Ražice: Railway History, Architecture and Nature

Ražice brings together themes that are easy to distinguish when planning a trip: railway history and architecture in the town, and natural attractions in the surrounding area. The Špejchar Museum brings together an exhibition on railways and the landscape, while the Chapel of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary offers a tangible example of rural Baroque architecture. For those wishing to take longer routes, there is a 22-kilometre circular trail for cyclists and walkers, as well as a nature trail that starts at the railway station.

Špejchar Museum: Railway and Nature Reserve

The Špejchar Museum houses a permanent exhibition in a reconstructed former grain store in Ražice. The first part covers the nearby Řežabinec National Nature Reserve and the Řežabinecké Pools. The second part is devoted to railways, particularly Ražice’s location at the junction of the important regional lines České Budějovice–Plzeň and Ražice–Tábor. The exhibition also includes a model railway layout, on which a small train runs at regular intervals. Thus, two different subjects sit side by side in one building: the landscape of the protected area and regional rail transport. The museum is near the railway station and a bus stop; parking is available right by the building.

Railway History and Chapel Architecture

The Ražice–Tábor railway line was built from 1886 to 1889, and operations began on 1 June 1889. The Chapel of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary was built in Ražice in 1822 in the rural Baroque style. Its design includes a tiled gabled roof and a square masonry bell tower rising above the gable. Alongside its railway history, Ražice therefore offers a tangible architectural landmark.

Routes for Cycling and Walking

The “Přes Putim k Žižkově mohyle” circular route is 22 kilometres long and is described as suitable for cyclists and walkers. It starts and ends in Ražice and passes through Putim, Řežabinec Pond, Kestřany, Žižkova mohyla, Mladějovice, Štětice and Humňany. The route length and named stops give you concrete points of reference if you would like to include this tour in your travel plans.

The Permonická Trail starts at Ražice railway station and leads to a natural amphitheatre built on the site of a former gold mine. The trail thus links a starting point at the railway station with a place whose history recalls earlier mining. The 38th edition of the Ražický pražec country and folk festival was scheduled to take place in the natural amphitheatre in Ražice from 15 to 17 May 2026.

Řežabinec and the Ražický Natural Monument

Near Ražice, a three-kilometre nature trail runs around the Řežabinec Reserve. The reserve protects aquatic plant communities and waterbirds. At the Řežabinec observation tower, the middle level is open to the public, offering views of the reed beds along the shore and across the pond.

The Ražický Natural Monument includes a pond with extensive shoreline vegetation, an old oak dam and adjacent waterlogged areas. The area is important as a breeding and resting site for a diverse range of birdlife, including several wader species. Together with the nature trail and observation tower, this offers a natural attraction distinct from the town’s main sights: the museum, railway and chapel.

Discover more destinations: Slabčice, Zhoř, Putim, Mirovice, Slavkovice, Sepekov, Záhoří and Písek, Cerhonice.

View the broader travel overview: Písek District.