The Best Via Ferrata Trails in Czechia

There are lots of places in Czechia where you can meet up with your friends. One great option is on one of the Czech via ferratas or in the middle of the country’s massive rock towns.  Enjoy a real adrenalin rush and use steel cables and ladders to clamber around the rocks like a mountain guide. Recharge your energy after a hard day in one of the many excellent wellness centres – after all, there’s no shortage of them in Czechia. An active holiday or a spa break? Have both at once!

Via ferratas are becoming increasingly popular in Czechia. Most of them were built fairly recently and new ones are being added every year. There are currently around 60 of them, and here we present an overview of the most interesting ones.

Děčín via ferrata, North Bohemia

In the centre of the North Bohemian town of Děčín, you can climb a via ferrata some 150 metres long from the river to the top of a wall. It starts from the Elbe embankment at the former rock chair lift to the Pastýřská stěna sandstone rock massif. This via ferrata, called Pastýřská stěna (Shepherd's Wall) is designed for climbers of all ages. It offers 16 routes on the rock ranging from 150 to 170 metres in length, with some amazing views of the château and the deep Elbe canyon on the other side. It takes approximately two hours.

Vodní brána (Water Gate) via ferrata on the Jizera river

Czechia’s first via ferrata, the Water Gate, is located above the beautiful valley of the Jizera River near Semily. The Water Gate via ferrata is ideal for beginners, but even more experienced climbers will enjoy the new extreme difficulty D/E route. One popular tourist attraction in the area is the Rieger Trail, which runs along the other bank of the Jizera.
 

Via ferrata in Hluboká (South Bohemia)

On the via ferrata in Hluboká in South Bohemia you can enjoy adrenaline on three routes divided according to difficulty. You'll also enjoy spectacular views of the Vltava River! The Hluboká Ferrata is located in the Karvanice protected natural area on a rock formation about 8 km from the Hluboká nad Vltavou Castle on the left bank of the Vltava River, which is considered one of the most beautiful castles in Czechia.
 

Bioferrata Bečov nad Teplou

Interested in nature and climbing? Then a visit to the botanical garden in Bečov nad Teplou is a must. The new via ferrata there offers great views, plants and beautiful surroundings. It’s the very first Czech bio-ferrata. The trail has three different difficulty levels, and also includes a renovated viewpoint overlooking the beautiful rocky Bečov valley. The most difficult part of the trail is designed for climbers with equipment, which can be rented from the botanical garden. The easiest part runs along a soft forest path and is also suitable for families with children.
 

Via ferrata in Vír in Vysočina

The two beautiful via ferratas – Velká věž and Jezerní stěna – near the Vír reservoir give even less skilled climbers the opportunity to claim these inaccessible rock walls.  The first route starts on the stone steps of Velká věž (Great Tower) and includes a rope bridge that takes you across to a stunning viewpoint. The second starts in a bend below the dam of the reservoir and goes through Jezerní stěna. You’ll enjoy a wonderful view of the Vír reservoir behind you as you climb. The via ferratas are part of a 4 km hiking circuit. The trip can be combined with a visit to the nearby "marble castle" of Pernštejn.

Speleoferata® (Speleoart) in the Moravian Karst

The speleoferrata in the Moravian Karst in South Moravia is an amazing experience for any climber, assuming they don’t suffer from claustrophobia. This is an adrenaline rush you won't find anywhere else in Czechia. It starts by the entrance to the Punkva Caves and just a short way from the lower station of the cable car running to the Macocha Abyss. You’ll be given a helmet, headlamp, overalls, a climbing harness and caving descender. This experience offers caves up to forty metres deep and plenty of climbing walls, wells, chasms, chimneys with rope ladders and traverses with swings, giving you the chance to try climbing in all its forms and difficulties. The route ends deep underground. This is a place best suited for more experienced climbers!

Slánská hora Spiral ferrata

Slánská hora is located just a few kilometres west of Prague near the town of Slaný.  It gives you the opportunity to try a total of 7 routes with different variants and clamber across 2 rope bridges. There are routes for beginners, families with children and via ferrata pros.