“Enchantment is nothing more than a spirituality deeply rooted in the earth.”

Thomas MOORE

As every year, this year too, with our little Máchov pilgrimage, we will welcome the May time of new spring and love and pay tribute to Karel Hynek Mách and the landscapes he loved so much. – Kokořínsko and Podbezdězí. Just like last year, we will follow the route (46 km) leading from Liběchov through Tupadly to Pustý zámek and from there eastwards through Nedvězí, Střezivojice to Olešno; and then along the familiar path to Houska, where we will listen to Mácha's May performed by the musical duo Side GhostsFrom there, the next day we will continue via Bořejov and Okna to Bezděz. You can travel with us at your own discretion.  –  either complete the entire route or join us anywhere during the journey.

"It seems the time has come to look for something outside of our nerves to lean on."

Robinson JEFFERS

Saturday 2 May: Liběchov – Houska (29 km)

We will meet in Liběchov at Náměstí Václava Levého by the castle, from where we will set off between 7:30 and 8 a.m. We will follow the blue tourist trail towards the mysterious rock sculptures in the Nad Hubenovem forest. –Mary Magdalene Cave, Harpists and Snakes –, which are attributed to the sculptor Václav Levý. From the rock with the relief of the Snake we descend to StupidFrom Tupady we will continue along the green tourist trail past the neo-Romanesque chateau. Slavin over Kingdom to Osinalický saddle and on Rac (360 m above sea level), on whose crest we will visit a remarkable medieval rock castle Deserted castle. — From here we follow the yellow trail to the top Unknowing (458 m above sea level), from where there is a beautiful circular view of the region. From Nedvězí we continue along the yellow and blue paths to Střezivojice and Ofrom there on the yellow line through Little bones into a beautiful rock mine, through which we will walk all the way to Sheep Hill (366 m above sea level) and to the charming village Olesno with a row of old half-timbered houses, where sculptor Petr Císařovský, author of the PILGRIM logo, lives. (see: www.cisarovsky.com)

From Olešno we will get off the road and from there we will follow the red sign along a beautiful old path through the beech forest below the hill. Druclik (480 m above sea level) to the hill with the castle Bun, from where there is a unique view of the landscape with the impressive twin mountains of Malý and Velký Bezděz on the horizon. We will visit Luňák's Chapel with charming paintings of saints by Vendula Císařovská and we will refresh our tired bodies for a while in the pub "Na konci sil", one of the seven wonders of the Kokořín region. We will visit the magical beech forest above the Houska castle and from there we will go down to Houska. In the Hostince pod Houskau, where we will spend the night (you can of course sleep outside under the big tree), a performance by a musical duo will be prepared for you from 7:30 p.m. Side ghostswhich will be presented by poem May Karel Hynek Mácha – Jakub Doubrava (voice, guitar, loopstation), Lukas Urbanec (guitar, groovebox, voice).

"I believe that a lot of good would come from a change in attitude if tourists became pilgrims again."

Rupert SHELDRAKE

Sunday 3.5: Houska – Bořejov – Okna – Bezděz (17 km)

The next day we set off from Buns follow the blue tourist trail to the crossroads at Smrkový hřeben and from there follow the yellow trail to Borejova to the Baroque church of St. James the Elder with a modern altarpiece of the pilgrim St. James. There is a beautiful view of Bezděz and Houska from here. From Bořejov we will continue to The eater and from there along a dirt road under Tachov Hill to Windows and then through the forest along the green trail to the village of Bezděz. We climb a steep rocky path to the top Without fear (604 m above sea level) with a castle. We will visit the castle with a Gothic chapel, climb the lookout tower and enjoy the distant view of the landscape. We will remember Karel Hynek by reading his prose "Evening at Bezdězu". We will descend to the village of Bezděz and return by train to Prague.

“We are human only in contact and fellowship with that which is non-human.”

David ABRAHAM

CONNECTIONS

Prague – Mělník / Saturday, May 2: BUS from the bus station in Prague Ladvi: departure from Prague in 6:00 – arrival to Liběchová 6:57 (Next connection departs at 8:00 – arrives at 8:57) Bezděz – Prague / Sunday, May 3: TRAIN from the train station in the village of Bezděz: departure from Without fear in 14:50 – arrival to Mladé Boleslavy hl.n. 15:20 departure from Mladé Boleslavy hl.n. at 3:24 p.m. – arrival to Prague in 16:41 (The next train to Prague departs from Without fear in 15:19– arrival to Prague (Black Bridge) in 17:25; with transfers in Bakov nad Jizerou, Ml. Boleslavy to the bus.)

Contact and further information

• Jiří Zemánek, email: sarvanga@centrum.cz, mobile: 777 117 466
• Tomáš Hrůza, email: tomashruza@gmail.com, mobile: 775 052 607
• Jakub Doubrava, jakubdoubrava@hotmail.com, mobile: 606 607 956

DON'T FORGET to bring blister plasters! The best brand is "COSMOS"!