Kožlí is situated in South Bohemia, a region known as the friendliest and most easy-going part of  the Czech Republic.  The attraction of the small village is its rural location, characterized by woods and many lakes, sloping landscapes with authentic little villages and interesting towns. The central location with regard to cities such as Prague, Pilsen, Český Krumlov  and Písek, the natural beauty of the Vltava (Moldau) basin and the mountain region of the Šumava offers opportunities for a stay with a lot of variety. For those who are looking for relaxation through physical exertion there are very extensive routes for hikers and bikers. Those who love watersports can enjoy one or more of the many lakes, among which beautiful Lake Orlík, or the Vltava and Otava rivers. In addition to all this the towns, villages and castles offer a wealth of cultural and historical discoveries. At a distance of approximately 60 car-minutes there are various skiing regions to be found in winter. Cross-country skiing or snow-hiking is possible in the immediate surroundings.


Interesting towns

Blatná



The town of Blatná (6.800 inhabitants), at 8 kms from Kožlí, has a large water castle. Its donjon boasts mural paintings and the remnants of a Romance chapel. Around the castle, on an island in the river Lomnice, you find a sizeable park (42 hectares) which is the habitat of a herd of fallow deer.


Písek (20 kms)



The Celts extracted gold from the sand of the bed of the river Otava, a procedure to which the town of Písek owes its name( “písek” means sand).
Písek prides itself on having the oldest stone bridge in Bohemia. Grouped around the market-square are various historic buildings.


Tábor (50 kms)



The Czech National Trust is responsible for the entire ancient centre of Tábor. It has retained the character of the so-called Hussite stronghold with its city-walls and narrow winding streets. Tábor castle is even older than the city itself and from the round tower you can enjoy a magnificent and impressive panorama.


Plzeň (Pilsen) (70 kms)



Plzeň was built in the thirteenth century at the merge of four rivers. Nowadays Plzeň  is an important cultural, economic, industrial and commercial centre which is particularly known for the products of  the best-known brewery in the world Plzensky Prazdroj and the machine construction company and car factory Skoda.


Praha (Prague) (80 kms)



Prague belongs to the oldest and most beautiful metropoles of Europe. Due to the fact that the city is divided into two parts by the Vltava, Prague possesses a number of  wonderful bridges, such as the famous Karl’s Bridge. In the history of Prague this gothic bridge plays an important part, but today the bridge is at least as interesting because of its numerous street musicians, stalls and painters.
The romantic capital of the Czech Republic is world-famous owing to its beautiful, historic structures. In Prague you find hundreds of monumental buildings: Medieval houses, palaces, castles, churches and cathedrals.


Český Krumlov (80 kms)



Český Krumlov boasts a historic centre listed as UNESCO’s global cultural heritage. The present castle area with a unique baroque theatre  and an open-air amphitheatre is situated on a peninsula formed by the meandering Vltava. In the narrow streets of the old town many houses have been maintained in their originally gothic and renaissance styles. Not only from a historic angle  is Český Krumlov  interesting, but it is also an attractive little town with  art-galleries, pleasant shopping streets, outdoor cafes and good restaurants. Český Krumlov  is also the starting point  for canoe-trips on the Vltava.


České Budějovice (60 kms)



Beer-lovers know the town by its German name, Budweis. Here the Budvar-beer  or Budweiser is brewed, the mild gold-coloured beer that is poured in numerous beer-halls. In the centre of this attractive town you find the largest town-square of the Czech Republic.


Beautiful  nature

Surroundings of the Guesthouse



The surroundings of Kožlí are characterised by an extensive sloping landscape with a lot of forests, fields, lakes, rivers and authentic little villages. In spring the Cole seed fields colour the hills yellow, in summer you enjoy the wavy corn and the maturing fruit and in autumn the deer sniff in the mown fields. In winter you are stunned by an amazingly white, often breathtaking landscape.


Šumava mountains (60 kms)



The  Šumava (Bohemian Forest) is a favourite recreational area among lovers of nature and winter sports.  As a consequence of good road-signs and  other factors hikers and bikers can fully enjoy the many beautiful spots which these mountains abound in. In winter you can ski here to your heart’s content on the numerous pistes which are amply equipped with lifts. Rafting- ,canoeing-  and rowing trips are very popular too. In the Šumava mountains the river Vltava originates. Approximately 20 kilometres downstream this river has (artificially) extended into the large Lipno reservoir , 42 kilometres long and between 7 and 16 kilometres wide.


Castles


Southern Bohemia is also a region which is renowned for its many castles. For castle fans Southern Bohemia offers various possibilities. The two most particular castles to be visited from Kozli are Hluboká and Orlík.


Hluboká



The castle of Hluboká, the most frequently visited castle of this region, dated back to the 13th century. Up to 1622 it was in the hands of protestant  proprietors until they had to give it up after the Battle of the White Mountain (Bilá Hora). It was taken over  by the German Schwarzenberg family, who, during the 19th century, spared no expense nor time to transform the castle into the Tudor-like castle that you can see nowadays. In 1945 all Germans had to leave the country and  not only did the Schwarzenbergs have to leave their castle behind, but also all their possessions. Due to this the castle has remained completely and originally furnished. On guided tours you can see many  a beautiful thing, amongst other things the 17th-century Flemish tapestries and the garden in English landscape-style.


Orlík



The castle of Orlík, that used to overlook the Vltava, is now situated on the border of a reservoir. It was founded during the reign of Charles IV but it obtained its present form in the 19th century due to drastic renovations by the Schwarzenberg family. The interior is richly supplied with decorations, hunting trophies, paintings and china. In the castle there is a Napoleon museum, where presents give by Napoleon to prince Schwarzenberg are exhibited. A romantic way to reach Orlík castle is by boat  from the village of Zvíkov.


Ruins



Ruins are also frequently visited by tourists. The best-known are: Divci Kamen, situated some 10 kms north of Český Krumlov, Dobronice situated 6 kms north of Bechyne, Kozi Hradek at 5.5 kms from Tábor, Hrad Rabi near the town of  Horažďovice and Selmberk situated 17 kms north-east of Tábor in a romantic scenic area.