Zbytiny: Cycling Routes, Village Culture and Nature

Zbytiny offers several clearly distinct reasons to get to know the place better: a short educational and adventure trail, two cycling routes of different lengths, a church with medieval origins, and vibrant village customs. If you are looking for accommodation in Zbytiny, you can choose a place where nature, activities and culture can be experienced through specific destinations.

Cycling and a short adventure trail

The 43 km-long Cycle Route 1055 passes through Zbytiny and runs from Prachatice via Libínské sedlo and Volary to Soumarský most. The 32 km-long Cycle Route VI also passes through Zbytiny. It begins at Kříž V. u Chrobol and runs via Skříněřov, Tetřívčí potok, Arnoštov and Záhvozdí to Pěkná. The two stated lengths make it easier to compare the routes if you want to choose your cycling route based on its distance.

For a shorter discovery, the Matýskova Trail is an interesting option. This educational and adventure trail leads from Zbytiny to the abandoned settlement of Mošna, is 1.3 km long and has nine stations. It is designated for the whole family. This provides a much more compact experience alongside the longer cycling routes, with the stations forming part of a step-by-step exploration.

Church and railway history

St. Vitus Church is originally Gothic and dates from the 14th century. After the village fire of 1738, it was rebuilt. The western profiled portal has survived from the original building. These three aspects give the church a particular historical depth: it preserves both the memory of its Gothic beginnings and traces of its reconstruction.

The history of transport is also part of the village's past character. The first train reached Zbytiny in 1899; the Prachatice–Volary railway line was opened at the same time. Trains ran on the former forest railway until 1963, after which it was closed. These dates mark a clearly recognizable sequence in the history of the village without saying anything about current rail services.

Village customs and protected nature

Svatá Magdalena is a pilgrimage site. The pilgrimage takes place every year on the Sunday after the Feast of St. Magdalene on 22 July. Zbytiny is also associated with Staročeská konopická, a harvest festival tradition. It relates to the harvesting of flax, originally hemp, and is also an old village entertainment tradition reserved for girls and women.

More recent cultural events also have their place in the village's history: the “South of heaven open air” festival was held in Zbytiny for the fourth time at Zbytinský lom. The protected-area project in the Blanice National Nature Reserve, in the cadastral area of Zbytiny, sets a different focus. It aims to improve the living conditions of the critically endangered freshwater pearl mussel and support its natural development cycle. Thus, the spectrum ranges from inherited customs to the protection of a particular animal species.

For further research, you can also visit Malenice, Mahouš, Račov, Chvalovice U Netolic, Kristanovice, Pěčnov, Chroboly and Vimperk.

For the broader travel overview: Prachatice District.