There is an attraction to visit on the way from České Budějovice to Písek, a castle in Hluboká nad Vltavou. There is a ZOO near the castle. The castle is considered to be a pearl of the region of South Bohemia. It is a Neo-Gothic castle that used to be a guardian castle. It was founded by Wenceslas I. in the 13th century. Between 1661 and 1940, it was owned by the Swarzengerbs. In 1940, the last owner of the castle, Dr. Adolf Schwarzenberg immigrated to the USA. He fled the country because of the Nazis. Nowadays, it is a state-owned castle. There is a greenway leading along the Vltava River from Hluboká nad Vltavou to Purkarec. You can even take a steamboat going from České Budějovice to Hluboká nad Vltavou. The steamboat’s port is situated near a bridge, on the eastern side of Hluboká nad Vltavou-Zámostí. After passing the bridge, you can continue along the Vltava River on foot or by steamboat. There are two famous rocks on the way: the first rock is called „Bába“ (Grandmother) and the second one is called „Dědek“ (Grandfather). Both rocks are visible from the river and the river bank. You cannot see the Grandmother rock from a walking pathway, as it is hidden among trees. There is a greenway running around the Grandfather rock. There is a ruin of a castle called Karlův hrádek (the Charles castle) situated 3 km far from Purkarec. The castle was founded by Charles IV. in the 14th century. People were not living there for a long time. A son of Charles IV. was not interested in such a remote castle. Therefore, people left the castle just after it had been built and completed. There are high walls and a deep moat nowadays.

A mighty fortified line was built around the Czechoslovak Republic in the 1930’s. The nearest bunkers are situated within the fortification area of Slavonice. They have been restored by volunteers since 2003. Two bunkers are opened to public. They are fully equipped with arms. You can see original machine guns (models 26 and 37), guns (model 24), a working hand ventilator, a bunker crew’s equipment and many other devices there. Guided tours are organized there. A machine gunfire demonstration takes place every first Saturday in July.

Nové Hrady is a town situated in the Novohradské Mountains. It was founded in the 13th century. There is a castle surrounded by a moat and lined with bricks in Nové Hrady. There is a „Residence“ on the main square. It spans the northern side of the square. Nowadays, there is a restaurant and a hotel in the „Residence“. There is a palace in Nové Hrady too. It used to be a children accommodation facility during the World War. Later, a secondary agricultural school had its headquarters in the palace building. The Academic and University Centre of Nové Hrady is located in the palace building nowadays. The palace is not opened to public, however an adjacent English park is.

Nové Hrady is a town situated on the top of a hill. There is so called Terčino údolí (the Theresa’s valley) below the hill. It was founded by Theresa, the Duchess. It is a vast park, spanning an area of 138.3 ha. It has been the National Natural Monument since 1949. There are a Blue House, a blacksmith’s mill, a Swisse house and an artificial waterfall in the park. After passing the waterfall, go straight. Turn left at the first bridge and climb the hill. There is a stronghold called Cuknštejn. It has been reconstructed recently.