Hohenfurth between the Monastery, the Vltava and the Cultural Landscape

Hohenfurth (Vyšší Brod) combines an important monastic complex with a history of pilgrimage, distinctive landscapes and the Vltava. This creates a destination where culture and nature are not merely presented as separate excursions: several tour routes lead through the monastery, while Maria Rast, a historic Way of the Cross and the protected river landscape offer their own focal points. This allows families to plan their stay according to different interests without having to commit to just one type of experience.

The Cistercian Monastery as a Cultural Centre

The Cistercian monastery in Vyšší Brod was founded in 1259 by the Rožmberk family. The first written mention of Vyšší Brod comes from the monastery's founding charter dated 1 June 1259. The monastery complex includes a medieval fortified compound with the Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary. The monastery is a national cultural monument of the Czech Republic and offers several tour routes; the Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary is one of these routes.

The NTM Postal Museum is also located within the complex. The exhibition focuses on the development of postal and telecommunications services as well as the history of postal transport. This makes it possible to complement a visit to the monastery with an independent cultural and historical subject. Protected evidence of the town's history can also be found outside the monastery complex: the Church of St Bartholomew and its associated cemetery in Vyšší Brod are cultural monuments.

Historic Routes and Maria Rast

The beginnings of Vyšší Brod are connected with trade along one of the oldest routes linking Bohemia with the Danube region. This historical dimension complements the history of the monastery by highlighting the development of the town and its connections beyond the immediate surroundings.

Another way to visit the area is the Way of the Cross from the parish church in Vyšší Brod to Maria Rast. It leads through 14 stations and was established in 1898. Maria Rast is a Marian pilgrimage site with a group of buildings and a Way of the Cross. Today, the site is also part of the newly established Opatská stezka tourist circuit. It connects various objects created or redesigned by Vyšší Brod Monastery in the forest area behind the monastery, including an artificial water channel supplying the monastery with water, the waterfalls of Saint Wolfgang and a hammer mill.

The Vltava and Protected Landscape

A navigable section of the Vltava begins in Vyšší Brod. The Čertova stěna-Luč Nature Reserve is located nearby, featuring a deep river canyon of the Vltava. There, the river flows through a natural channel filled with massive granite blocks and characteristic potholes. This section is known as Čertovy proudy. The monastery's cultural focus is therefore complemented by striking landscapes that reveal the character of the Vltava in a distinctive way.

For visiting the monastery, the Vyšší Brod–klášter railway station is about a five-minute walk from the monastery.

For further location options, you can also visit Lachovice. Other entries include Adolfsthal, Thurmplandles, Rosenthal, Polletitz, Meinetschlag, Deutsch Beneschau and Moyne.

For the higher-level travel overview: Okres Český Krumlov.