Beautiful nature in the footsteps of the legendary robber
The hike from Český Rudolec to Slavonice leads along the Grasel's path. The local tourist agency created several well-marked paths where the legendary robber who robbed and hid on the Czech-Austrian border at the turn of the 18th and 19th centuries robbed and hid. Johann Georg Grasel was a feared robber who still lives in folk tales. Even today, probably everyone understands what it means if someone is labeled a bastard. This is proof that the robber Grassel's fame went so far that his name entered the colloquial language in both Czech and German.
Český Rudolec
The journey begins in the picturesque village of Český Rudolec, whose dominant feature is the dilapidated chateau, which is called „Malá Hluboká“ for its interesting architecture. Despite the desolate state of the chateau, it is possible to arrange a tour in the information center. From the village we follow the blue tourist sign across the field and a somewhat neglected path through the forest.
Dog cemetery
After less than 2 kilometers, we arrive in the forest at an unusual place called a „dog cemetery“. The former owner of the castle in Český Rudolec allegedly buried his hunting place at this place. At first glance, we were attracted by a stone with a carved head. But we have doubts whether it is a dog's head. Then we continue less than a kilometer along the blue to the pond, where there is a sawmill and a former mill.
Water saw Peníkov
This preserved water sawmill is located below the dam of the pond near the settlement of Peníkov, about 2 km southwest of Český Rudolec. as well as in Europe in terms of completeness of equipment and originality of the state unique. The saw is functional and it is possible to visit it and see a sample of the cut.
Grasel's bathroom
At the pond we deviate from the blue sign and continue along the well-marked Grasel's path for about 2 kilometers. To the left of the trail there is a „Garsel's bathroom“ on the hill.
Rock bath and sink
In the rock formation there is a „bath“ (dimensions 120 by 90 cm, depth 30 cm) and a „washbasin“ (diameter 60 cm, depth 20 cm).
Schiller's stone
We continue along a marked path about 600 meters further to a group of granite blocks, which was named after the German playwright and poet Friedrich von Schiller. He allegedly created the drama Robbers here. On the rock is a clearly legible inscription „Schillerstein 1905“.
Grasel's slug
After another about 250 meters, another attraction is a smaller rock overhang called Grasel's slut. According to legend, one of Grasel's hiding places was under this rock overhang when the Austro-Hungarian police searched for him in the surrounding forests.
Bivouac
Apparently, even today, sluj is sometimes used for bivouacs.
Grasel's three-man foreman
In another 150 meters we come across a somewhat exaggerated artificial attraction – Grasel's three-man foreman.
Slavonice
After 4 km, mostly forest roads, we go out onto a meadow and in the distance we can see Slavonice. On the way we will stop at the Church of the Corpus Christi and St. Ducha and then along the Stations of the Cross we descend to the city. The total route is about 12.5 km long and thanks to a number of attractions will attract both large and small tourists.
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