Obora: Hiking, the Branka Cycle Path and Historic Traces

Obora combines a protected landscape with clearly described hiking and cycling experiences, as well as a history that becomes visible along paths, at chapels, a former glassworks and historic transport routes. This creates a destination where active days and regional discoveries stand closely side by side, without confusing the individual themes with one another.

Hiking and cycling around Obora

The marked Tachov–Pavlův Studenec hiking route is 15.6 km long and moderately difficult. It therefore offers a specifically described longer hiking option for anyone who wants to choose their tour by distance and difficulty level. The educational Branka Cycle Path offers a different way to explore the area: The 17 km circular route passes through Obora and includes 11 stations. It is suitable for hikers, cyclists and cross-country skiers.

There is also a clear point of orientation within the circular route: The eleventh station of the Branka Cycle Path is located at the entrance to Obora. Those interested in this route when planning their day can therefore view the circular route not only as a number of kilometres, but also as a sequence of stations. The two documented routes represent different ways of experiencing the area: The hiking route is described by its length and difficulty level, while the cycle path is designed as an educational circular route with several stations.

Český les and the Oborská hájovna

The entire municipal area of Obora lies within the Český les Protected Landscape Area. This protected-area status provides the landscape setting for choosing the destination, while the historic sites in the surrounding area form a separate focus. These include the stone Oborská hájovna in the valley of the Sklářský potok. It was already standing around 1650 and belonged to a game enclosure established by Jan Filip Husmann.

The Oborská hájovna can be reached from Obora via a blue-marked hiking route. This documents a specific connection between the site and the starting point in Obora. At the same time, the hájovna points to an older history of the landscape’s use that extends beyond simply observing nature.

Historic traces in the surrounding region

In the region around Obora, the Chapel of St Anne at Pavlova Huť was rebuilt in 2017 on the foundations of a chapel erected in 1935. The settlement of Pavlova Huť was also located in the surrounding region, on the Sklářský potok; the glassworks that gave it its name was founded around 1743 by Baltazar and Michael Fuchs.

Other evidence reaches back even further. Near Obora u Tachova lies a medieval country road dating from the 12th to the 16th century. In addition, a particularly pronounced network of preserved hollow-way traces of the Zlatá cesta leads from the hamlet of Hruškovna near Zadní Milíře down into the valley to the Oborská hájovna.

Compare other destinations

If you would like to compare other destinations alongside Obora, you can also view Zhoř, Sulislav, Bezdružice, Přimda, Částkov, Cernosin, Dubec and Stráž.

For the higher-level travel overview: Okres Tachov.