Cervena – Church, Railway Bridge and Hiking Trails to the Orlík Reservoir

Cervena combines a eventful local history with an unusual structure and clearly described hiking routes. Here, the Church of St. Bartholomew, the railway bridge over the Vltava and trails to the Orlík Reservoir represent different ways of exploring the surrounding area. Those who wish to combine culture and activity will therefore find several concrete starting points for planning their trip.

A Church with a Special History

The Church of St. Bartholomew was relocated outside the flood zone in 1960 because of its historical and artistic value. At the same time, it is the last reminder of the original settlement, which was flooded by the waters of the Orlík Reservoir. The building therefore represents not only sacred architecture, but also the profound transformation of the landscape caused by the reservoir.

An architectural detail makes the church even more remarkable: The ribbed vault of the presbytery is possibly considered the oldest of its kind in Bohemia. The cautious addition “possibly” is part of the classification of this feature. For a day focused on culture, the church thus offers a specific historical point of reference that differs from the landscape impressions around the reservoir.

The Railway Bridge near Červená

The railway bridge near Červená is a 253-metre-long steel structure over the Vltava between Červená nad Vltavou and Vlastec. Its construction method is also unusual: it was built without scaffolding using the balanced cantilever method. This technical detail complements the historical character of the church with an example of civil engineering.

For your orientation, an important restriction should be noted: The bridge is not suitable for crossing and is intended exclusively for rail traffic. From Červená nad Vltavou railway station, it can be reached via a 2.5-kilometre-long, red-marked hiking trail. The bridge can therefore be regarded as a hiking destination, but not as a crossing over the Vltava.

Two Routes around Orlík

The “Hrejkovickým potokem k vodní nádrži Orlík” route ends at Červená nad Vltavou railway station. A second option is the “Podél vodní nádrže Orlík na horu Tábor” route, which begins in Červená nad Vltavou. On the red-marked hiking trail, it follows the Jetětický potok to the Podolský Bridge. At Strouhy, this route also offers an opportunity for swimming.

The two routes therefore already differ in their orientation: for the first, the railway station is the focal endpoint, while the second begins in Červená nad Vltavou and follows the Jetětický potok. This makes it easier to determine which route better suits the desired itinerary involving culture, landscape or water.

Other Places to Consider

For further research, you can also choose Kucer, Bernartice U Milevska, Jestrebice, Vrcovice, Stehlovice, Cerveny Ujezdec, Křenovice and Hrazany.

For the higher-level travel overview: Písek District.