Jihlava - Brtnice - Vílanec

A bicycle tour for lovers of breathtaking views of the hilly landscape of the Highlands.

From Jihlava we start the first climb to an interesting locality of the stone row above Kosov. It is about 60 stones built in rows, according to researchers it could be a megalithic calendar. The rows are about 10 metres apart and due to the uncut trees cut down after the forest calamity they are less visible to the naked eye. However, we climbed to the horizon and were rewarded with a view of the wide landscape.

We join the road on a short descent and descend into the valley via Studénky to Puklice. The local Jewish cemetery, founded in the 15th century, is certainly worth a visit. It served the surrounding area until 1932, and nowadays there are about 60 tombstones. The Jewish community in Puklice disappeared during the 19th century, the local synagogue was turned into a warehouse and granary, after the war it was converted into a residential house. We drive through Puklice past the former castle and at the end of the village we turn to Příšek.

On the right hand side we come to the Old Přísecký Pond Natural Monument, where we stop at the new bird observatory. It will certainly interest not only adults but also children.

The real attraction for children awaits in Příseka in a reconstructed castle towering on a hill above the village. It is home to the Car Museum, which has more than 10,000 exhibits! The museum also has a café where you can refresh yourself and recharge your batteries for the journey ahead.

We leave Příseka, pass Komárovice and descend along the natural road to Brtnice. We can start our tour of the town by visiting the Jewish cemetery, then continue to the centre where the real pearls await us. The first stop is the birthplace of Josef Hoffmann, an architect and designer who became famous all over the world. His importance is only realised by many when visiting Vienna, where his work is displayed in the leading museums. The Brtnik exhibition is very engaging, with interactive elements.

The Baroque bridge with six statues spans the river - there are two bridges with historical statues in Brtnice, a few tens of metres further is the Jewish Bridge. Brtnica's historic centre is often and rightly nicknamed "Moravian Hradčany", the intricate streets with picturesque houses leading to the majestic castle towering over the town remind us of those in Prague. Brtnice castle will captivate you with its size and unfortunately the negative state of the whole building. Long-standing property disputes have contributed to the gradual degradation of the monument. Tours are organized in the castle, there is an escape game. In the summer, there is a classical music festival organised by the Brtnice Chateau Association. Recently, the new Regional Museum of Upper Pooslav was opened in the building of the former granary.

At the exit from Brtnice we pass the Upper and Lower Fluska ponds, excellent for refreshment in summer. We are heading to Uhřínovice, which is famous especially for the local brewery Ruprenz. You can taste the local beer thanks to the automatic beer machine, widely used by tourists and other visitors to the village. Here we join the cycle route 5215 and follow it through the countryside through the Sokoličský forest, Cerekvička to Vílanka. Here we can visit the restaurant in the Mlýnhotel Vílanec, famous for its Vílanec schnitzels. The resort offers a wide range of services for guests and visitors - indoor and outdoor tennis courts, fishing, bike rental and many more. When leaving Vílanka, don't miss the locally renowned ice cream, which gourmets from far and wide flock to.

From Vílanec, we have a beautiful journey through meadows and forests, along the nature reserve Vílanecká peat bogs to Popice, which is already a local part of the town of Jihlava. From Popice we will have a pleasant descent with a view of the towers and houses of the regional town until we reach Jihlava on the cycle path that will take us along the Koželužský brook to the town centre.

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