Through the Židova strouha Valley from Týn to Bechyně

Total length

18.4 km

Duration

5.5 hours

Terrain

Paved and unpaved forest paths

Recommended period for visiting

Accessible year-round: Crossing the stream may be challenging after rain

Difficulty level

Moderate – unsuitable for strollers and wheelchairs

Marking

Yes

Route description

The Most Scenic Part of the Stream
Židova strouha is 20.5 km long in total, but its final stretch is the most beautiful and offers an unparalleled atmosphere. The trail includes minor obstacles, and there are points where you’ll need to cross the stream without bridges. After heavy rain, you may need to find a suitable crossing spot or wade across the water.

The Route
The hike begins in Týn nad Vltavou. From the bus station, follow the yellow hiking trail, which continues all the way to Bechyně. The first section leads through the town, past the open-air theater with a rotating auditorium, and gently ascends to the city forest called Na Šancích (4 km). At the forest crossroads, continue straight. If you have enough energy, you can take a short (1 km) detour to the baroque sculpture Velký Depot.

After about 4 more kilometers, you’ll pass through the village of Smilovice and reach the Židova strouha stream. A picturesque 7 km trail runs alongside the stream, taking you past a side path (blue trail) leading to the Hradec u Nuzic hillfort, before guiding you to the stream's confluence with the Lužnice River. From there, it's just another 2 km to the bridge beneath the castle, from which you’ll climb up to Bechyně’s main square. The final 1.5 km continues along the yellow-marked trail to the train or bus station.

Interesting places on the route

Týn nad Vltavou
This town offers various tourist attractions: the Moldavite and Puppet Museum, underground tunnels, the open-air rotating theater, and the Semenec lookout tower. You can visit the confluence of the Vltava and Lužnice rivers on foot or by boat. Nearby attractions include the South Bohemian Agricultural Museum, the Historical Vehicles and Old Agricultural Machinery Museum in Pořežany, or the Vysoký Hrádek Château, which hosts the Temelín Nuclear Power Plant information center. The town is also known as a filming location for Zdeněk Troška's comedy film series Kameňák.

Rotating Theater
One of only two rotating theaters in the Czech Republic. It is located in Bedřich Park on the site of an ancient hillfort and serves as a summer stage.

Velký Depot Sculptural Group
This site was once a permanent training ground for Austrian artillery units. The nearby woods (Na Šancích) still show visible traces of defensive earthworks. The baroque sandstone sculpture commemorates a historic explosion that, according to legend, was part of an assassination attempt against Empress Maria Theresa.

Hradec u Nuzic Hillfort
This prehistoric settlement was strategically built on a promontory surrounded by the meanders of the Židova strouha. The site is accessible via a blue-marked trail from the west, where remnants of the ancient fortification walls are still visible.

The Town of Bechyně
Bechyně is a charming spa town with many tourist attractions. You can visit the Renaissance château, the Franciscan monastery, or several museums, including the Bechyně Town Museum (dedicated to ceramics and pottery) and the Tourism Museum in the former synagogue. A notable landmark is the 50-meter-high bridge, Bechyňská duha, used by both cars and trains. If you return by train, you’ll travel on Austria-Hungary’s first electric railway, designed in 1903 by Czech engineer František Křižík.