Davle: Trails, Rafting and Cultural Heritage

For a hotel stay in Davle, trails and cultural heritage offer different starting points for planning your day: educational trails, a valley trail, the protected ensemble of St. Kilian’s Church, and the history of rafting on the Vltava. The routes described differ in their course, destinations, and thematic connections.

Educational Trails and Routes

The “Naučná stezka Střed Čech” educational trail begins in a park in Davle and runs through the town center. An alternative route is available for the return journey, offering views of the geometric center of the Czech Republic from the summit of Ďábel Hill. Trail conditions may change; check the route before setting out.

The Sekanka educational trail connects the Benedictine monastery on Ostrov with the abandoned medieval settlement of Sekanka and includes ten information panels. The final panel is at St. Kilian’s Church. When choosing between the educational trails, you can distinguish between their focuses: Střed Čech links the town center with a viewpoint on the alternative return route, while Sekanka connects two historic sites with information panels. This lets you compare the themes of the trails.

The route through the valley of the Zahořanský potok begins at the railway station in Davle and is also suitable for cyclists. Footbridges may be missing at some fords. If you plan this route, take the note about the fords into account and check trail conditions, as they may change.

Cultural Heritage Between Monastery and Church

The Benedictine monastery on Ostrov, near the confluence of the Sázava and Vltava rivers, was founded around the turn of the 10th and 11th centuries. A Romanesque basilica was built there by the end of the 12th century. The basilica thus represents a later stage of construction in the monastery’s history.

The protected ensemble of St. Kilian’s Church comprises the church, the Chapel of the Holy Sepulchre, the bell tower, the enclosing wall of the former cemetery, the rectory, and the Chapel of St. John of Nepomuk. Two different approaches to cultural heritage can thus be seen side by side: the history of the monastery on Ostrov as it developed over time, and the protected ensemble in Davle.

Rafting in Davle

The Vltavan Museum in Davle commemorates the history of rafting on the Vltava. It is open to the public every Friday from 3 to 6 p.m., from May to September. Seasonal opening hours may change; check them before your arrival. If you plan to include the museum in your stay, use the Friday opening hours as a guide.

The clubhouse and museum of the Vltavan Association are located in the Vltavanka building, K Pivovaru 3, in Davle. Check visitor information before your visit.

A raft built using traditional methods is on display in the park on Školní Street, below the football field. The exhibition location may change; check the current information before your visit. This means you can encounter the history of rafting not only in the museum, but also through a raft on display.

Discover more destinations: Ořech, Slapy, Knezeves, Kytín, Prŭhonice, Karlík, Sloup, Choteč

For the broader travel overview: Okres Praha-Západ.