The Church of St. Mary Magdalene and the marked trails give Čkyně two distinct highlights: cultural history and outdoor activities. The synagogue and Jewish cemetery add to these, and the Zlatá stezka (Volyňka) cycling route runs through the town. This gives you concrete questions to consider when planning your trip: Which historical sites interest you, and would you like to include hiking or cycling?

Cultural history with clear dates

The Church of St. Mary Magdalene dates from the last quarter of the 13th century. The presbytery, or chancel, contains wall paintings; the oldest layer dates from 1330 to 1340. These dates refer to different parts of the church’s history: the late 13th century marks the construction of the church, while 1330 to 1340 marks the oldest layer of paintings. The church and its cemetery are jointly listed as a cultural monument. For those interested in cultural history, the building date, painted decoration and heritage listing offer different perspectives on the site.

Another important historical aspect is Čkyně’s Jewish heritage. The Jewish cemetery was established at the end of the 17th century; the Čkyně Synagogue was built in 1828 in a simple Neoclassical style. The two dates mark different periods: the cemetery was established before the synagogue was built. The synagogue adds a distinctly more recent architectural feature alongside the Church of St. Mary Magdalene. Anyone comparing historical architectural styles will find two distinct points of reference in the medieval church and the Neoclassical synagogue, both in terms of period and style.

Hiking destinations around Čkyně

Marked trails lead from Čkyně to the Sudslavický okruh and Mářský vrch. Marked trails lead from Čkyně to the Sudslavický okruh and Mářský vrch. A yellow-marked route runs from the centre of Čkyně towards the La Tène-period hillfort site of Věnec. It lies on a 765 m-high hill above the Volyňka valley. Věnec adds an archaeological connection and a specific elevation to the choice of hiking destinations. You can base your decision on the named destinations: the Sudslavický okruh, Mářský vrch or the route towards the hillfort site. Věnec adds an archaeological connection and a specific elevation to the choice of hiking destinations. You can base your decision on the named destinations: the Sudslavický okruh, Mářský vrch or the route towards the hillfort site.

Cycling route through the town

The Zlatá stezka (Volyňka) is a 47 km-long, moderate route for trekking bikes that passes through Čkyně. The 47 km describes the entire route, not just the section in the town. This gives cyclists the route length, difficulty level and suitable bike type. Unlike the marked hiking trails, which focus on destinations, the cycling route is described by its total distance and difficulty rating.

When planning your day and accommodation, it is helpful to distinguish between the routes: the hiking trails lead from Čkyně to specific destinations, while the Zlatá stezka passes through the town. The cycling route also has a total length and difficulty rating; for the hiking trails, the markings and individual destinations are the main points. So first consider whether you want to focus on a day hike to a particular destination or a longer cycling tour.

Discover more destinations: Bošice, Außergefild, Malenice, Dub U Prachatic, Bušanovice, Babice U Netolic, Benesova Hora, Kratušín

See the overview of the wider travel region: Okres Prachatice.