Kestřany – Fortresses, Otava and Cycling Routes

Kestřany between Fortresses, a Château and the Otava

Kestřany combines a historic townscape with paths through the landscape along the Otava. The most distinctive feature is the historic ensemble of two well-preserved medieval fortresses and a château. There are also signposted hiking trails, a 24-kilometre cycling tour and the tradition of gold-panning competitions. This gives the town a range of points of interest for a trip combining culture, activity and landscape.

Historic Centre with Churches and Chapels

In the centre of Kestřany stands the Church of St Catherine near the château and the two fortresses. The church is opposite the château; the two fortresses are located approximately 100 metres from it. Its cruciform ground plan is a distinctive architectural detail. Also in the centre is the Chapel of St John of Nepomuk, which is considered an important architectural and urban-planning feature of the town.

Further small structures add to the townscape. The Calvary Chapel is located south of Kestřany near the Otava and is a protected architectural and urban-planning feature. At a crossroads in the south stands the protected, highly visible niche chapel of St Florian. Northwest of Kestřany, on the field road to Nové Kestřany, is the protected wayside shrine known as “boží muka”, which is an important landscape-defining element.

Fortresses, Park and Gold Panning

Around the fortresses, you can discover newly planted vineyards and a peaceful park. The Lower Fortress includes a massive stone tower. When planning a visit, it is important to note that the Lower Fortress is currently closed to the public. The yellow- and blue-marked hiking trails run around the grounds of the two fortresses and the château.

The landscape along the Otava also has a distinctive character. In the vicinity of Kestřany, the gold-panning complex on the right bank of the Otava between Strakonice and Kestřany includes a preserved area of spoil heaps. This area is 600 metres long and 50 to 150 metres wide. Kestřany is also a traditional venue for the annual gold-panning competitions on the Otava. Velký Potoční rybník is now a nature monument.

Cycling Route 1045 leads to Kestřany. The 24-kilometre “Povodím Otavy” cycling tour runs from Strakonice via Hajská, Štěkeň and Kestřany to Písek. The different route lengths provide a clear guide when you want to combine cultural sites and landscapes on one tour. The nearest railway station is Sudoměř u Písku; from there, a footpath leads to Kestřany along the blue-marked hiking trail.

When looking for accommodation in Kestřany, the town centre provides a clear point of reference, as the church, château and two fortresses are located in close proximity to one another. For further comparisons within the same search area, you can also include Probulov, Nevězice, Rakovice, Cervena, Pametice U Pisku, Protivin, Podolí I and Zbelítov in your search.

For the broader travel overview: Písek District.