Vlašim – Tábor – Český Krumlov – Koranda – 213 km
The South Bohemian route follows the East Bohemian route. It is based on Central Bohemia (or has an alternative beginning from Prague), it always passes through the South Bohemian region in a southwesterly direction with a total length of 213 km. It ends in Šumava on the border with Austria, from where it continues towards Santiago via Passau. On the pilgrimage route you can find 2 churches of St. Jakuba, the world-famous Hluboká chateau, urban conservation areas: Tábor, Bechyně, České Budějovice and Český Krumlov, which is on the UNESCO list.
Route map
Route description

Autor: Richenza, CC BY-SA 3.0
The South Bohemian Way starts in Vlašim. Here, you can visit the Church of St. Giles and a chateau surrounded by park. Passing through Kondrac, Velký Blaník with a lookout tower, Malý Blaník with the ruins of a chapel, and along the remains of Šelmberk, it runs all the way to Mladá Vožice with the St. Mary’s Chapel and the stations of the cross, the Church of St. Martin and a chateau. Through a gently undulating countryside, the way continues to the town of Tábor. Here, the pilgrim is awed by a square with the Church of the Transfiguration, the fortifications and the Renaissance Water Tower. Continue up the tree alley to the Klokoty pilgrimage site and then descend to the Lužnice river.

Along the Lužnice, we pass the ruins of Příběnice castle, several former mills, an Empire style chain bridge, the Church of the Assumption of Virgin Mary and the remains of Dobronice castle. And naturally, the town of Bechyně with its monastery, synagogue, and a chateau perched high up on the rocks above the river. A Mitrowicz Chateau can be found in Koloděje. And then, the pilgrim is eagerly awaited by the Church of St. James in Týn nad Vltavou.
Upstream of the Vltava river, right next to the Hněvkovice reservoir, lies the village of Purkarec with the Church of St. George. A little further away, the Charles Castle is hiding on a promontory in the woods. The Vltava river valley and the woods are keeping us company all the way to Hluboká nad Vltavou with a world-famous chateau. Then the landscape opens into flatlands, where the village of Bavorovice lies surrounded by ponds and fields. From České Vrbné, follow a cycle route leading to the historical city centre of České Budějovice enclosed by the remains of the fortifications, with its Přemysl Otakar II Square, Town Hall, the Samson Fountain, and the Black Tower.

Leave the city centre and follow the Vltava river to the Boršov train station and across the bridge to the Church of St. James. The path then descends into the Vltava river valley and takes us to the ruins of Dívčí Kámen castle and the Zlatá Koruna Monastery. At the Pod Granátníkem signpost, leave the red trail marking and follow the route marked by scallop shells leading to Nový Dvůr and then to Český Krumlov, through the chateau grounds and past the gardens. From here, the way enters the charming Šumava highlands with the Kájov pilgrimage site and then it rises some more to the village of Světlík. Here we can find the last Church of St. James on this route. The Lipno reservoir, the town of Frymburk and its Church of St. Bartholomew are unfolding before our eyes. From April to November, you can take a ferry to Frýdava. Tucked away in the Šumava hills is the village of Svatý Tomáš with the Chapel of Corpus Christi. Pilgrims continue walking through the woods until they reach the border crossing and from here, the way continues onwards.
Practical information
Etapy
Zápisky poutníků
Přečtěte si reportáž o pouti Tomáše J. Kouby v létě 2011