The surroundings of Telnice

Today undoubtedly belongs to Telnice. Not only is there a beautiful event happening here to support the Kozí dráha railway, but we also bring you a tip for a trip from Telnice to the surrounding area. We enjoyed a roughly 10 km walk at the beginning of July with all the trimmings, including a final swim. Plan your trip as you like, though we believe there will be plenty who will warmly welcome the autumn cooling. Let's set out on the journey!

We begin the trip in Telnice, a small village at first glance in the Ústí region, which, however, has six settlement units - Adolfov, Liboňov, Telnice, U Staré Pošty, Varvažov, and Zadní Telnice. In the latter, in a few months, the ski lifts in the ski area will start running, which was the first recreational center in Czechoslovakia where artificial snowmaking was introduced.

But first, we will stop at the train station, which is mainly known for being the current end of the so-called Kozí dráha - a single-track regional line that starts its journey in Děčín. Since 2022, seasonal lines named Podkrušnohorský motoráček have run on this line on weekends, holidays, and school breaks. From April to the end of October, you can ride the unique retro motor vehicle of the M 152.0 series.

Before we set out on the circuit, we will take a look a bit above the village to the site of the former Ledebour castle. Today, only the overgrown stable and the Chapel of the Virgin Mary, which stands alone in the dense forest, remain of the hunting chateau owned by Adolf Ledebour, but it can leave a strong impression on visitors.

We return to Telnice, turn right before the tracks, and head off on the blue trail towards Liboňov, where a rather diverse route awaits you. Steep climbs are complemented by breathtaking views, coniferous forests alternate with deciduous ones, overgrown sunny meadows with shaded streams and ferns. Occasionally, your route intersects with the omnipresent Telnice MTB trails, which are put together by local volunteers and lead to a pond, which we will mention shortly.

First, however, a bit of history awaits us, and for the first time at the monument to General Vandamme. Be careful not to miss it; when you reach the tracks, turn right just before them, cross the small bridge, and follow the forest path for several dozen meters to the monument with an information board. This is where the young and feared commander of the French army, General Dominique Joseph Vandamme, was allegedly captured. You'll learn how it all took place on the info board, but what caught our attention is Napoleon's alleged remark: "...with Vandamme, there are always problems. If I had two Vandammes, I would have one shot, but since I have only one, I will keep him."

After another pleasant, now more moderate hike, we pass a body of water, which we'll leave unnoticed for now, and finish the educational part at two more monuments in Varvažov - one Prussian, dedicated to the memory of Prussian soldiers who fell in the Battle of Chlumec in 1813, and the other Austrian, commemorating the heroic deeds of the Austrian General Hieronimus Colloredo - Mansfeld (whom we've mentioned in a trip tip around Cínovec).

And finally, a well-deserved refreshment - either at the Oprám pond, which emerged from the former Gustav mine, has clean water, and also features an obstacle course over the water (Ninja Factor), or at the nearby Bažina bistro. On your way back, you'll surely be intrigued by the Stará pošta building in Varvažov, built between 1814 and 1817 by Ústí postmaster Johann Michael Ulbrecht. Today, it serves as a guesthouse with the Stará pošta restaurant, so if the bistro visit isn't enough, you can satisfy your taste buds here or upon returning to Telnice at U zeleného stromu.

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