More Than Just a Day Trip
The Posázaví region, located in Central Bohemia less than an hour southeast of Prague, offers a variety of attractions for visitors to enjoy. Several of these, with Konopiště Chateau being just one example, are often recommended as day trips from the capital. While a short excursion from Prague may satisfy some, Posázaví offers much more and is well worth visiting in its own right.
The Sázava River, which gives the area its name, flows through the region on its way to join the larger Vltava River just south of Prague. Large sections of the Sázava are navigable, making canoeing a very popular activity. In addition to canoeing, Posázaví offers plenty of opportunities for cyclists, trekkers, and hikers.
While the region’s rolling hills and wooded areas primarily appeal to outdoor enthusiasts, Posázaví also has a good deal to offer visitors with different interests.
Here’s a general overview of some of what you can experience in the region:
Parks and Palaces
The Czech Republic has no shortage of castles, chateaus, and other historical buildings. Within the Posázaví region alone, you can find nearly 30 castles, chateaus, fortresses, and ruins to explore.
Some chateaus are famous for their large landscaped gardens, where you can easily spend several hours enjoying and exploring the grounds. Konopiště and Vlašim chateaus are two notable examples of this.
Also worth noting among the region’s historical sites are Jemniště Chateau and Český Šternberk Castle. Unlike many chateaus and castles in the country that belong to the state, these two sites still remain in the hands of their original owners, the Šternberk family. Their continued private ownership gives both places a distinctly different atmosphere from many state-owned ones.
Museums and Monuments
If history is your passion, there’s plenty of it to discover in Posázaví. From prehistoric settlements through the Middle Ages and into the 20th century, the region is dotted with museums and monuments.
One example is the former monastery in the town of Sázava. Once belonging to the Benedictine order, the monastery dates back to the 11th century and contains a wealth of artefacts and documents attesting to its historical importance as a centre of Slavic cultural education.
A Place to Stay and Something to Eat
For visitors who wish to get to know Posázaví on a deeper level than a single day trip could ever allow, it’s essential to find comfortable accommodation to rest and good restaurants to keep you well fed and ready for your next adventure.
Happily, there are several forms of accommodation in various localities across the region, ranging from rental apartments for the self-catering traveller to four-star hotels. Similarly, there are many reputable restaurants to choose from, offering a variety of standard fare and local specialities.
From a practical standpoint—especially if you are not travelling by car—the small city of Benešov is worth considering as a possible base for day trips to other destinations in the region. Apart from the Konopiště Château and gardens on its outskirts, Benešov is not particularly touristy. However, it offers direct and efficient rail connections to Prague, as well as several good rail and bus links to other parts of Posázaví.
Learning More and Paying a Visit
This entry has only scratched the surface of the Posázaví region. If you’d like to learn more or plan a visit of your own, this link will take you to the official Posázaví website, which offers a wealth of information about the region—both touristic and practical.
Beyond Prague 