the early morning train, which departed around 2:30 a.m. toward Jindřichův Hradec. Having no money, he traveled without a ticket and pretended to be asleep. The train crew eventually lost patience with the fare dodger, stopped the train at kilometer 22.3 in the middle of the dense forest, and ejected Cimrman from the train. As the train pulled away, Cimrman allegedly shook his fist with a torn brake hose and shouted, "This is the peak!" For this reason, the Kaproun stop is considered the "peak" of all Czech railway stops. In summer, you can find a so-called "summit book" here.
What can you find around this remarkable stop? In addition to the beautiful nature, the railway tracks, a historical lantern post, and the sign bearing the name "Kaproun," you will also see a stone cairn that continues to grow as visitors bring stones from across the country to honor the Czech master. At the cairn, there is a monument depicting the master in the position in which he was thrown from the train, as well as the aforementioned summit book where visitors can sign their names and read about the history of the place. There's also the so-called "Cimrman campfire site," where the master supposedly warmed his frozen limbs after waking from his fainting spell caused by his "detrainization."
The village of Kaproun lies about 2 km from the railway stop and can be reached via the green-marked hiking trail.
