On our Prague to Vienna Trek trip we didn't cycle from Prague to Vienna, the actual distance covered cycling was from Restaurace Špejchar u Vojty in Holašovice about 2.5 hours away from Prague to Dürnstein an hour outside of Vienna for a total distance of 182 miles. The last day in Dürnstein was a short fun ride of 9 miles.
Day 1: Sunday June 8, 2025 Holašovice to Český Krumlov
25.1 mi, 1626 ft
We met in the old main train station in Prague and were driven to the restaurant where we had our first taste of Czech food and were set up with our bikes. We then rode 41km/25.5 miles to Český Krumlov, started out in sun, but the rain came and was very heavy at times, it cleared up as we neared Český Krumlov, but rained more after we checked into our hotel, Hotel Bellevue. There was a tricky turn near the end of the ride, but we were with the front of the pack so we didn't miss it. There was a meet and greet with snacks and drink prior to dinner. The group of 14 was made up of Team Cards [Thad & Andrea, David & Jen, Taylor and Judith(not a couple)] who had previously been on a Trek Trip together. Team Alaska [Jenifer, Lori(not from Alaska) and Amy], Team Canada [a mother and daughter from Canada], Jeff currently working in Dubai and us two. Dinner was with the group at Papa's Living Restaurant on the river. We had hearty Czech food, the dumplings were hearty as well, very hearty.
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| View of rain from our hotel window |
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| Český Krumlov Castle Tower |
Day 2: Monday June 9, 2025 Český Krumlov
33.7 mi, 2038 ft
Rode 33 miles, pit stop was at village of Rožmberk nad Vltavou with views of Rožmberk castle. One guide told us a fairy tale about a princess who married the owner and lived unhappily in the castle. We continued riding, past Lake Lipo to Frymburk for lunch. J had pizza, I had fried chicken breast and very good matchstick fries at Restaurant N. 10. Took the shuttle back to the hotel, bought makings for dinner and ate in the hotel room after a very good tour of the Castle by a local tour guide.
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| Rožmberk Castle, Hrad Rožmberk |
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| Lake Lipo |
Day 3: Tuesday June 10, 2025 Český Krumlov to Schlosshotel Rosenau
41.8 mi, 3682 ft
Rode 42 miles to Weitra passing the Czech/Austria border along the way. Had lunch in Nových Hradech at Restaurace Pod Radnicí just a few miles before the Austrian border crossing. The museum at the border was closed which was a big disappointment to all. Took a shuttle from Weitra to the Schlosshotel Rosenau and used the sauna. Our room had a bedroom, large bathroom with both a shower and a large tub and a lounge area with love seat, bistro table, desk and a large closet. Checked out the natural pool which was full of pond life, one guide jumped in. Dinner was with the group out on the patio. We had made selections when we checked in and there were a few folks who didn't remember their selections.
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| Midday stop |
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| Last lunch in Czechia |
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| Old border example |
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| New Border |
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| Art in the Weitra cistern |
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| Weitra town center |
Day 4: Wednesday June 11, 2025 Schlosshotel Rosenau
38.6 mi, 3739 ft
38 mile loop with lunch in Zwettl.
This day's ride took us onto some busy roads on the way into Zwettl and also some very steep hills, we had to stop at one point. We had lunch at a Bakery, Bio-Genusskaffeehaus Hölzl in the town center. We had ham and cheese sandwiches on asiago? rolls and some had ice cream afterwards. The ride back was through less trafficked roads, past a wood mill and train station then through fields with wind turbines. Visited the sauna again. Dinner was with the group at Gasthof Thaler which had an amazing gazpacho. I had visited the Freemason museum on the first floor of the castle which was very interesting. There was also galleries looking into the castle's chapel.
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| River Kemp |
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Schlosshotel Rosenau:
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| Our room was top floor right corner. |
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| Maypole still up, why? |
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| Entrance to museum on first floor |
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| Rosenschloss suite, our suite |
Day 5: Thursday June 12, 2025 Schlosshotel Rosenau to Dürnstein
42.7 mi, 2852
Pleasant 47 mile ride to Dürnstein, lots of twists and turns. Big hill at the start, but then all downhill to our final destination. First rest stop in small village of Sprögnitz was near a herb and tea shop (SONNENTOR Sprögnitz) run by an ex Trek Travel guide. Lunch was at Gasthof Schindler in Brunn am Wald. There was a wedding reception ongoing at the tables next to us. The hotel room at Hotel Richard Löwenherz was large, but no tea kettle or coffee machine. Spent some time at the pool, where I was accosted again by my man Gottfried. Dinner was at Weingut Nikolaihof Wachau where we toured the wine cellar and had a very late family style meal with 3 different wines. The owner was very engaging and she was a super hostess.
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| Herb and Tea shop was just down the road from our rest stop. |
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| Pool from our room |
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| Unassuming hotel entrance |
Day 6: Friday June 13, 2025 Bus to Vienna, train to Munich
9.1 mi, 501 ft
Short 9 mile loop this morning before heading off to Vienna for our train to Munich. Had problems getting a Uber from the West Train station in Vienna to the Main train station, but we got there with lots of time to spare. Train was on time but there was someone in our seat, they moved off but we could still smell them. An uneventful train ride to Munich. Once in Munich had problems again getting an Uber to the hotel. Seems there are no lines of taxis waiting at train stations anymore.
Dürnstein sights
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| Part of our hotel in Dürnstein |
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| Boat on the Danube |
