Tom’s summer 2018 bicycle tour of the Czech Republic. Tom cycled through Southern Bohemia after playing tourist in Prague. The beauty of Southern Bohemia was exposed in small villages and towns surrounded by lakes, hills, forests, and rolling farmland along the Vitava River. The final days of the tour followed cycle paths and country roads along the Danube through Austria’s Wachau Valley. Click on an image to read the story behind the photo.
Looking across the Charles Bridge
Old Town Square at night
Babies at Museum Kampa
Peeing Men
The Lennon Wall
Bubbles in Prague
Spires of Katedrála Sv. Víta
Strahov gallery and treasury
Rooftops of Prague
View of Prague from the monastery
Kostel sv. Mikuláše
Starting the tour at Jindřichův Hradec
Trebon shady wlk
Peaceful lake view at the forest edge
Greeted by this view in Ceske Budejovice
Soccer on the town square
Cycling Southern Bohemia
Bike at Hluboká nad Vltavou,
Sculptures flying above the cyclepath
Český Krumlov from the castle
Dinner with a view
Music in the village
Czech Bike Tours in Cseky Krumlov
Unexpected art
True Czech beauty
Vyšší Brod
Hájovna Svatý Tomáš
A view after a climb
Rany day ion the bike
Fun surprise in the forest
The view after a hell of a climb
The Wachau Valley and Danube
Coffee with a view
Ceiling of the shrine at Maria Taferl
Melk, Austria at sunset
Stift Melk and the Wachau Valley
Garden house at Stift Melk
View of the Danube from Stift Melk
Cycling through vineyards
Passing through a village
The Danube from Durnstein
Backstreet in Durnstein
Touring Family
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Looking across the Charles Bridge
This is the classic Prague view from the Charles Bridge looking toward to Prague Castle and St. Vitas Cathedral. You need to get there early since this bridge is swarming with tourists during most of the day. -
Old Town Square at night
This is my favorite Prague photo. My Airbnb is in the building in the rear center of this photo. I loved the location. I ate most of my breakfasts and enjoyed coffee sitting in the square. -
Babies at Museum Kampa
These strange baby sculptures with missing faces area popular destination in Prague. -
Peeing Men
A visit to Prague must stop at the Peeing Statues at the Franz Kafka Museum. -
The Lennon Wall
A Prague tradition is to visit the Lennon wall and leave a message on the wall. -
Bubbles in Prague
I came across this scene on an evening walk through one of the many plazas in Prague. I like the playfulness of the people in the photo. -
Spires of Katedrála Sv. Víta
Looking up to the spires of St. Vitas Cathedral adjacent to the Prague Castle. -
Strahov gallery and treasury
Without a doubt one of the most beautiful libraries that are part of the Strahov monastery in Prague. -
Rooftops of Prague
Looking down on the city from the courtyard of St. Vitas Cathedral. -
View of Prague from the monastery
What a spectacular walk from the monastery and brewery down to Prague! -
Kostel sv. Mikuláše
I happened upon Kostel sv. Mikuláše (St. Nicolas Church) on a walk from the Prague Castle back to my Airbnb. The small church was unbelievably beautiful. -
Starting the tour at Jindřichův Hradec
My guided tour of Southern Bohemia started on the village square at Jindřichův Hradec. -
Trebon shady wlk
I took an early morning walk around Trebon along this peaceful footpath. -
Peaceful lake view at the forest edge
I came upon this tranquil view after cycling through a forest outside of Ceske Budejovice. -
Greeted by this view in Ceske Budejovice
Cycling into Ceske Budejovice this view sat across from my hotel. The clarity of the sky, water, and reflection was perfect. -
Soccer on the town square
I came upon a soccer tournament on the Ceske Budejovice town square. -
Cycling Southern Bohemia
It was a very nice day cycling out of Ceske Budejovice to Ceske Krumlov heading from farmland into the hills. -
Bike at Hluboká nad Vltavou,
I hoked up the hill after lunch at Hluboká nad Vltavou to a hunting castle and caught this shot of a bike. -
Sculptures flying above the cyclepath
These flying sculptures appeared above us on the cyclepath outside of Hluboká nad Vltavou, -
Český Krumlov from the castle
A castle dominates the village of Český Krumlov. It is well worth the walk to the top to enjoy the view. -
Dinner with a view
This was the view at a special dinner in Český Krumlov. This city happens to be the most scenic place in the Czech Republic that I visited. -
Music in the village
The unique appearance of these street performers caught my eye in Český Krumlov. Check out the green guy. -
Czech Bike Tours in Cseky Krumlov
This bike touring company delivered an outstanding tour. This photo is of our tour group in Cesky Krumlov. -
Unexpected art
While touringhteČeský Krumlov castle, I wandered into an art gallery in the catacombs. There were so many odd and unique sculptures. I find Europe has many strange and out of the ordinary works of public art. -
True Czech beauty
This is the village of Frymburk along the shore of the Vitava River. This is where I started this day of cycling. What view! This happens to be my favorite photo of the tour. -
Vyšší Brod
I had cycled through small villages along the shore of the Vitava River. This view is of the village taken from the village's abbey. There are many abbeys in the Czech Republic. This particular one is in the process of being restored. -
Hájovna Svatý Tomáš
I love this photo of the two Toms. This is Svatý Tomáš, Saint Thomas, and a view of the ruins of his castle. -
A view after a climb
I had climbed many miles from the shore of Lake Lipno to Hájovna Svatý Tomáš and captured this view. -
Rany day ion the bike
I had cycled the prior day to Horni Plana on Lake Lipno. Courtney, th tour guide, offered to cycle this rainy day. I opted in. It was less than memorable. We cycled along a "canal" that was a ditch that was used to transport logs from the forest to the lake. -
Fun surprise in the forest
I had climbed many miles from Ybbs an der Donau, Austria mostly through a heavy forest with limited views. I heard an engine and along came a tractor. I m sure the farmer wondered what are these people doing here! -
The view after a hell of a climb
I climbed many miles through thick forests before emerging to this view. The climb was worth it as I began the fast descent. -
The Wachau Valley and Danube
It was quite a climb on my bike from the Danube that was rewarded with this memorable river view at Maria Taferl. -
Coffee with a view
Without a doubt, the most spectacular view of this tour was from the shrine at Maria Taferl. The day was perfect. The view was breathtaking. What a place to enjoy a cup of coffee. -
Ceiling of the shrine at Maria Taferl
The church was spectacular inside and out. The art on the ceilings of these Catholic churches is outstanding. -
Melk, Austria at sunset
Melk is a postcard-worthy Austrian village. It is a stop for river cruises. The city is swarmed with these tourists during the day. They disappear as the sun goes down. I very much enjoyed my stay in this village. -
Stift Melk and the Wachau Valley
The Stift Melk did not permit interior photos of the abbey. This courtyard overlooking the Danube had a photo-worthy view. -
Garden house at Stift Melk
The abbey has a large and beautiful garden. A garden house overlooks the valley. I thought the perspective of this lady walking to the house was quite nice. -
View of the Danube from Stift Melk
It was a peaceful morning that I chose to walk the grounds of Stift Melk, an abbey above the city. The views of the Danube and valley were spectacular. -
Cycling through vineyards
This was a beautiful day of cycling through the Wachau VAlley. I passed through many vineyards on the perfect summer day. -
Passing through a village
Cycling along the Danube is quite relaxing and easy to navigate. I highly recommend a cycling tour here. It is a taste of Austria with many small villages and quiet streets. -
The Danube from Durnstein
A view from Burgruine Dürnstein above the village of Durnstein. The valley is lined with vineyards and villages along the Danube. -
Backstreet in Durnstein
I had hiked to the Burgruine Dürnstein, a castle ruins overlooking the Danube. I came across this peaceful scene walking back down to the village. -
Touring Family
Durnstein, Austria is a popular destination on the Danube. It was a beautiful day of cycling. I came across this touring family on my walk through the village. What adventure and memories being made.