Žihobce – Castle Culture and Hiking Trails

Žihobce combines castle culture with marked hiking trails and an unusual natural theme. The focal point is Žihobce Castle with the Lamberská stezka Museum; trails to Javorník and Sušice also begin here. This allows you to shape your stay around historic rooms, a manageable loop through the park and longer sections of the Lamberská stezka.

Žihobce Castle and the Lamberská stezka Museum

Žihobce Castle was built in the Renaissance style in the 17th century and converted into a Baroque castle in 1688. As a building, it is an early Baroque, rectangular, single-storey structure with a raised ground floor. Original preserved barrel vaults are partly complemented by stucco mirrors. The castle therefore offers not only a historic name but also specific architectural details to look out for during your visit.

The Lamberská stezka Museum is located in the west wing of the historic castle. Three halls on the ground floor are available for seasonal exhibitions. The name refers to the Lamberská stezka, whose Czech section in Pošumaví is laid out as an almost 50 km circular route. You can complete this trail in stages or as individual sections. Žihobce is one of the stops on the route; here you will find the museum in the early Baroque castle and an adjoining English-style park with the Netopýřím parkem educational trail.

An Educational Trail with a Castle Park and Insect Habitat

The Netopýřím parkem educational trail is an approximately 1 km circular route through the former castle park and has five information panels. One special stop is the insect habitat made from tree trunks felled during the revitalisation of the castle park. The loop thus combines the history of the park with a specific form of nature conservation without requiring you to plan a long-distance walk.

Žihobce also offers clear directions for longer hikes. A marked yellow hiking trail begins here and leads via Strašín to Javorník. A marked blue hiking trail also begins in Žihobce and runs via Rozsedly and Kadešice to Sušice. The two trails therefore offer different destinations, while the Lamberská stezka provides another option for stages or individual sections.

Church and Regional Art

The historic village setting also includes the Neo-Romanesque Church of the Transfiguration of the Lord. It was built from 1872 to 1876 on the site of a former Gothic church. The church is currently open to the public. In addition, the Netopýr Gallery in a historic Šumava building displays art and craftwork connected with the Šumava region.

More Options for Planning Your Day

The TJ Žihobce sports and bathing area also includes tennis courts and a football pitch. When looking for accommodation, you can therefore first consider whether the castle, museum and church or the various hiking options should be the focus of your stay. In Žihobce, you can combine an approximately 1 km loop through the former castle park, trails to neighbouring destinations and the almost 50 km circular route of the Lamberská stezka as different ways of enjoying your stay.

If you would like to compare other places for planning your trip: Velké Hydčice, Nehodiv, Pačejov, Malý Bor, Měčín, Ostruzno, Mokrosuky, Horažďovice.

For the higher-level travel overview: Klatovy District.